Despite its head coach’s absence because of a family emergency, the University of Hawaii football team is trying to maintain a business-as-usual approach.
After Saturday’s 28-14 road loss to Rice in Houston, coach Norm Chow traveled to Los Angeles to be with his wife, Diane, at the UCLA Medical Center.
On Friday, Diane Chow suffered a brain aneurism. She underwent a procedure in which a coil was placed to stop the small bleeding. On Saturday, she underwent a procedure to drain fluid in her head.
Norm Chow was prepared to travel to Los Angeles on Friday evening. But family and doctors said there was little he could do while she was undergoing the procedure.
He coached the team on Saturday, then departed early Sunday for Los Angeles. The rest of the Warriors’ travel party took a non-stop flight to Honolulu on Sunday.
Chow was emotional when he arrived in Los Angeles. If his wife’s condition improves and barring any complications, Chow might return to Hawaii this evening. The Warriors usually do not practice on Mondays. Instead, they review videos and participate in conditioning drills.
Daronte’ Jones, who is assistant head coach and coordinator of the defensive secondary, is handling Chow’s administrative duties.
"We’re a team unit," Jones insisted. "It’s not one guy taking over. It’s the entire staff filling in for our leader. Everyone is going to do their part. Business goes on."
Chow promoted Jones to assistant head coach this past spring.
"When coach Chow gave me that position, he trusted me with that position," Jones said. "It’s unfortunate it comes during this time. But again, it’s a total effort amongst the whole staff. It’s not going to be a one-man show. We’re all coming together to make up coach Chow’s absence. That’s part of the family culture that coach Chow created."
The players did not learn of Diane Chow’s condition until after the Rice game.
"Family comes first," defensive end Beau Yap said on Sunday. "It would be tough on anybody. I can’t imagine what he’s going through right now. I just hope she’s OK.
"We’ll definitely rally around them."
Quarterback Ikaika Woolsey said: "We’re here for coach Chow, and we’ll continue to pray for him and his family. Sometimes we get caught up in playing the game.
"At the end of the day, there are real-life situations like what coach Chow is going through right now."
