Norm Chow's return

This isn’t the first time UCLA offensive coordinator Norm Chow has come back to Provo since leaving in 1999. He was the O-coordinator for USC in 2004 when the Trojans defeated BYU, 42-10.

Cougar coach Bronco Mendenhall acknowledges Chow’s history at BYU, but he is, of course, downplaying the return as a factor in Saturday’s game against UCLA.
“It’s been a long, long time ago. Certainly, he was part of all of the championships and dynasties, etc. But what concerns me is that he is an excellent coach. Whether he coached here at BYU or not, that’s what my concern is.”

Later, during the MWC teleconference, Mendenhall had this to say about Chow: “Maybe on a side note, many times people in their own communities aren’t appreciated as much as they are nationwide. (Former BYU) Coach (Gary) Crowton certainly had a great track record before BYU, and is now as the offensive coordinator at LSU. Norm Chow would be similar. As other coaches have done, this community and this state and this institution has very high expectations, and they are very difficult to live up to, and if you don’t live up to that you are being viewed as not as skilled.”

UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel was asked about Chow coming back to the place he helped BYU win a national championship.
“Coach Chow obviously had a great career at BYU. DeWayne (Walker, UCLA’s defensive coordinator and a former BYU assistant, in 1995) remembers his time at BYU very fondly. So obviously it is going to be a fun experience for them. Hopefully it will be fun at the end of the game as well as at the beginning, because it is a very very tall challenge.”

Now that he’s been gone from BYU’s program for nearly 10 years, what are your memories of and thoughts on Chow? Do you appreciate his contributions? Are you glad he left? Do you wish he had never left?