Who'll replace Norm Chow?
by JazzyUte on Dec 20, 2011 10:28 PM MST
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I don't pretend to know who's on Kyle Whittingham's short list to replace Norm Chow, so this really is all speculation on my part. I can only assume Aaron Roderick and Dave Schramm are somewhere on that list, since both are currently on the staff and, prior to Chow's hiring, took turns as the Utes' offensive coordinator.
But it's entirely possible, especially with Utah being in the Pac-12 now, that Whittingham has added some new names to the list.
I don't know how many or who they are...but here's a list I'll throw out just for fun.
Has been coaching at Utah since 2005 and was the Utes' official play caller for part of '09 and all of '10. Under his leadership, Utah went 14-5 and 1-1 in bowl games. Was demoted to wide receivers when Chow came on board earlier this year.
Roderick has had prior experience calling plays outside his time at Utah - in '03, he was the OC for Gary Andersen when he coached a year at Southern Utah.
Schramm was originally pegged as the play caller for the Utes after Andy Ludwig left and called the initial seve games of the '09 season. However, prior to the Wyoming game, he was taken out of the box and placed on the field, where he's coached ever since. As the official play caller, Schramm was 6-1. He's currently the Utes' running backs coach.
Davis has never been a coordinator at the division one level, though is considered one of the best offensive line coaches in the business. At Minnesota, he was the run game coordinator and spent time working with Chow at USC during their run to glory. From 1990 to '96, he worked the offensive line, tight ends and offensive tackles here at Utah.
He was, for a season, the offensive coordinator for Walla Walla Junior College.
This could be a long shot, since he's currently a coordinator at the NFL level. However, he might be looking to get back into the college game (was a candidate for the Hawaii job), has been a solid offensive mind (was the OC at Oregon in the late 90s & really laid the foundation for the Boise State Broncos as head coach there). He did flunk out at Arizona State as coach, but knows the west and, well, we're not asking him to lead the program.
Like Koetter, Dorrell really didn't set the world on fire as a head coach of a Pac-12 institution. However, as I said above, we're not asking him to lead our entire team. Dorrell has been a successful offensive coach for most of his career and is currently the quarterbacks coach of the Miami Dolphins. He knows the west, especially the Pac-12, coaching at Colorado, Arizona State, Washington and UCLA and was the offensive coordinator with both the Buffaloes and Huskies during the 90s.
This should be a familiar name to Utah fans, since he coached special teams and wide receivers here at Utah. He's currently at LSU as their wide receivers/passing games coordinator. He knows the west, having played at Colorado State and coaching here, though most of his time spent has been back east (Kent State, Bowling Green, Florida and LSU).
I'm joking. Maybe. He was our OC for the most successful season in school history.
Heh. Sanford was recently at practice with the Utes. He's currently unemployed (forced out at Louisville). Not likely, but thought I'd mention him.
That's my initial list. Let's do a poll and feel free to add names you think I missed.
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Seriously
Fairchild is a great recruiter, and has a great offensive mind. Like the others mentioned, we aren’t asking him to lead the program, just run a pro-style offense. And with his NFL background, he can use that to get some good recruiters.
I agree.
Steve Fairchild is an excellent candidate. His head coaching experience and offensive coordinating experience in the NFL would make him an ideal replacement for Chow. Sure, he may have not been a successful head coach, but not everybody is necessarily head coaching material.
Fairchild
He brought in decent players to CSU but his offense was super conservative and not good.
by Jeremy Mauss on Dec 23, 2011 12:38 PM MST via Android app up reply actions
Is it too early...
To throw my hat in the ring? Seriously, I’m a damn good recruiter in NCAA 2012. Plus I score points like mad…
I can only imagine what I’d do with IV and the AirForce…
"Go afield with a good attitude, Walk with respect for the wildlife you hunt, and for the forests and fields in which you walk. Immerse yourself in the outdoor experience. It will cleanse your soul and make you a better person."
- Fred Bear -
by BetterasIgetolder on Dec 20, 2011 10:46 PM MST via iPhone app reply actions 1 recs
I'd take Billy Gonzales and shit-can Roderick in a heartbeat.
