VIDEO: Head Coach Chow Weekly Press Conference

HONOLULU – University of Hawai'i Warrior football head coach Norm Chow conducted his first weekly press conference on Monday, looking ahead to UH's season opener at USC on Saturday, Sept. 1.
 
Opening Statement…
No one has more respect and admiration for the University of Southern California football program than I do. I was fortunate to have coached there. Great people, great coaches from Mike Garret to Pat Haden to Lane (Kiffin) and all the coaches, I worked with some of them.  Two of my kids graduated from there. But you know what, it's not about them, it's not about them at all. We know what they are, we know who they are. We watch them on film and they are hard to stop. But it's about our guys and their willingness to do the things that need to get done. We are going to have to fight and work to do the things we want to do. It's a good measuring stick for us and the ball is our block. It's a funny shaped ball, it bounces weird ways. If we can fight and stay in the game, we'll see what happens. We told our guys, you can't win the game after the first, you can't win the game after the second, you can't win the game after the third, you can only win it after the fourth quarter. We will fight them to the end and if we do that, we will accept what ever consequences that come after that. If we're successful, we have to play another one. If we are not successful we have to play another one. So we understand that. Our guys are anxious and ready to go. They are tired of hitting each other, and it's about time we start hitting someone else.
 
On getting the most out of his players…
You know, that's so hard to measure. I looked at the tape from Saturday and was a little disappointed because we want to practice our way; we want to play a certain way. And I saw that they realized we maybe weren't going to tackle, weren't wearing pads, and weren't going to go full speed. And I saw a little of drop off, effort wise. So are we there yet? Probably not. But do I think our guys want to get there, I think they do. I'm not sure that they know how to or what our expectation level is for them just about now. But I think they've made good progress and it's a terrific group of players. We just have to make sure they understand where we want to go. It's a very difficult, daunting schedule in front of us. But to answer your question…are we there yet? Probably not.
 
On a tough opener at No. 1 USC…
We just hope they're not overwhelmed. We tried to talk to them about it and even thought about going over there before, but I don't think so. You know, they understand, they read the paper, they know. You don't fool kids, I don't think you ever fool the players. We just have to go and convince them once the game starts they have a different color jersey. It's like go face the snakes. We certainly understand and respect who they are. We just have to go out and perform.
 
On coaching his first game from the field…
I hope I don't trip walking out on the field. I've never been on the field. It's another game, once the game gets started…I have coached a game from the field. And it sounds coach-speak but, it's not about me. I'm anxious to watch our guys perform, I really am. We'll manage, we have great coaches. We've gone over the scenarios of the game time and time again. Will we make mistakes? I'm not sure. Will we make sure we use our time outs right, that kind of thing? We will just have to see. I don't even think about that. I'm more worried about how our players are gonna react and about how I'm gonna do.
 
On his familiarity with USC coaches…
Maybe a little bit. They have terrific football coaches. Monte Kiffin is an icon in both college and NFL coaching and he does a terrific job of getting his players ready and always runs the same way. Obviously we watch the tape and understand their schemes, But are we good enough to attack their schemes? We'll just have to wait and see. They're good now, they are awfully good and they are very well coached. Monte's down on defense and then there's Ron (Ed Orgeron). You know Lane and Kennedy Polomalu, who's also a friend of mine on offense. I think, we know a little bit of what they're gonna do and they know a little bit about what we are gonna do. Now it's just a matter of our guys going out there.
 
Expectations of how receptive USC fans will be…
I've been back a couple of times since then and I like Los Angeles. It hasn't been bad, and I don't think it will be bad then. USC fans are very sophisticated, they understand. They like to win just like everybody else, but they understand and I don't think there will be any negative reaction to us showing up.
 
On relationship with head coach Lane Kiffin and USC…
USC gave me a tremendous opportunity. When Pete (Carroll) called it was an exciting challenge to be a part of and obviously we had lots of success there. Lane was an up-and-coming guy and knew where he wanted to go. But that's all exaggerated; Pete encourages guys on his staff to move on, that's Pete's mantra. He wants people to improve and have new chances. If it weren't for Pete Carroll I wouldn't have had a chance at the NFL. So that's just media stuff. I see Lane all the time, we both live in Manhattan Beach.
 
