Norm Chow

In the relatively cloistered world of college football, Demetrius Papadakis qualifies as a blasphemer. His father, John, played at USC in the early 1970s. One older brother, Taso, played linebacker for the Trojans and another, Petros, was a tailback. The family restaurant, Papadakis Taverna in San Pedro, is a USC hangout. So how did Demetrius end up as a walk-on fullback at UCLA? "My family has been very true Trojans," his father said. "But what can I say? UCLA noticed him and encouraged him."

USC could see a familiar face on the opposite sideline when the Trojans open the 2012 football season against Hawaii on Sept. 1 at the Coliseum. Norm Chow, the Trojans' offensive coordinator for two national championship teams, is expected to be named head coach at Hawaii, according to multiple published reports. Chow, 65, is offensive coordinator for Utah, which is preparing for the Dec. 31 Sun Bowl against Georgia Tech. "I don't know what the reports are saying but there's nothing been finalized," Chow said after practice Tuesday.

Whether Norm Chow remains at UCLA as the football team's offensive coordinator or bolts across town to rejoin USC will be determined by money. Chow, who is in the final year of a three-year contract, has asked UCLA to extend his contact. The request was made after USC contacted him, according to a UCLA athletics source who requested anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the situation. During an evening conference call with reporters, UCLA Coach Rick Neuheisel said Chow "assured me that he wanted to be at UCLA" earlier in the day. Chow is set to make $640,000 at UCLA next season, which includes a $250,000 bonus if he is the offensive coordinator on the first day of spring practice.

With the recent ups and downs of the UCLA football team, the casual fan might think that nothing is more volatile than Bruins football. However, over the last decade-plus, there has emerged an entirely predictable pattern to the program, best described by the words of their own fans. The only variable is the time between each phase: Phase 1: "We've finally found the guy. This is the coach whose hiring finally shows the school's commitment to being a football power. " Phase 2: "We have a great coach!"

Offensive coordinator Norm Chow is excited to be at UCLA, repeating that several times during a conference call Thursday to announce he would not be leaving to coach at USC. So after two days of false reports, speculation and maneuvering, Chow and USC transition from "will he?" to "what happens now?" USC Coach Lane Kiffin will continue filling out his staff, after the Trojans failed to get a major piece of their dream team to go with Monte Kiffin and Ed Orgeron. Chow will go back to UCLA, and is expected to receive the contract extension he sought, following a public courting by the school's cross-town rival.

It's quieter this year, with fewer questions about their infamous split, but USC Coach Pete Carroll is looking forward to matching wits again with Norm Chow when the Trojans play UCLA on Saturday at the Coliseum. Chow, the Bruins' second-year offensive coordinator, held the same post for USC from 2001 to 2004 and helped Carroll win two national championships. A common lament among USC fans: The Trojans haven't won a national title since Chow left. USC is on its third offensive coordinator since Chow departed for the NFL before the 2005 season, Jeremy Bates having followed Lane Kiffin and Steve Sarkisian as the Trojans' play-caller.

Norm Chow appears to be out as UCLA's offensive coordinator, but whether the coach will remain with the Bruins or leave the program hasn't been determined. Mike Johnson, most recently the offensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers, appears set to take a similar position with UCLA, according a person inside the Bruins football program who was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. UCLA spokesman Marc Dellins said Wednesday that Johnson had not been hired. But a person in the program with knowledge of the situation said head Coach Rick Neuheisel had interviewed Johnson and they had been talking.

UCLA will get to keep its offensive coordinator for two more seasons, as Norm Chow has agreed in principle to an extension that it is believed will make him the highest-paid assistant coach in Bruins history, an athletic department source said. Chow, long considered one of college football's top offensive coordinators, is expected to earn between $400,000 and 500,000 per season under the two-year extension, said the source, who was not authorized to comment publicly on the contract.

UCLA will be paying former offensive coordinator Norm Chow $500,000 while he is coaching at Utah this year, according to information obtained by The Times through a public-records request. That was UCLA's buyout to entice Chow to resign in January after he was removed as offensive coordinator. He would have been reassigned to another position on staff had he not resigned. As Utah's offensive coordinator, Chow has a two-year, $550,000 contract, making him the Utes' highest-paid assistant.

USC could see a familiar face on the opposite sideline when the Trojans open the 2012 football season against Hawaii on Sept. 1 at the Coliseum. Norm Chow, the Trojans' offensive coordinator for two national championship teams, is expected to be named head coach at Hawaii, according to multiple published reports. Chow, 65, is offensive coordinator for Utah, which is preparing for the Dec. 31 Sun Bowl against Georgia Tech. "I don't know what the reports are saying but there's nothing been finalized," Chow said after practice Tuesday.

From Salt Lake City -- The facts are as cold as the night here. Rick Neuheisel has been unable to make the case he has what it takes to rally support for the UCLA football program and buy himself more time as coach. This game was huge, and that might very well be an understatement given the focus on his remarkable comeback. It was a defining moment for Neuheisel, a third straight conference win Saturday night in this Utah refrigerator and both UCLA and Neuheisel could make the argument they're back.

The college football world has ruled on UCLA's 29-28 victory over No. 20 Arizona State last Saturday. * The Sun Devils were kicked out of every top 25 poll. * UCLA didn't receive one vote in any poll. * Utah, which lost its first four Pacific 12 Conference games, is a 71/2 -point favorite against the Bruins on Saturday. "To be honest, none of that surprises me," UCLA senior defensive tackle Justin Edison said. "There are a lot of non-believers out there who think the Arizona State game was just a fluke.

Utah offensive coordinator Norm Chow will face his former employer when UCLA plays the Utes on Saturday. Chow was the Bruins' offensive coordinator last season but was indifferent about playing against a past paycheck. "I am too old for all that," Chow said. "It's another game that these guys have to win to be bowl-eligible, and I'm serious about that. " Utah, like UCLA, is 5-4, one victory shy of bowl eligibility. This is the third time this season that he has faced a former team.

Rick Neuheisel would be a great college football coach if he'd just fix a few of the little things … such as his win-loss record, meaningful bowl appearances, excitement around the program, embarrassing home losses, and describing every major flaw as simply a little one. Larry Yells Hermosa Beach :: A note to Dan Guerrero: Now, with the Bruins humiliated by Texas at the Rose Bowl, and Rick Neuhisel's demise as coach a certainty, please...

USC's Pacific 12 Conference game against Utah on Saturday will be a reunion of sorts at the Coliseum. Several key members of a former USC staff that helped guide the Trojans to their first three Bowl Championship Series bowl games, the 2003 and 2004 Associated Press national titles and the now-vacated 2004 BCS title will be on opposite sidelines. USC Coach Lane Kiffin was the Trojans' passing game coordinator and receivers coach in 2004, when USC was undefeated and trounced Oklahoma in the BCS title game.

UCLA Coach Rick Neuheisel tried a preemptive strike a few weeks ago at the Pacific 12 Conference's football media day. He opened with a joke: "I'm excited to be here. As a coach on the proverbial hot seat, I'm excited to be invited to any of these things. " Laughing it off? Not quite. In the game of college football monopoly, Neuheisel may have just one dice roll left. After three seasons in which UCLA has looked no better off then when he was hired in 2008, fans are restless.

UCLA made dramatic changes to its football coaching staff Saturday, firing Norm Chow as offensive coordinator and hiring Mike Johnson to replace him. Chow, 64, was hired as offensive coordinator at Utah on Saturday afternoon. He chose to negotiate a buyout to a contract extension that would have paid him $1 million over the next two seasons rather than remain at UCLA and be demoted to a lesser coaching position. "We reached a mutual agreement on terms of separation. The agreement allowed for a smooth transition that was satisfactory for both parties and amicable," UCLA spokesman Marc Dellins said.

Norm Chow's contract situation at UCLA could delay Coach Rick Neuheisel's attempts to reshape his staff. Although Neuheisel has zeroed in on a new offensive coordinator, he still must shed himself of Chow, his offensive coordinator for the last three seasons. Neuheisel and former San Francisco assistant Mike Johnson have been in talks. UCLA spokesman Marc Dellins said Wednesday that no one had been offered a job. Chow's situation probably will need to be resolved first.

He shows up with a pleasantly tanned face and wearing cheerfully checkered shorts. He casually drapes himself across his office couch as if he's lounging by the pool. Yet none of it can mask the wintry truth. Rick Neuheisel has one more chance, and he knows it. In less than two months, he will begin what could be a final sweaty awakening from his dream job, a tortured process in which he might be tossed out of bed by angry alumni and thrown into the streets by Dan Guerrero.

UCLA will be paying former offensive coordinator Norm Chow $500,000 while he is coaching at Utah this year, according to information obtained by The Times through a public-records request. That was UCLA's buyout to entice Chow to resign in January after he was removed as offensive coordinator. He would have been reassigned to another position on staff had he not resigned. As Utah's offensive coordinator, Chow has a two-year, $550,000 contract, making him the Utes' highest-paid assistant.