Have you seen the routes our WR’s were running in 03 and 04 while Billy Gonzales was coaching the WR’s? We’ve never gotten so much out of the WR position with so little. He turned walk-ons like T. LaTendresse and J. Madsen into all-conference WR’s.
Anyone who would take A-Rod over Gonzales is a moron. The result of your poll show you have a lot of idiots reading your blog.
by The Moose's Whistle on Dec 20, 2011 10:56 PM MST reply actions
Let's rephrase that in a more enlightened way...
Don’t be a dick.
by JazzyUte on Dec 20, 2011 11:00 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
Gonzales would be nice..
Though who knows if he follows Meyer to Ohio State or he could stay at LSU.
But the next OC will likely be Roderick, should he be is another question.
Will Chow stay for Sun Bowl?
We should plan accordingly
You'd do it for Randolph Scott!
RANDOLPH SCOTT!
by DressHerInWhiteAndGold on Dec 21, 2011 4:45 AM MST reply actions
Not likely
Hawaii would need him to start recruiting right away.
Dolphins and sharks are natural enemies. Dolphins are like, "Quit eating us," and sharks are like, "Stop smiling all the time, you morons."
Sort-of-daily sort-of-funny sort-of-thoughts at danoftheday.com
He has said
That he wants to coach for the Sun Bowl, for whatever that is worth.
by Joseph Silverzweig on Dec 21, 2011 8:29 AM MST up reply actions
Sweet
Dolphins and sharks are natural enemies. Dolphins are like, "Quit eating us," and sharks are like, "Stop smiling all the time, you morons."
Sort-of-daily sort-of-funny sort-of-thoughts at danoftheday.com
Also
The ESPN Pac-12 blog article on the move says he’ll coach the game. So it looks like we’ll have him for that farewell.
by Joseph Silverzweig on Dec 22, 2011 9:25 AM MST up reply actions
It's a dead period for recruiting.
Chow can’t start recruiting until after 1/1/12 when the dead period ends.
Everyone hates a pink-shirt-wearing communist.
by displacedute on Dec 21, 2011 11:45 AM MST up reply actions
How about Mark Whipple?
He had a pretty good stint in Miami, even if the stats wouldn’t suggest that. That team was ravaged by injuries, and it’s my belief that Jordan Wynn is twice the QB Jacory Harris is (that’s not an endorsement, rather a testament to Whipple).
Anyway, on the surface, without going into a deep analysis, the offensive philosophy of our team doesn’t seem too dissimilar to what Miami ran a couple of years ago.
Currently, his talents are being wasted as the QB coach for the Cleveland Browns.
My sources told me Whittingham wants Fairchild
And by “sources” I mean the dream I had last night. I dreamed I was in a meeting with Whittingham and Chris Hill. Whit said he needed Fairchild so he could start recruiting all the local talent in Bountiful. Seems logical.
Density...I mean destiny
It must be true, I had the same sources, except the Bountiful thing. Fairchild was able to get kids out of Florida to go to CSU, and Whitt has said he wants a couple kids from there on the roster.
Going back to the future
let’s bring in Jim Fassel. He was an offensive guru but a terrible head coach (also for Utah in the 80s). He may be looking for meaningful employment.
j/k just thought I would roll with the density thing.
by Utah-UCLA alum on Dec 21, 2011 9:02 AM MST up reply actions
Nice Dream But...
Jim Fassel is gainfully employed in the UFL, and has stated on multiple occasions that he wants to get back into an NFL Coaching job.
The UFL may not last much longer.
Fassel may be out of a league soon.
Everyone hates a pink-shirt-wearing communist.
by displacedute on Dec 21, 2011 12:05 PM MST up reply actions
Lol
Looks like we might be on to something here.
Craig Versteeg?
Did well at Rutgers, doing pretty well with the Ravens now.
Everyone hates a pink-shirt-wearing communist.
BJ > Ludwig
Ludwig seemed to have a knack for calling the worst possible play at the most opportune time. BJ called the most memorable dives of 2008, considering they were all from no-huddle.
If anyone found my snowboarding gloves after storming the field following the 2004 TDS game, I want them back!
A Couple of Interesting things is Roderick's Corner
Look at the recruited by on Mr. Wilson’s page: Chow, and Roderick. Also UteZone managing editor is saying that the relationship has always been with A-Rod, and not chow.
