Notebook
Saturday, November 21, 1998
’Cats having an
off season, tooAlthough it has lost eight in a row,
By Paul Arnett
Northwestern is expected to run
UH's losing streak to 17
Star-BulletinNorthwestern head football coach Gary Barnett doesn't want to spend the off-season pondering a loss to Hawaii, and Hawaii head coach Fred vonAppen wants an off-season to ponder.
If you're looking for any more significance than that in tonight's nonconference game at Aloha Stadium, you're wasting your time.
The Rainbows are 0-10 this season and in the midst of a 16-game losing streak, the longest in NCAA Division I.
The Wildcats have a losing streak of their own. They went 0-8 in the Big Ten for the second time in Barnett's seven-year tenure. Northwestern's last victory was Sept. 19 against Rice. Since then, they have dropped eight consecutive conference games by an average score of 31-12.
"We are only a few spots apart in scoring points," UH offensive coordinator Don Lindsey said.
Hawaii is last in the nation in scoring, averaging 11.1 points a game. Northwestern is eight spots better at No. 104, averaging 15.8 points a game.
"But the caliber of opponent is a little different, don't you think?" Lindsey said, then smiled. "They've played Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State. And we've played Arkansas State, San Jose State, New Mexico and Texas-El Paso."
Just the same, Barnett is not looking at the game as an early vacation. He told his players this was a four-day business trip in a beautiful place.
"We want to win it to build toward next year," Barnett said. "We don't want to have to deal with a nine-game losing streak through next September."
VonAppen knows all about carry-overs from the previous campaign. He began his third year as Hawaii's head coach with a six-game losing streak. But he had no idea it would grow to 16 games.
About the only way he can avoid an off-season with an 18-game losing streak is to win tonight. Next week's matchup with Michigan is out of reach.
"This game will be a challenge for us because it's against a Big Ten team that is used to playing on the road against caliber competition in front of hostile crowds," vonAppen said.
"Their only two wins are over WAC schools, so that should tell you something. Like us, they've struggled offensively because they have so many young players at key positions.
"But defensively, this looks like a pretty good unit. They're fairly strong against the run. They have given up some big plays in the secondary. So maybe we can create a big play or two on offense."
Hawaii enters the game very thin at quarterback. A banged up Dan Robinson will start. Josh Skinner can step in if needed, but his hamstring is in worse shape than it was at UTEP, where he reinjured it three weeks ago.
He practiced this week, but spent more time handing off and dropping back to pass than running the option phase of Lindsey's hybrid offense.
If the Rainbows run the option, former scout team cornerback Ricky Lumford will get the call. Bronson Liana would normally handle the option, but his sprained ankle hasn't responded this week.
"We even have 10 plays for (top tailback) Charles Tharp at quarterback," Lindsey said. "If Dan goes down, we could wind up playing quarterback by committee."
The Rainbows will have fullback Calvin Mims for the first time since he had his knee scoped seven weeks ago after a 28-0 loss to Southern Methodist.
They also have Adrian Klemm (knee) back at left tackle, and Kaulana Noa (leg infection) is at full speed at right tackle. Lindsey is hopeful the two will open some holes for Tharp and Mims, and keep Robinson out of harm's way.
UH defensive coordinator Tom Williams is counting on his healthier unit to wreak some havoc with Wildcat redshirt freshman quarterback Gavin Hoffman.
Northwestern's offensive line already has yielded 40 sacks this season. Still, Hoffman has stood in the pocket long enough to throw for 1,927 yards and 10 touchdowns.
His favorite target is talented wide receiver D'Wayne Bates, who has caught 74 passes for 1,099 yards and seven scores.
"We have to do what we can to take Bates out of the game," Williams said. "A lot of teams have tried, but I can't see where that many have been successful.
"If we can pressure their quarterback into making some mistakes, maybe we can make a big play to decide the game. They haven't run the football that well, but then again, we haven't stopped the run that well, either."
Rainbow football
Tomorrow: Northwestern (2-9) vs. Hawaii (0-10)
