Shinnick says
’Bows should be wary
of Matadors
'This team can score points,
By Paul Arnett
the UH senior strong safety
told his teammates
Star-BulletinThe University of Hawaii coaching staff doesn't have to look past the last row in the film room to get its scouting report for Cal State Northridge. Senior strong safety Chris Shinnick not only knows or played with a dozen players on the Division I-AA team, Northridge head coach Jim Fenwick was Shinnick's head coach at Los Angeles Valley College in 1994-95 as well.
"We were 20-2 and beat a lot of the guys on our team," Shinnick said of UH teammates Blase Austin, Donnell Williams, Jovon Jiles and Rufus Ayeni. "The receivers coach at Northridge (Rob Phenicle) was my offensive coordinator, so I know what they like to do."
Northridge quarterback Aaron Flowers, and top wide receivers Cameron Perry and Jerome Henry were junior college teammates of Shinnick's. Ayeni faced them during his junior college days at Los Angeles Harbor College.
Williams' Santa Monica team got beat 70-0 by Los Angeles Valley, while Austin remembers Fenwick and Flowers from his playing days at Compton College.
They know Northridge is for real.
"I hope that everyone realizes this team can play," Shinnick said. "You don't look at them as a I-AA school and say, boom. We'll win.
"This team can score points. They're going to hit us in some zones. I told the defensive backs not to get their heads down because they may pick us apart at first.
"Don't give up the big play because that's what they harp on. They'll pick you, pick you, pick you. They'll cross-pattern you to death and as soon as you try to guess on them, they've got a guy going deep."
Shinnick hopes he still has some audibles memorized just in case Flowers changes a play at the line of scrimmage. The Matadors use a high-powered run-and-shoot attack. They also have a talented running back in Tyrone Crenshaw, who transferred from Michigan State.
"I played against a lot of these guys in high school," senior cornerback Robbie Robinson said. "We can't take these guys lightly, because they can play."
Ayeni agreed, but felt Flowers could be flustered with a heavy pass rush.
"You can't let him sit in the pocket and get comfortable," Ayeni said. "You've got to pressure him. They can be beat.
"We just can't get overconfident like we did last year against Ohio University. Once we realized we were in a game, it was too late."
Defensive coordinator Don Lindsey downplayed the familiarity.
"Unless we know exactly the play they have called, it doesn't make any difference," Lindsey said, then smiled. "But if Chris knows something I should know, I wish he'd tell me. I need all the help I can get."
No matter what happens this Saturday night at Aloha Stadium, Shinnick will remain friends with Fenwick and Co. It's because he has a vested interest.
"I plan on going back and coaching with him someday," Shinnick said. "I thought I could do my graduate assistant work under him, if he'd have me."
WAC PLAYERS OF WEEK: Defensive back Eddie Klaneski and punter Chad Shrout were named defensive and special teams players of the week, respectively, yesterday in the Pacific Division.
"It's a great honor, but a lot of the credit goes to my teammates," said Klaneski, who had a 78-yard return of a blocked field goal, a fumble recovery and an interception in the end zone.
"Coach always tells us to swarm to the football, maybe that's why I always seem to be around it. That's what I'm trying to do."
Like Klaneski, Shrout thanked his teammates for the honor. Long snapper Tyler Tanigawa put the ball right on the money on each of the eight punts. And the punt protection was solid as well.
"I had my own personal battle going with their punters," Shrout said of University of Minnesota kickers Steve Kemph and Ryan Rindels, who averaged 43.3 yards between them.
"For me to average 47.4 yards a kick at Aloha Stadium is really good for me. It's great to win the award, but the main thing is, we won the game."
INJURY REPORT: Linebacker Ayeni (sprained knee), wide receiver Jason Mane (sprained knee) and tight end Armando Morlos (hernia) are out for the Northridge game.
Running back Anthony Diieso is questionable with turf toe and Sam Collins is probable with a sprained elbow.
The wife of Sam Collins had just been released from the hospital after undergoing treatment for breast cancer.
"This is the longest walk I've taken in a while," Collins said. "It's good to be out in the fresh air."
Contributions were collected for her expensive treatments at last Saturday's game. For more information concerning possible donations, call 534-4300.
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