For what it's worth
Sorenson also says Hansen is still solid.
Yeah...
I think he could help shore up some recruits.
Still not convinced that is a good reason to hire the guy. I’m not even remotely convinced. In fact, the more I think about it, the less I like Roderick as the OC.
I just am not convinced he’s ready or even capable of running a Pac-12 offense. I still can’t get the nasty taste of how ‘10 ended out of my mouth. It was, without question, one of the the worst offensive stretches we’ve seen the last 20 years at Utah.
So, hopefully we go outside and make the hire or I’m wrong. Because, and I fully expect him to be the guy, if it’s Roderick next year as the OC, I’ll probably expect some major struggles – especially in big games.
Also, I’m not sure Roderick is a pro-style guy. He’s run the spread pretty much his entire coaching career (as OC at SUU, at Utah from ‘05-’10), so do we revert back to the spread or force him to coach a style as offensive coordinator he’s not used to coaching?
Moreover, is one year REALLY enough to learn everything from Chow? It’s a start, obviously, but if that’s all we’re going on…the fact he could have improved, well, I’ll pass.
I'm Not sold on Roderick Either
But I’m convinced he’s going to be the guy.
For me
It’s got to come down to Wilson and (to a lesser extent) Hansen. If Wilson and Roderick developed a rapport and bringing Roderick up will keep him here, then that’s what the Utes should do. If Wilson wants a big name, NFL-type OC… we have to go out and get one.
by Joseph Silverzweig on Dec 21, 2011 1:26 PM MST reply actions
Disagree.
You don’t make coordinator decisions based on one recruit. It’s the same reason we didn’t hire Timpview’s head coach in order to get Xavier Sua’filo several years ago. One recruit doesn’t make or break the program very often, unless it’s a guy like Andrew Luck, and even then you won’t know until later if he’s that kind of player. More important to have the right coordinator than to make sure Wilson and Hansen are happy with the one we pick.
Everyone hates a pink-shirt-wearing communist.
by displacedute on Dec 21, 2011 3:07 PM MST up reply actions
Replacing Chow
Good luck, Norm! Well deserved!
Now on to replacements. Mike Sanford would be just what the doctor ordered to replace Chow. Not only was he successful as the OC under Meyer, but with less than average talent as the head coach at UNLV, remember the beating he laid on the Utes 27-0 a few years back! With Kyles defensive brain and Sanford running the offense, the glory days might return. Also, Sanford’s extensive background as an assistant in the Pac 12 makes him a great fit for the program today.
However...
Isn’t he another spread guy?
"Go afield with a good attitude, Walk with respect for the wildlife you hunt, and for the forests and fields in which you walk. Immerse yourself in the outdoor experience. It will cleanse your soul and make you a better person."
- Fred Bear -
by BetterasIgetolder on Dec 21, 2011 3:42 PM MST via iPhone app up reply actions
That's because
As bad as Roderick was last year, Schramm was worse before having play calling duties taken away in ’09.
Im surprised his name hasnt gotten more usage. I honestly think he is the perfect fit for the job. If he really is the one running that Bronco offense I want him. That shows he has patience in the run game and knows how to take advantage of… unique… capabilities (Tim Tebow)
I live and die on Saturday's
Funny that Sanford is the popular pick here..
I think you all just want to go back to the days of Alex Smith tossing frozen ropes to Steve Savoy and Paris Warren, can’t blame you, put a potent offense with the defense you guys have and I don’t know who could beat you guys!
I highly doubt that Whittingham hires someone who runs the spread.
The offense that Chow installed this year is the type of offense that Kyle wants to run: a ball control offense that scores enough points and doesn’t turn it over. Think San Francisco 49ers. The new OC will be someone who commands respect and is well-versed in the Pro-Style Offense. That is why I like Steve Fairchild so much. He has run his own program at CSU and he was an offensive coordinator in the NFL. He is also looking for a job and would probably take the Utah OC job in a heartbeat. Who cares if he really wasn’t a successful head coach? Not everybody is cut out to do so. All we would be asking him to do is to basically take over where Chow left off. He is also a really good recruiter.
by pappyman on Dec 23, 2011 3:03 PM MST via iPhone app up reply actions
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