Monday, August 31, 1998

QB a Josh-ing matter

Josh Skinner likely
will start at quarterback for
the 'Bows in Thursday's
season opener

By Paul Arnett
Star-Bulletin

Josh Skinner will be the starting quarterback for the University of Hawaii, as long as he doesn't break a leg between now and Thursday.

Rainbows offensive coordinator Don Lindsey gave a list of reasons why Skinner should get the nod. But he also had a few reasons that would keep Skinner from being the signal-caller in Thursday's season opener against 24th-ranked Arizona.

"I didn't say he was the guaranteed No. 1 starter," Lindsey said yesterday to reporters, who were trying to pin him down. "I told you he would be if he practices well the rest of the week.

"If he goes out the rest of the week and doesn't practice worth a crap, then why would I start him? I want these guys to get to the point where you earn the right to start. You don't start just because whoever you are."

The reasons to start Skinner are obvious. He has the most experience with nine starts over two years, is familiar with the option offense Hawaii plans to run and he can handle the passing phase because he ran it last year.

"It's so obvious, I don't know how it can be any different than that," Lindsey said. "It doesn't reflect on Dan (Robinson) or Bronson (Liana) any less.

"He's the guy who has the experience and we feel like he will give us opening-game stability, hopefully. That's what you would assume. We'll find out."

That doesn't mean Robinson and Liana won't see playing time. They likely will, if not Thursday, then somewhere down the road.

"I'd have no problems playing the other quarterbacks because we plan to," Lindsey said. "So it's not a matter of anyone being jerked out of the game because he did or did not do something.

"If all of a sudden Josh is out, whenever that may be, it's not because he was jerked. Because if we did that, we'd be jerking everybody out, starting with the coaches."

UH head coach Fred vonAppen wasn't as certain of the quarterback situation. He wasn't prepared to name a starter because he said all three had their good and bad moments in Wednesday's dress rehearsal scrimmage.

"Nobody really jumped to the forefront, in our opinion," vonAppen said of the final scrimmage. "There were some plays not very good by all three quarterbacks. And there were some good, sterling plays up the field.

"We hope to improve the level of consistency of their play here, so if we do rotate them, there isn't a big liability when one of them goes in."

Last Thursday, Arizona head coach Dick Tomey ended the suspense and announced that Ortege Jenkins would start at quarterback.

But much like Lindsey, Tomey hedged when asked if that meant Jenkins was the starter for the season. Keith Smith will see plenty of playing time before a final decision is made.

"It doesn't make any difference to me because they're both very talented players," vonAppen said. "They'll both play in the game. That doesn't make any more difference to me than who's coaching for them."

Lindsey also announced the rest of his starting lineup for Thursday's game. He will go with Charles Tharp and Calvin Mims in the backfield.

Eleu Kane suffered a hip pointer Saturday, but is expected to start at wide receiver and return punts and kickoffs. The other wideout will be Wesley Morris.

The Rainbows received some good news over the weekend. Starting right guard Andy Phillips returned to the lineup after missing almost two weeks with a partially separated shoulder.

The other starting linemen are Jose Martinez at left tackle, Keith Tomomitsu at left guard, freshman Chris Smith at center and Kaulana Noa at right tackle.

"If we can keep everybody healthy and ready to go, I like our chances because we have improved," Lindsey said. "You don't know really what you have until you see how they react on the field. I'm anxious to see how it works out."

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