THIS and that to chew on over lunch: Musical QBs
on dance card
for UH openerWhat's the over-under on the number of quarterbacks you're likely to see take snaps when the Rainbows play the University of Arizona three weeks from tomorrow?
Even money on four.
The Wildcats start practice for real today at Camp Cochise in Douglas, Ariz. Word out of Tucson is that Wildcats coach Dick Tomey plans to use both Ortege Jenkins and Keith Smith against the lads in green and white.
Jenkins threw 19 touchdown passes last season in seven starts after Smith injured his shoulder. Smith threw seven TD passes, caught four balls and rushed for a couple touchdowns.
Obviously, both of these guys are quality athletes and will be a handful for the 'Bows.
The Rainbows might use as many as three guys at quarterback come opening night, or so says offensive coordinator Don Lindsey.
Neither Dan Robinson, Tom Racius nor Josh Skinner is a clear-cut starter at this point. I have to believe that Lindsey will eliminate one of those guys from the mix before the Arizona game. I could be wrong, but three seems like a crowd.
Sophomore nose tackle Miles Garner has lost 30 pounds since spring ball and is DOWN to 307.
I don't know about you, but I can't wait until the pads go on. The matchup between Garner and junior center Dustin Owen will be interesting. Owen said he hopes to trim down a bit from 316. Hooo-wheee. Now that's some fun.
Keep your eye on freshman running back Robert Grant. This guy can flat-out play.
Running backs coach Don Dillon has to be happy coming into fall camp. For the first time in three years he actually has some depth at that position.
Sophomore Charles Tharp will probably be the starter against Arizona, but Grant reminds me of Robert Smith, who plays for the Minnesota Vikings. He can get into the secondary in a hurry and, along with Avion Weaver, should give Lindsey some options in the backfield.
You can never have too many good running backs or linebackers.
Speaking of which, Stephen Gonzales is deserving of the Butkus Award nomination. Defensive coordinator Tom Williams has quality depth at linebacker. It's not a coincidence that Hawaii was 3-0 with Gonzo in the lineup last season and 0-9 without him.
He's the first Rainbow to be so nominated.
Here's hoping that anyone other than Tiger Woods wins the PGA this weekend in Redmond, Wash.
Don't get me wrong. I love to watch Tiger play. It's just that I'd rather see, say, David Duval than Jose Maria Olazabal at the Grand Slam on Kauai in November.
Because Mark O'Meara won the Masters and the British Open, Woods is the top alternate to play in the Slam as determined by a point system that rates former winners of golf's major tournaments on their performances in majors this year.
Olazabal is second on the alternate list, so he's the front-runner to play in the Grand Slam should Woods win the PGA.
Tiger brings out the crowds and people love to see him smack it 300 yards. His matchup with Ernie Els last year was a classic, especially when Els started draining putts and Tiger was missing 'em by inches.
It'd be a nice contrast to see Duval and Woods and O'Meara and Lee Janzen go head-to-head.
The latter two are the epitome of the quiet image golf used to have.
Woods and Duval? The fists are pumpin' and there are silhouettes on the shades.
