Walk away from $1 million because it’s the “honorable” thing? Ridiculous

Yes, if the University of Hawaii were like other Division I football programs, Norm Chow would be fired and his $750,000 buyout would be absorbed — and it would’ve been done already.

But UH isn’t like other schools, and we can continue that discussion forever and ever (or you can).

Meanwhile, one of the more silly lines of thought (or, actually, lack of thought) is this idea of Chow resigning for the sake of his “honor.”

People who believe that might or should happen are living in a fantasy world. Also,they are either hypocrites, extremely wealthy or crazy. Let’s see you walk away from a million dollars for your “honor.”

The only way I think Chow might resign is through a negotiated settlement, and that would be because he decides he needs to spend more time with his ailing wife.


But people insisting he should resign because it’s for the good of the program are ridiculous. And, unless there’s some skeleton that I don’t know about, UH doesn’t have any leverage to force Chow out like it did with the previous coach.

It would be nice if the supporters who were so adamant in hiring Chow would help him exit gracefully, but in order to fix a mistake one must be willing to acknowledge first that one has been made.


Let’s say UH beats UNLV and then is competitive in a season-ending loss at Fresno State .. in my mind, the most likely end-game scenario of the 2014 season. My semi-educated guess is UH will cite “progress” in an improvement from 1-11 last year to 4-9 this season and no change is made, other than, perhaps, the hiring of a more experienced offensive coordinator.

Of course, fans will be unhappy. But unless they are the fans who write big checks (not just the relatively smaller ones for season tickets) will anyone really hear them?

COMMENTS

  1. Les November 21, 2014 3:34 pm

    Yes, just guys blowing smoke. I wouldn’t either (walk away). I have a feeling next year will be better. Well we be a SEC or Pac 12 team that can compete with Oregon or USC. We might give them a go for 2 quarters but too much talent will take its toll like it did this season. At least we aren’t in as bad a shape as UNLV. They have a dysfunctional BOR on par with ours.


  2. hatakeman November 21, 2014 5:05 pm

    Hiring an OC might not be a quick fix for the lagging offensive output. For example, when it was announced that Will Muschamp was stepping down at Florida, the reporter also mentioned that Muschamp tried to get more production out of his offense. But it wasn’t happening, in spite changes in the OC and consecutive successful recruiting classes. On the D side of the ball, the Gators, however, ranked eighth in total defense in 2011, fifth in 2012 and eighth last year.


  3. innocent observer November 21, 2014 6:48 pm

    we are not asking to walk away from $1 m- what we believe is that he should negotiate a settlement similar to being fired, but he resigns instead, that would make his release appear more favorable. nobody wants to be fired. no matter what chow is not a good head coach. even if they win out, they will only have 5 wins. next year the cupboard will be bare, it has not been able to recruit good players. even if allowed to stay on next year, the win-loss record will not improve and people will no support the program if chow is kept on, resulting in more losses for he football program and the whole athletic program. if he claims that he wants his players to win and be happy but he cannot deliver. if he resigns there is no doubt the next coach will do much better than chow and the players will win and be happy. chow wants to force players into a system instead of using a system to the type of players he has. this is very stupid. by the way, we think you are ridiculous.


  4. amela November 21, 2014 7:09 pm

    Don’t tell me a new OC isn’t going to help the program. Get Rolovich, that’s a start.


  5. Cali November 21, 2014 9:00 pm

    Yah we lose more money by keeping him, pay now or lose more later. That’s the problem our director has no vision and neither do you. It is not ok to settle for what we have, chow needs to go.


  6. 808 November 21, 2014 9:02 pm

    2017 season is around the corner.


  7. 808 November 21, 2014 9:13 pm

    This year’s football team is definitely improved from last year. I just hope they can fill the holes on defense and special teams (Scott Harding).

    Looks like UH admin is set with Chow. UH could end at 4-9 or 5-8. I hope UH ends on a 3 game winning streak. The players deserve it. As far as buyout, it won’t happen unless only 100 people go through the turnstiles tomorrow night.


  8. Warrior Dog November 21, 2014 11:06 pm

    My season tickets will be available if Chow stays. I’m not dishing out $1500 to watch his type of football.


  9. CriticalReader November 21, 2014 11:44 pm

    Is it a silly line of thought hecause Norm Chow has no honor? Or because he just wouldn’t do it? Or because there are nk questions of honor involved?

    I think you’re right, Dave, but for the first and second reasons only.

    I think it’s unlikely that Chow will resign to keep his “honor”. If that were a concern, he would have resigned after last year.

    What bothers me is that he doesn’t deserve a buy out. I can’t see buying someone out of a contract they’ve failed to perform miserably.


  10. Makiki November 22, 2014 5:11 am

    Just replacing the coach won’t fix the entire program. I am NOT defending Norm Chow but I can’t fully blame him either as he is only part of the problem. I don’t think that there is or was a coach that could make a discernible difference in the program.

    It is a cart before the horse scenario – in a perfect world there would be a fan base that fills the stadium every home game and financially supports the program and those funds are managed by a competent administration. Everything else will fall into place after that. Coaches and players will be attracted to the system and the outcome will be a strong program with a winning team with happy and supportive fans.

    By just changing the coach the only way to get a winning season and bolster fan support would be to have all of the stars align – decent coaching, decent players, easy schedule. Sound familiar? Possible but not sustainable.


  11. EMS November 22, 2014 7:29 am

    Chow or no Chow…I’m supporting the TEAM not the BOR, coach, or administrator. These people will come and go I want the team to stay. I’ll be happy to upgrade my tickets to 50 yard line seats next year.


  12. 808 November 22, 2014 11:13 am

    With the current business model UH operates under where UH football makes the money and someone else benefits from it, my vision is regardless who is HC, UH football will always live in mediocrity. They may win more games with another coach but it won’t last. Chow and BJ are part of a much bigger problem.


  13. jr808 November 24, 2014 5:56 am

    Supporters and detractors have a right to their own opinions – I will renew my season tickets in ’15. I like golf for the same reason I like football – you can hit the perfect drive, then skull your approach……but knowing that you are capable of hitting that drive brings me back for more. The Warriors are the same – they can make the pass, the catch, the tackle at any given time – and they do which brings me back for more. My golf and the Warriors football lack only one thing – consistency.


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