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Thursday, September 7, 2000
Hawaii opening the season against Portland State is a little like Texas starting off with Hawaii. And you see what the Longhorns decided to do when facing this no-win situation. They gave away $100,000 to get out of it, no questions asked.
Saturday, 6 p.m., Aloha StadiumOf course, Professor J would never shy away from playing the team that saved his collegiate career way back in the day. Under the direction of a coach named Mouse, Professor J fell in love with what would be called the run-and-shoot.
The Warriors begin the new millennium vs. the Vikings of the Big Sky, who opened the season last weekend with a win over Western Washington. The vaunted Hawaii defense should be wary of this program that has been ranked as high as No. 12 in Division I-AA. Jimmy Blanchard is a record-setting quarterback who has thrown for more yards than Timmy Chang can count.
The front seven of the H-Men will be charged with corralling running back Charles "Chip" Dunn. He already has 4,374 career-rushing yards and has gained at least 100 yards in 22 games. Blanchard was key in last Saturday's victory. He managed 409 yards and three TDs in the season-opening win. Predicting a high-scoring affair, Professor J suggests you bring a snack.
Texas-El Paso is the first of three trips to Texas over a five-week period. The total air miles are 24,136 or roughly the diameter of the Earth. Professor J is more worried about his H-Men losing their powers over this five-game stretch than anything else.
September 23, 3 p.m., Sun BowlLiving below the Earth for most of the year, the Miners come out into the light of the Sun Bowl. Here, is their power source that allows them to do battle with the opposition.
Returning 14 starters, including quarterbacks Rocky Perez and Jay Stuckey, the H-Men's real challenge will be covering tight end Brian Natkin and wideout Lee Mays. He hauled in 59 passes last year for eight TDs. Natkin scored four TDs of his own. He managed 58 receptions, making him a dangerous commodity.
Where Professor J plans to exploit UTEP is on the defense. He figures the biggest improvement from the first to the second game will be his offense. Look for him to attack a porous defensive unit that couldn't stop anyone last year with a powerful aerial show. If not, then UTEP could be headed toward its first winning season since the dawn of time.
The last time Tulsa and Hawaii met, Professor J went to Oklahoma and sapped all the strength out of the Golden Hurricane. As a result, the powers that be fired head coach Dave Rader and replaced him with first-year man Keith Burns.
September 30, 6 p.m., Aloha StadiumNow, the Golden Hurricane must travel to Professor J's house with 14 returning starters who remember how devastating the H-Men were that last weekend in October 1999. Tulsa's big gun is sophomore quarterback Josh Blankenship. He threw for 1,416 yards and seven touchdowns last year. But it's those 15 interceptions he must avoid. If not, the H-Men's defense will prey on this young man's penchant for throwing into a crowd.
Tulsa's defense is still trying to find itself. Led by linebacker Ashon Farley, who had 85 tackles last year, including 12 for losses, the Golden Hurricane will do its best to keep the Warriors from throwing up and down the field.
Burns' background is at Arkansas, so the new head coach is accustomed to facing high-powered offenses. Unfortunately, that didn't help in last Saturday's 30-9 loss at North Carolina.
Professor J also has a way of performing surgery on any scheme coaches devise. He has seen a bit of everything since becoming a believer in the run-and-shoot.
San Jose State's Spartans will be a weaken lot by the time they come to Aloha Stadium. For some reason, the Spartans insist on playing the likes of Nebraska, Southern California and Stanford. No wonder they're so weary the second half of the season.
October 28, 6 p.m., Aloha StadiumProfessor J did a number on San Jose last year, scoring a phenomenal 62 points, including 27 in a wild fourth quarter. He should be able to do more of the same as the H-Men continue to exorcise past demons with WAC teams. For three consecutive seasons, San Jose mopped up the stadium floor with Hawaii. But no more.
The H-Men's defense had an answer for all-everything Spartan running back Deonce Whitaker last season. He finished with only 22 yards on 10 carries as Professor J continued his run for a postseason appearance. The Spartans have a new defensive coordinator who hopes he can match wits with Professor J.
Last year, San Jose State yielded 478.6 yards a game. The H-Men's eyes light up when they see those kind of numbers. It could be another high-scoring night.
This is the last of four road trips that will carry the H-Men 30,000 miles in six weeks. Whatever powers they still have, they're going to need them because the Fresno State Bulldogs haven't forgotten last year's double overtime loss at Aloha Stadium.
