Friday, September 25, 1998

Changing
places?

In football, Arkansas State would
be a good fit in the WAC, and
moving to the Big West would
make sense for Hawaii

By Paul Arnett
Star-Bulletin

You don't need to take a dip into the future to see the perilous waters awaiting these two programs.

Much like Hawaii, Arkansas State is still trying to find a permanent home on the tricky shores of the Division I landscape.

Granted, the Rainbows are in the Western Athletic Conference through the duration of a six-year contract signed in 1996. And the independent Indians will rejoin the Big West Conference next season after being forced out by realignment in 1995.

But it's not improbable for these two programs to make the cost-effective conference switch somewhere down the road.

The Indians would be a better fit in the WAC with neighboring Texas and Oklahoma schools. And Hawaii's travel costs would be reduced in the Big West with such stops as Nevada-Reno, Utah State, Boise State and Idaho.

"We were recruited last year to join the Big West," Arkansas State head coach Joe Hollis said after the team landed at Honolulu International Airport yesterday.

"It's nice to be wanted and it's the best option that we have right now. I don't think anyone can survive as an independent other than Notre Dame.

"We're in the building process of making this program competitive. We've had a great commitment from our president at Arkansas State. And that's what we're working toward right now."

Anything would be better than the have-game, will-travel approach Arkansas State has endured the past several seasons. Last year, the Indians' schedule included games at Georgia, Virginia Tech and Miami (Fla.).

Arkansas State already has played at Minnesota and Louisiana State this season, and the Indians have a trip to Ole Miss next month.

"We usually play six on the road and five at home," Hollis said. "I like the way we travel.

"They (the Arkansas State players) are somewhat focused on what their job is. But this is a business trip for us. We play Saturday night and catch an 11 o'clock flight back that evening. We're due back into Jonesboro at 7 Sunday night.

"We obviously used the Hawaii game as a recruiting tool last year (when the game was scheduled). It's an educational experience for our players. And we're in the education business."

That may be, but Hollis isn't taking his team to Pearl Harbor today or tomorrow. In fact, the Indians are so serious about the game, they won't deviate from their normal pregame process.

"The only thing we're going to do is go to a movie (tonight)," Hollis said. "We've come over here to win a football game, and not do too much sightseeing."

Arkansas State dropped its first two games of the season -- to Minnesota (17-14) and LSU (42-6) -- but came back with a home win over Southwest Missouri State (28-24).

The Indians average only 40.3 yards a game on the ground, while giving up a staggering 263.

They will rely on quarterback Cleo Lemmon and receivers Lennie Johnson and Robert Kilow for their offensive firepower. Lemmon has passed for 658 yards and three touchdowns, but has been sacked 12 times, due in part to an injury-riddled offensive line.

Johnson and Kilow have a combined 21 receptions for 401 yards and two touchdowns.

Hollis is hopeful Parade All-American running back Jonathan Adams can overcome ankle and groin injuries to rejuvenate the running game. He was Arkansas' all-time leading rusher in high school with 6,714 yards and 88 TDs.

So why did Adams -- rated by some magazines as the best prep running back in the county -- come to Arkansas State?

"I think first of all he is an hour from his home," Hollis said of the Osceola, Ark., resident. "Second, I think Arkansas State has a lot to sell. And third, I think not only the coaches, but the people of Arkansas State did a nice job of recruiting him.

"Great players make good coaches. We've got a plan to make this program competitive, and landing a player of Jonathan's caliber certainly helps. He will definitely play Saturday night."

Skinner questionable Hawaii quarterback Josh Skinner suffered a mild concussion in Tuesday's practice and is questionable for tomorrow's game. It was the third time in less than a year that he suffered a serious blow to the head. If Skinner is unable to play, freshman Shawn Withy-Allen will back up Dan Robinson. Also questionable are tight end Adrian Klemm (knee), free safety Daniel Ho-Ching (hamstring), left tackle Kynan Forney (shoulder) and linebacker Yaphet Warren (hamstring). Also, UH head coach Fred vonAppen said Chad Shrout will handle all the kicking duties for the second consecutive weekend. Eric Hannum could play should Shrout continue to struggle on field goals. Paul Arnett

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