No chance for a FOM to coach Chargers

By: STEVE SCHOLFIELD - North County Times | Sunday, February 18, 2007 8:07 PM PST ∞

Monday morning musings: As the Chargers continue their search for a new head coach, the final decision remains a mystery.

Many are being run through auditions "American Idol" style. We don't know who is going to win this sweepstakes.

But I can tell you who it won't be.

Let's start with former Pittsburgh coach Bill Cowher. He has no chance even if he applied for the job.

Many of the e-mails I have received from loyal Bolts backers think Cowher would be a perfect fit for San Diego. After all, he's a proven winner.

But he has one thing going against him: His friendship with Marty Schottenheimer. Chargers general manager A.J. Smith, as you know, is making this call. He is not likely to hire anyone who is a FOM (Friend of Marty).

Besides, Cowher just left the Steelers and will probably need at least a year before he gets that itch to coach again.

Steve Mariucci and Dennis Green don't have a chance, either.

During last Monday's press briefing announcing the firing of Schottenheimer, I wrote the names of Mariucci and Green on a piece of paper and handed them to Chargers president Dean Spanos, who smiled and shook his head no. When I tried to pry another name out of him he said, "I better stop this."

So where does that leave us? If Smith plays it safe and goes with a coach with NFL experience, he'll select Norv Turner of San Francisco. He's an offensive specialist. Smith could then select Ted Cottrell to run the defense. Cottrell was the defensive coordinator with Buffalo (1998-2000) the same time Smith was the director of pro personnel for the Bills.

If Smith really wants to solidify the Chargers' staff he should consider making new offensive coordinator Clarence Shelmon head coach.

Few coaches are more respected by the players than Shelmon, who has been the team's running backs coach for five seasons. He has a close relationship with LaDainian Tomlinson and has 16 years of professional experience. Before coaching Tomlinson, Shelmon helped mold the careers of two other fine running backs, Seattle's Chris Warren and Dallas' Emmitt Smith.

> Miami quarterback Cleo Lemon, who was once the property of the Chargers, will get a chance to compete for playing time under new head coach Cam Cameron.

It makes sense. Lemon was one of Cameron's favorites when he was here two years ago. But he was traded to Miami in October 2005. The trade of Lemon marks the time when the public heard about the feud between Smith and Schottenheimer. Smith made the trade without telling the head coach.

Lemon will compete against Daunte Culpepper and Joey Harrington for playing time.

> It was fun listening to David Wells and Don Larsen, the perfect-game pitchers out of Point Loma High, who were together at a Hall of Champions luncheon last week.

Asked to name the toughest hitter he had to face, Larsen picked Ted Williams.

"He called his own game," Larsen said. "If he took a pitch, it was a ball."

Jerry Coleman served as master of ceremonies at the luncheon and noticed former Chargers defensive tackle Gary "Big Hands" Johnson in the room.

"If my chest would have been as big as your legs," Coleman said to Johnson, "I would have been a star."

> Just when you think the San Diego State men's basketball team is going to make this season interesting, it blows another game. The Aztecs' loss at Wyoming on Saturday dropped their Mountain West Conference record to 7-5. That pretty much ended their chance of winning the conference regular-season title. With four games left, San Diego State trails Brigham Young (10-2), Air Force (10-3) and Nevada-Las Vegas (9-4).

It looks like an NCAA tournament bid will come only if San Diego State wins the conference tournament March 6-10 in Las Vegas. That's pretty disappointing for a club many thought would be a top-25 team this year.

Steve Scholfield is senior sports columnist for the North County Times. He can be reached at (760) 740-3509 or stevescho@cox.net. Comment at sports.nctimes.com.

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