November 4, 2 p.m., Bulldog StadiumPerhaps the most exciting game in recent Hawaii history, Professor J fondly recalls Eric Hannum's field goal that made the first OT possible and Craig Stutzmann's cradled catch in the back of the end zone to seal the deal.
But can history repeat itself on foreign soil? Can the H-Men handle a defense led by middle linebacker Tim Skipper? Or hold off the power running of Paris Gaines? Even if they manage those feats, will it be enough against a team that boasts wide receivers Rodney Wright and Charles Smith, who caught 120 passes between them for 14 touchdowns last season?
The H-Men's only hope is to rattle quarterback David Carr, much like Ohio State did in last week's 43-10 win. Carr is finding his way at the Division I level. If he's still wandering in November, then the H-Men have a chance. If not, Professor J is going to need to dig into his bag of tricks to get a victory.
The H-Men will finally catch a break playing the Wolf Pack of Nevada. These are the new kids on the block, born of the dying Big West Conference. They were once a worthy opponent, but of late, hard times abound for the first-year WAC program.
November 11, 6 p.m., Aloha StadiumProfessor J's only real challenge here will be defending quarterback David Neill, who is thought by many to be the best in the league. He threw for 3,373 yards last year and managed 20 touchdown passes with only seven interceptions. Unfortunately for the Wolf Pack, they have little else as first-year coach Chris Tormey rapidly discovered.
There are only six returning starters, which isn't all bad when considering Tormey brought in a new offense and defense from the University of Idaho. But so much inexperience can't help Nevada its first time through the WAC. Last week, the Wolf Pack lost handily at Oregon, 36-7, but it was much improved over the 72-10 shellacking of a year ago.
Still, if the H-Men want a return bowl engagement, a win here is a must. Not that Professor J is losing any sleep over this engagement, but he knows as well as anyone you can never take anything for granted in battle.
Professor J has been thinking about this game since he and Texas Christian head coach Dennis Franchione called each other out after the Horned Frogs hopped, skipped and jumped all over the H-Men last year. Professor J took exception with the blocking techniques of TCU, saying the chops below the knees were the kind frowned upon in the NFL.
October 7, 1 p.m., Amon Carter Stadium"Sounds like something a former NFL guy would say," Franchione quipped after the game. This victory was the first of many for TCU. The Frogs went on to run the table, including a victory over East Carolina in the Mobile Bowl.
The two were polite to one another at the recent WAC meetings, but the undertow belied the calm surface. This is a rivalry in the making. Professor J doesn't like to lose. And everyone who beat his team last year, will pay this season. Or at least that's what Professor J is planning.
But this one's going to be difficult at best. TCU has 18 returning starters, including Heisman Trophy candidate LaDainian Tomlinson, who led the nation in rushing last year with 1,850 yards, and defensive end Aaron Schobel. TCU's all-time sack leader with 24.5 caught the eye of Professor J the week prior to last year's meeting won by TCU, 34-14.
Schobel's encounter with the H-Men is key for TCU. Stumble here and any hope of a top 5 finish is gone with the wind.
Professor J points to the victory at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas last year as one of the biggest in school history. Not since October 1992 had the Rainbows won a WAC game on the road. The skid was so long, Professor J wouldn't allow that number to be spoken in his presence.
October 14, Aloha StadiumOne of his jobs coming in was to wipe the chalkboard black and then scribble on it new plays, new records, new ideas, new history. The nation's longest losing streak? Be gone. A WAC road record that bordered on pitiful? Get behind me demon. This was a fire-and-brimstone cleansing that would do a Baptist preacher proud. That 20-0 victory over Southern Methodist University sparked the revival. All losing streaks were put to rest. The second coming was born.
SMU head coach Mike Cavan is looking for a similar rebirth from his Pony Express. He is on his way out if the Mustangs struggle this season. A victory in Honolulu would be tantamount for SMU to prove it has turned the corner. Cavan hired five new coaches in the off-season, another sign that stability doesn't rule in Big D. A new offensive coordinator promises to better utilize the talents of quarterback Josh McCown and running back Kris Briggs. If the 31-10 win over the University of Kansas last weekend is any indication, the Mustangs may be moving in the right direction.
Don't look for the H-Men to run out of any options against the Rice University Owls. That's not in Professor J's plans.
