Monday, September 14, 1998
University of Utah Photo
Utah quarterback Darnell Arceneaux is one of
11 former Hawaii prep stars playing for the Utes.
Rainbows hope
for U-turn
against Utes
Hawaii wants to end its
By Paul Arnett
20-game losing streak
in WAC road games
Star-BulletinThere are so many subplots in the University of Hawaii's game against Utah this weekend, the movie would need a sequel.
This is the first time a Western Athletic Conference defector is playing a team remaining in the gutted league. Rainbows head coach Fred vonAppen won't open his pregame speech with that fact, but if he needs a closer, that will certainly do.
The family ties between these two teams run deep. Utah has nearly a dozen players calling Hawaii home, including talented starters Darnell Arceneaux at quarterback, Kautai Olevao at linebacker and Donny Utu at wide receiver.
Even two players vonAppen ran off after they ran afoul academically -- linebacker Peter Salavea and hard-hitting safety Steve Laulu -- are trying to make a comeback in the land of the Utes.
Setting aside the local and national conflicts, the Rainbows also are trying to put an end to two long losing streaks.
Hawaii hasn't won a road game after a bye since a 1990 victory over Utah. And the Rainbows have lost 20 consecutive league road games, dating back to a win over Texas-El Paso in 1992.
So what's the biggest deal about the Saturday night WAC opener for Hawaii? Well, it depends on who's doing the talking. In vonAppen's mind, it's all a big deal.
"If you can't get motivated for this game, then you shouldn't make the trip," vonAppen said. "I don't care about local ties, losing streaks or any of that crap.
"All I care about is going up there and coming back with a win. I'll take a victory of any kind. I don't care about how many players from here are up there. I could give a rip.
"We just want to start winning some football games and Utah just happens to be next on the schedule. This is a big game for us because it's the next one."
It's a big game for senior linebacker Stephen Gonzales because of the losing streak. Like fellow seniors Kamuela Cobb-Admas, Ben Bright and Eleu Kane, Gonzales has never come back to the islands with a WAC road win.
"To me, that's the biggest deal by far because we're all so sick and tired of having to talk and answer questions about it," Gonzales said. "We want to start winning.
"This is our first WAC game and you always want to win that one because it gets you moving in the right direction. Beating Utah is big for a lot of different reasons."
For some of the UH underclassmen, it's revenge time. Freshman quarterback Shawn Withy-Allen knows several of the younger players personally.
He even went up with UH freshman wide receiver Craig Stutzmann to take part in Utah's summer football camp. Withy-Allen doesn't figure to see a lot of playing time, but just being around everyone again will get his competitive juices flowing.
"It would be great if we could get a win up there," Withy-Allen said. "Craig and I had a blast at their camp. But this is a completely different setting."
And one that former Punahou School running back Afatia Thompson has been looking forward to for a long time. In 1995, his Buffanblu team knocked off Arceneaux's St. Louis squad, 21-13.
"I'll remind Darnell of that win if I get the chance," said Thompson, who will be making the trip as a tailback and special teams player. "It's going to be fun seeing all those guys again. But it would be even more fun to get a win."
Cobb-Adams, Bright and Big Island offensive lineman Kaulana Noa aren't as excited about old home week. For one, Cobb-Adams and Bright are older than most of Utah's local-boy contingent.
"I don't know any of those guys," Cobb-Adams said. "But I heard the fans are right on the field. It's going to be exciting."
As for Noa, playing at Honokaa High didn't afford him the luxury of rubbing shoulder pads with the Oahu prep boys.
"It's probably a bigger deal for them than for me," Noa said. "I don't care about playing against them. I just want to beat them."
Bright also is calm and collected about the first time Hawaii has played Utah since 1994. Like most of his teammates, he doesn't want to get caught up in the hype.
"Now that they're out of the WAC, I hope the local boys stop going there and decide to play here," Bright said. "There will probably be a lot of talking out there, but all I care about is getting a win. We want to stop that 20-game streak everybody talks about. That's big."
Hawaii also hasn't won its WAC opener since beating Air Force, 6-3, in 1992. Over the last four years, the Rainbows are 4-28 in league play.
"Historically speaking, we haven't done well against our conference opponents the past few years," vonAppen said. "But we have a chance to change that, starting this weekend."
News &Notes
Withy-Allen ready
Shawn Withy-Allen will not only make the trip to Salt Lake City this weekend, the Hawaii quarterback could see some playing time against Utah.
"He is the future for Hawaii at quarterback," UH offensive coordinator Don Lindsey said before yesterday's practice. "We've decided we're not going to redshirt him. We're going to play him right away. I don't know when or how much time he'll get, but Shawn proved himself time and again in practice last week."
