Chow Knows This Turf Well

USC’s game Saturday at Brigham Young is a homecoming of sorts for Norm Chow, but the Trojan offensive coordinator is not expected to shed any tears.

Just as he did last season, before USC played host to the Cougars at the Coliseum, Chow said Tuesday that he had no special feeling for playing against a program in which he spent more than 25 years as an assistant coach.

“We were of a different era, a different time,” said Chow, who left BYU after the 1999 season when it became clear that he would not succeed LaVell Edwards as head coach. “I still have friends there but no family.”

Chow, 58, does not anticipate a long period of reminiscing when he enters LaVell Edwards Stadium.

“That will take about five minutes,” he said.

“Once the game starts, all you see is an opponent in a different jersey.”

*

Sophomore defensive tackle Manuel Wright, who had six tackles, including a sack, and returned a fumble 20 yards for a touchdown against Colorado State, worked in practice as part of defensive line that featured senior Mike Patterson at nose tackle and senior Shaun Cody and freshman Jeff Schweiger at ends.

“There’s nothing better than a guy playing so good that you’ve got to figure out a way to play him,” said Coach Pete Carroll, who added that he was still looking at various line combinations.

Wright, 6 feet 6 and 295 pounds, said he was approaching the shape he was in for the Rose Bowl, allowing Cody to move to end.

“Coach says if he’s making a sacrifice to put an All-American at defensive end, I’m doing something right. So just keep doing what I’m doing,” Wright said.

Cody would gladly leave behind the double- and triple-teams he has faced for a chance to rush the quarterback.

“Get off the end, single blocks, have some fun,” Cody said.

*

Carroll, who turns 53 today, said tailback Hershel Dennis, “looked like he hadn’t missed a step,” but stopped short of saying that Dennis would play against BYU.... Cornerback Kevin Arbet said results of an MRI exam on his right hamstring revealed a slight tear, but that he would play against BYU.