October 21, 9 a.m., Rice StadiumLast year, Ken Hatfield's take on one of the oldest offenses in the playbook left the H-Men grasping at air to the tune of a 19-point loss. But changes are in the mix. New coordinator Kevin Lempa put in a defense against this attack last spring. He went over it several times in fall camp to make sure his pro set had the necessary collegiate ingredients.
"We feel like we have addressed that problem and will do a better job this season," Professor J said of Lempa's tinkering. This matchup will be a real test for Lempa's option designs. It will also be the third game in five weeks in Texas. Jet lag could be in full force. The same kind of chop-blocking TCU uses in its option game is also a regular occurrence for Rice. Tensions could be high and it will be up to Professor J to hold them in check.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Jeremy Hurd will be under center for the Owls. He ran this offense in high school and is supposed to be the real deal in speed, quickness and decision-making. No matter how much preparation you do, unless you have superior athletes, the option can make a defense look silly.
Louisiana Tech is one team Professor J didn't want around. He even tried to have the future WAC member replaced with another opponent as late as last year, but after one couldn't be found, he grudgingly accepted the Bulldogs as part of the 12-game schedule.
November 18, 6 p.m., Aloha StadiumThe reason for his uneasiness is simple. Louisiana Tech is an unpredictable nonconference opponent. While Professor J had a good idea what to expect from a Portland State, this kind of team is another matter entirely. Players who don't find a happy home in the Southeastern Conference sometimes wind up at schools like the one in Rustin, La. They can be dangerous.
Much like his own H-Men, Louisiana Tech prefers to go through the air. One problem they discovered this past weekend in a lopsided loss at Kansas State is quarterbacks like Tim Rattay are difficult to replace. First-year starter Brian Stallworth was intercepted four times in the 54-10 loss. That could work to the H-Men's advantage come November.
For that to be a reality, cornerbacks Shawndel Tucker and Flex Armstrong will have to shadow Bulldog wideout James Jordan. He caught 11 passes in the season opener vs. Kansas State. It shows that Louisiana Tech might have lost its star quarterback, but will continue to follow Professor J's advice that being airborne is a good way to get things done, especially if the defense isn't always up to the task at hand.
These Badgers from Wisconsin are a salty group that will be the best team Professor J faces this season. They were ranked No. 4 in the preseason and overcame the loss of 26 players for NCAA rules violations to win last Thursday's opener against Western Michigan.
November 25, 6 p.m., Aloha StadiumPlayers will be suspended anywhere from one to three games for violating the sacred code of ethics of the NCAA. Professor J frowns upon such things. He is a believer in fair play and schools that take advantage of the rules should be dealt with accordingly. Of course, by the end of November when these two teams face each other, the penalties will have been served.
The challenge for the H-Men will be stopping a team returning 18 starters from last year's stellar season that ended with a victory in the Rose Bowl. Replacing Ron Dayne, who came of age against Hawaii as a freshman, will be paramount to Wisconsin's success. Head coach Barry Alvarez thinks he can do that with running back Michael Bennett.
Under center is experienced Brooks Bollinger who will be looking for talented wideout Chris Chambers. He is out with an injury and may face suspensions himself, but he should be back in the huddle in time to face the H-Men. This is the one chance for Professor J to show he can match up with the big boys on the national scene. He won't squander the opportunity.
This is the first of what many H-Men fans hope is a long and prosperous relationship. Lame duck UH president Ken Mortimer said two years ago that the Mountain West Conference was off-limits after those eight schools broke away from Mortimer's beloved league.
December 2, 6 p.m., Aloha StadiumBut there were those in the athletic department who knew this was a bone-head decision. You can't cut ties with UNLV, BYU, Air Force or San Diego State and expect to survive. Scheduling the Rebels took place because the Texas Longhorns realized they had nothing to gain and everything to lose in playing the H-Men to open the season.
Once the Longhorns dropped off the schedule, Professor J contacted UNLV head coach John Robinson to see if a last-second game could be arranged. Robinson was glad to add the meeting, especially since it's at the end of the season and can be considered as a bowl trip for his players.
Much like Nevada, the H-Men shouldn't have to work too hard to knock off the Rebels. Two years ago, the two schools battled for the nation's longest losing streak. Now, they are two programs on the rebound. A win here for the H-Men could result in a bid to the Aloha Bowl on Christmas Day to prove Professor J has come a long way since inheriting a team that had lost 18 consecutive games.