All that Withy-Allen lacks is experience. The freshman has the size, ability to scramble and throw, and he's improving in the option. He doesn't have the arm of Dan Robinson or the option capabilities of Josh Skinner, but he may be the better all-around athlete.
"They all can do things the other guys can't do, that's why we have so many competing for the position," Lindsey said. "But Shawn has the ability to run the option and be a drop-back passer. We just need to see how he reacts when I point to him and tell him to get in there under center."
Lindsey isn't sure which quarterback will start. He said that would be decided after the next few days of practice.
"I told them it was up for grabs," Lindsey said. "Whichever guy has the best practices, he would probably get the start."
Withy-Allen said he was excited about the opportunity. The former Kalaheo High standout is looking forward to the challenge of playing Division I football.
"This was one of the reasons I came here because they told me I might get a chance to compete," Withy-Allen said. "I'm sure I'm going to be nervous the closer we get to the game, but I'm also very excited about the opportunity to play.
"My goal the first year was to make the travel squad. I've done that, as long as I don't mess up too much in practice the rest of the week."
UH quarterbacks coach Tim Green isn't sure at what point Withy-Allen would make an appearance. In fact, there's no guarantee he'll have any playing time.
"It will depend on the situation," Green said. "We're not going to put him in there with the scored tied in the fourth quarter. We don't want him to overload.
"But Coach Lindsey is right, he is our future at quarterback. All of our quarterbacks are smart, but that kid is exceptional. He makes all the right decisions."
Inside the numbers
The Rainbows are tied for No. 22 in the nation in turnover margin, averaging plus 1 a game. Last week, they were 19th in the country in this all-important category.
Hawaii is tied for 40th out of a possible 112 teams in punt returns with an 11-yard average. The Rainbows are also tied at No. 47 with Florida State in kickoff returns, averaging 21.3 yards.
Wide receiver Dwight Carter is responsible for this ranking. He is ranked 45th with a 21.33 average. Hawaii also moved into a tie with Utah State for 49th in rushing defense, yielding 133 yards a game.
Injury update
Linebackers Jeff Ulbrich (broken hand) and Stephen Gonzales (eight stitches in his hand) will make the trip and be in the lineup. UH trainers said both players were making slow, but steady progress.
Although several other players suffered bumps and bruises during the hard-hitting bye week -- including linebacker Rinda Brooks (concussion), and tight ends Jimmy McClain (knee) and Chris Pinkney (knee) -- it appears everyone else is healthy.
By Paul Arnett
Conference Standings
Pacific Division
W L Pct. W L Pct. New Mexico 0 0 -- 2 0 1.000 Utah 0 0 -- 2 0 1.000 Brigham Young 0 0 -- 1 1 .500 San Jose State 0 0 -- 1 1 .500 Fresno State 0 0 -- 0 1 .000 Hawaii 0 0 -- 0 1 .000 San Diego State 0 0 -- 0 2 .000 Texas-El Paso 0 0 -- 0 2 .000Mountain Division
W L Pct. W L Pct. Air Force 1 0 1.000 2 0 1.000 Rice 1 0 1.000 1 1 .500 Tulsa 0 0 -- 2 0 1.000 Wyoming 0 0 -- 1 0 1.000 Colorado State 0 0 -- 2 1 .667 Texas Christian 0 0 -- 1 1 .500 Nevada-Las Vegas 0 1 .000 0 2 .000 Southern Methodist 0 1 .000 0 2 .000Thursday This week's games
Colorado State at Air Force -- 2 p.m.
Saturday
Wyoming at Georgia -- 7 a.m.
Nevada-Las Vegas at Wisconsin -- 8 a.m.
Brigham Young at Washington -- 9:30 a.m.
San Jose State at Oregon -- 11 a.m.
Southern Methodist at Arkansas -- 1 p.m.
Fresno State at Texas Tech -- 1 p.m.
Northwestern at Rice -- 2 p.m.
New Mexico at New Mexico State -- 3 p.m.
Hawaii at Utah -- 3 p.m.Idle: San Diego State, TCU, UTEP, Tulsa
Purdue 21, Rice 19 Last week's games
Colorado 29, Fresno State 21
Colorado State 26, Nevada 14
Wyoming 17, Montana State 9
Oklahoma 10, Texas Christian 9
Tulsa 35, Oklahoma State 20
New Mexico 39, Utah State 36
Tulane 31, Southern Methodist 21
Oregon 33, Texas-El Paso 26
Idaho 17, San Jose State 12
Brigham Young 26, Arizona State 6
Utah 45, Louisville 22
Air Force 52, Nevada-Las Vegas 10
Southern California 35, San Diego State 6
Who's next:
Utah Utes
http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu
