Norm Chow

It occurs to me that Joe Torre and Norm Chow were separated at birth. Sure, they both have stellar reputations, but where? Joe with the Yankees, the best team that money can buy and with the Dodgers with a healthy Manny. But take away his record with the Yankees, he's got a losing record as a manager. As for Norm, when he was at USC and had the best college players at his disposal, he could do no wrong. At BYU, the quarterbacks were good. And now he's at UCLA, where the talent level is lower and Norm's true coaching "expertise" has been exposed.

UCLA offensive coordinator Norm Chow will at least get paid. Chow's two-year contract extension was approved by the University of California Board of Regents late last week. UCLA was notified Monday, but Athletic Director Dan Guerrero , who was traveling with the basketball team, was not informed until Wednesday, a UCLA spokesman said. The extension, agreed to in July, is believed to be worth about $500,000 a season. "I'm excited," Coach Rick Neuheisel said.

When UCLA Coach Rick Neuheisel showed up at Norm Chow's home in 2008, selling him on becoming offensive coordinator, the process moved quickly. A month later, Chow's contract was approved by the University of California's committee on compensation. Things have moved considerably slower with Chow's contract extension. Chow and UCLA agreed on the deal in July. So when Neuheisel left open the possibility that Chow might not return, the question about his two-year extension came off the back burner.

Rick Neuheisel made it clear during a Monday afternoon news conference that he was not ready to commit to bringing back offensive coordinator Norm Chow next season. Chow made it clear Monday evening that the decision was out of his hands, saying, "I would like to come back. I have an agreement. No one is more disappointed in the offense than me. Certainly it is his prerogative to do that. He can let us go, stay with us or not. " Chow is in the third year of a three-year contract but has agreed in principle to a two-year contract extension believed to be worth about $500,000 a season.

Norm Chow, UCLA's offensive coordinator, has coached three Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks. And Ty Detmer, Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart didn't come home with the hardware because they were good at handing off. So when the Bruins passed for a meager 27 yards in beating Texas last Saturday, it was certainly out of the, uh, Norm. "My son ran into [ New Orleans Saints' Coach] Sean Payton this week and he said, 'Tell your dad he's out of the passing club,' " Chow said, laughing.

If there has been one constant thought during UCLA's training camp this summer, it's that freshman Anthony Barr appears ready to play college football. Barr, 6 feet 5 and 228 pounds, has been impressive playing the F-back spot in the pistol offense. The position is similar to the type of motion receiver the Bruins used the last two seasons, only there are more opportunities as a runner and receiver. "It's not just power blocking all the time," offensive coordinator Norm Chow said.

UCLA offensive coordinator Norm Chow is preparing for what will be thrown the Bruins' way this fall, beyond whatever the Kansas State defense has in mind for the season opener. Chow chuckled when told some of the many jokes columnists, analysts and headline writers have had holstered at the ready since UCLA adopted the "pistol" offense. All want to see the . . . wait for it . . . "caliber" of play it produces. "Pistol whipped," "gun controlled" and " shooting blanks" were accurate portrayals when the offense, pioneered by Nevada Coach Chris Ault, sputtered through the Bruins' spring game.

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.

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.

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.