Just like old times

There were two circles completed for Hawaii coaches in Saturday's 20-0 victory over SMU. The first one involved UH assistant George Lumpkin and the other belonged to head man June Jones.

Lumpkin was the only coach on the staff who was around for Hawaii's 41-21 victory over UTEP in 1992. The Rainbows would lose the next 24 WAC road games before snapping that streak on Saturday.

"It feels good," Lumpkin said. "I said all along that winning on the road is just a state of mind. You have to believe you can do it before you can even attempt it. Our guys believed they were better and they went out there and showed it.

"I told our players that if we play hard, take care of our responsibilities and limit the distractions of the road, we should be fine. And they did all those things today."

The shutout was the first one on the road for UH since blanking UNLV, 23-0, in 1983. Who was the offensive coordinator for the Rainbows that season? None other than Jones himself.

"I remember that game really well," said Jones. "(Head coach) Dick (Tomey) always had good defenses. That was a big win for us and so was this one. I'm proud of the way our defense played."

Kicking the demons

Place-kicker Eric Hannum and punter Chad Shrout haven't always inspired confidence in their teammates the past year or so, but all that changed in Saturday's win over SMU. Hannum hit critical field goals of 42 and 50 yards, and Shrout continued to punt well.

"Nothing bothered me out there," Hannum said. "Even when I had to kick it over before the half, I was confident. It felt good to make that kick because it gave us a lift going into halftime."

Shrout did have a 16-yard punt after he dropped the snap from center, but he still finished with a 43-yard average for the game.

"I got some chances to kick with the wind and I took advantage of them," said Shrout, who had one boot of 56 yards.

Ulbrich impresses

Middle linebacker Jeff Ulbrich is rapidly catching the eye of not only everyone in the WAC, but NFL scouts as well who attended Saturday's game.

His 16 tackles, including four for losses and one sack, keyed the Rainbows in their win over SMU. So far this season, he has 59 tackles and four quarterback sacks in four games.

"I can't say enough about Jeff," UH defensive coordinator Greg McMackin said. "He is the heart and soul of our defense. He is what a middle linebacker is supposed to be about."

Injury update

Defensive end Joe Correia played the entire game despite having his broken hand in a cast and his sore knee in a brace. Free safety Nate Jackson played his second consecutive game after missing the first two with a knee injury. He finished with nine tackles and recovered a big fumble in the UH end zone just before the half.

Safety Daniel Ho-Ching was held out of the lineup with a shoulder injury. Slotback Davey deLaura remains questionable because of a hamstring pull.

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By Paul Arnett

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Elam three points
from Broncos’ record

By Pat Bigold
Star-Bulletin

It was a relatively quiet weekend for offensive players with Hawaii ties in the NFL.

But former Rainbows placekicker Jason Elam kicked a 44-yard field goal and an extra point as the winless Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos lost their third game in a row, 13-10, to the Tampa Bay Bucs.

Elam needs only three points to become the Broncos' all-time leading scorer. Jim Turner (742 points) now holds that record. The Broncos play the New York Jets at Mile High Stadium next week

In Pittsburgh, Itula Mili (Kahuku) came in as a sub at tight end for the Seattle Seahawks in their 29-10 loss but had no receptions. Steelers reserve running back Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala (St. Louis) was on the inactive list. He is recovering from a high ankle injury.

Leilehua High alumnus Adrian Murrell and the NFC East Arizona Cardinals (1-1) will host the NFC West San Francisco 49ers (1-1) today on Monday Night Football.

Murrell, in his second season with Arizona, has carried 44 times for 112 yards and caught seven passes for 56 yards. He has yet to score this season.

Denver defensive end Ma'a Tanuvasa (Mililani) made three tackles (two solo), including a no-gainer against running back Mike Alstott in the second quarter of the Denver loss to Tampa Bay.

Defensive tackle Esera Tuaolo (Kailua) made four tackles, including three solos and a sack assist, as the Carolina Panthers romped over the winless Cincinnati Bengals, 27-3.

Nose tackle Kimo von Oelhoffen subbed again behind starter Oliver Gibson and did not record a stop.

The New Orleans Saints, who have guard Chris Naeole (Kahuku) and linebacker Ink Aleaga (Pac-Five) on their roster, had a bye this weekend

Aleaga must face his former Washington Huskies teammate, Olin Kreutz (St. Louis), on Sunday when the Saints travel to play the Chicago Bears (1-2).

Kreutz starts at center for the Bears. His line gave up three sacks yesterday in a 24-17 loss to the Oakland Raiders (2-1).