On not practicing at Coliseum…
No, even as an assistant I've never believed in going there the Friday before. What are you gonna see? An empty stadium. I just hope, I remember when I was at  UCLA we played a team and after the game was over the coach was a friend of mine, said he knew they were in trouble because they wouldn't put their cameras down. Hopefully our guys don't take their cameras to the Coliseum.
 
On USC's new athletic facilities…
I knew their plans and all. It's an amazing (facility)…but that's typical USC. That's why I enjoyed it so much. It was a firm commitment from the president, to the boosters to everybody. They commit to cover the athletics, and it shows. It shows by that magnificent new building they have. And I heard someone made the statement that it will easy for them to recruit. But hey, we're gonna play them, we're gonna fight them. And I think our guys really believe that we have a chance. We do. That's why we play the game, right? But no question, like I said earlier, it's a program that everyone should try to emulate. Especially on the West Coast. It's them and Oregon and maybe Stanford. Everybody else needs to try to be like them.
 
On USC quarterback Matt Barkley…
Yes, I know Matt. I know him very well. I like Matt, he's a good player. And just like (wide receiver) Robert Woods…we tried to recruit those players and not only are they good players they are good people and that's what USC does for them.
 
On USC's talent…
Unbelievable. They have tremendous talent, but they couple that with a real solid scheme and they couple that with…the guys are gonna play hard. You play hard when you go to USC. That's the only thing that matters. That they have the right temperament and they play hard and you know they are playing a bunch of young guys…Hopefully it's the kind of culture that we'll have one day. I remember we went off to play in the national championship game and I was in the hotel and my wife asked me how do you think you're gonna do? And I said I don't really know because of the talent level we are playing. But Ill tell you what, those other guys better be ready because our guys are gonna play hard. And sure enough, our guys playing at USC at the time, the tempo took over and it wasn't even a contest.
 
On the offensive line…
We are awfully young. I think they've come along very well. I think the mentality of the type of players we have are…a lot more aggressive if you will. And I think they enjoy the going forward instead of dropping back all the time and we've done a nice job with that. I mean, can we hold up? We'll just have to see. They've done a good job. Sean Shigematsu I think is a sophomore.  Our center (Ben Clarke) is a (redshirt) freshman. And our guards, (Dave) Lefotu played some last year but he's only a (sophomore) and Kapua Sai came in from Utah and he's only a junior. And our left tackle (Blake Muir) is a redshirt freshman. We start two freshman, a sophomore and two juniors. So it's young, but I think they've kind of hung together and they are gonna have that mentality…and hopefully they'll take enough pride in what they're doing.
 
On week to week preparation…
It's all the same, it's all the same. Maybe today will be a little bit different than a normal Monday would be, but we are gonna work today as if …we'll be coming off a game. Tomorrow will be tough, Wednesday will be tough. Thursday is so unique. I've never done this before.We're gonna have to practice in the morning and then we're gonna get on an airplane. Thursday will be the same kind of Thursday practice, but it will just be early in the morning.
 
On travel wardrobe…
They are all gonna dress alike. We've done some studies. We've been in contact with a sleep specialist from Stanford, a gal whose been very helpful. So we're gonna try. Again, none of us, the coaches have experienced this. (Assistant Coach) Tony (Tuioti) has. But yes, they are going to travel like gentlemen. We're gonna act properly, we're gonna look proper and we're gonna do the best we can to represent this place and be a team. And they are looking forward to that and I think we are as well.
 
On pregame talks…
I've always thought pregame talks were the most exaggerated talks in the world. If they're not ready by then they probably won't be. My pregame talk will say, 'does anybody have to go the restroom?' I'll talk to them on Friday. I'm honored to be the head coach, I really am. These young guys have done everything we've asked. We know we've had some setbacks. But I'm really anxious to watch them play, I really am. These guys, whatever the result will be, we're gonna have to come back and get ready for tomorrow anyway. So the long answer to your short question is I don't know. I really haven't sat around and tried to figure that out just yet.