Posted on: Monday, December 13, 2004

What more can Chow do?

By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Columnist

As the offensive coordinator at the University of Southern California, Norm Chow occupies an expansive, well-appointed upstairs office in Heritage Hall.

But it really does not contain a machine that mints Heisman Trophies. Sometimes, like this weekend, it only seems that way.

When Trojans' quarterback Matt Leinart was named the 2004 Heisman winner Saturday, he became the second Chow protégé in three years — and third overall — to earn college football's most prestigious award.

From Ty Detmer (1990) to Carson Palmer (2002) and, now, Leinart, Chow, a former Punahou School player and ex-Waialua High coach, might be the only quarterback coach in the country to have tutored three Heisman winners. "That's what I've been told but I really don't know if it is true," Chow said.

"Besides, I don't know how much I've had to do with them winning (it). Even if you've had only a small hand in it, it is exciting to see them and their families enjoy it," said Chow, who will be attending the formal Heisman banquet tonight in New York. "It is something to see, it really is."

Yet, this has been something of a bittersweet weekend for Chow who, for all the reflected glory that has gone his way with the Heisman, was passed over for his own "prize" of sorts, the head coaching job at Stanford that went to University of Pittsburgh coach Walt Harris.

For all of his Midas touch with quarterbacks in a remarkable line that stretches from Jim McMahon and Steve Young at BYU in the 1970s and 1980s to Philip Rivers at North Carolina State and on to USC, there is disappointment at not landing the Stanford head position.

Next to the BYU job that the Cougars curiously cast for elsewhere in 2001 (and are still paying the price for), you suspect, Stanford was the one Chow really had his heart set on.

"I don't know what it is," said Chow, who turned down the Kentucky job three years ago and was a finalist at both Arizona and Stanford. "Maybe Kamehameha Schools on Maui will have an opening for me, someday."

At age 58, who knows how many more chances might come around, especially like Stanford where, with his knowledge of the passing offense, rapport with players and doctorate in education, Chow seemed such a smooth and obvious fit.

Stanford's loss remains USC's continued gain. And the Trojans, who have given Chow a package reported to be worth $500,000 to $600,000 as the top assistant coach contract in college football, know it full well. "They're loyal to me and I'll be loyal to them," Chow said. "It has been a great place to coach."

Meanwhile, quarterback prospects and future Heisman Trophy and NFL hopefuls have been lining up outside the Trojans' door for a couple of years now, ever since Chow arrived.

All because some people really do believe, somewhere in there, Chow does have a machine to mint Heismans.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.