Truth is, USC misses Chow

It is a truth that most USC fans have either avoided or denied, and who can blame them?

In the last eight years, it has been their toughest loss. Since the Pete Carroll era began, it has been his biggest miscalculation.

Nobody really talks about it anymore, it exists far across town and deep in the standings, it's nearly disappeared under four years of obscurity and disappointment.

But it's still there. And Saturday, from high in the Rose Bowl press box, for the first time since becoming painfully evident, this truth will be staring them directly in the face.

The Trojans miss Norm Chow. They miss him bad. They miss him historically bad.

"We miss all of our coaches who have left," said Carroll.

No, they miss him worse. They miss him national-championship bad.

The truth is, if Chow did not leave USC in 2005 after a personality clash with Carroll, they could have played for three more national titles.

The truth is, in each of the first three seasons after Chow left, in three games they should have won, the Trojans offense slipped into a confused funk that led to three defeats.

"Norm was a wonderful coach here, but he was replaced by other great coaches," said Carroll. "Over the years, I believe our coaching staff has maintained its standard of excellence."

But truth is, while Lane Kiffin and Steve Sarkisian were consistent winners, neither had Chow's savvy to survive the big moments.

You think Chow could have prevented the late offensive meltdown in the national championship game against Texas?

With Chow in the booth, there is no way Reggie Bush would not have been on the field on that infamous fourth-and-two play on the Texas 45-yard line. If Bush is on the field, at least one more defender is occupied, and LenDale White probably gains the extra yard that would have clinched the victory.

You think Chow could have figured out a way to score on that last drive against UCLA?

With Chow in the booth, there is no way that USC's attempted game-winning march -- with 5:52 remaining and three timeouts left from their 29-yard line -- would have consisted of a dozen John David Booty passes and just one C.J. Gable run. It was so predictable, UCLA was waiting for that pick.

You think Chow would have screamed when Booty tried to play the second half against Stanford with a broken finger?