Four years and a couple of teams ago, Norm Chow did a favor for a coaching friend and, now, as luck would have it, that largesse may be about to be repaid.
In this case, it would be in the form of quarterback Andrew Manley.
Manley, who is best remembered for stepping up from the junior varsity in the playoffs and leading Leilehua High on its improbable march to the 2007 Hawaii High School Athletic Association football championship as a sophomore, is talking with the University of Hawaii about transferring to Manoa.
Should Manley, who has already secured a release from New Mexico State, prevail in a hardship request to the NCAA, he would be allowed to bypass the usual season of ineligibility and be permitted to play immediately for the Warriors with two years of eligibility remaining.
That would be no small bonus for the Warriors, considering Manley would arrive having almost twice as many starts at the college level as the rest of the assembled UH quarterbacks combined.
Manley started 12 games in 2012 and 19 games in three seasons — including the injury-abbreviated 2011 campaign — for the Aggies. Only Sean Schroeder (11) and Jeremy Higgins (one) have starts for UH.
Whether Manley could get up to speed on the playbook or win the job from the presumptive starter out of spring practice, Ohio State transfer Taylor Graham, would, of course, remain to be seen. But 4,260 passing yards and 25 Division I touchdowns suggest the 6-foot-3, 225-pound dropback pocket passer could be a good fit and quite an asset.
Which was how Chow judged Manley’s potential in recruiting four years while offensive coordinator at UCLA. Chow took a long look at Manley, who visited the Bruins’ campus. But when head coach Rick Neuheisel decided to go with another quarterback and UH was playing scholarship roulette with Manley, Chow made a phone call.
He suggested DeWayne Walker, the new head coach at New Mexico State and former UCLA defensive coordinator, might want to take a look at Manley. When the Aggies did, checking out Manley’s YouTube highlights, they liked what they saw and quickly recruited him to Las Cruces, N.M.
"A steal" was how Walker described him not long afterward.
Manley was scheduled to be redshirted as a freshmen but came off the bench in midseason to rally the Aggies to a victory over rival New Mexico. In his stay, Manley has persevered through two head coaches, four offensive coordinators, knee surgery and, at times, a Swiss cheese offensive line.
Now, due to what is described as a "family situation," while the Aggies retool their offense again, Manley is back in Hawaii checking off his options.
UH missed out on Manley once before and, now, the situation might come full circle for he and the Warriors.
And if that happens, Chow can also consider it a favor requited.
