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Monday, August 14, 2000
Eight quarterbacks When the dawn of a new era broke from the huddle this morning, there were eight University of Hawaii quarterbacks calling the plays. But as the "Highlander's" Conner Macleod likes to say, "There can be only one."
at UH is enough
for Jones
The Warriors' head coach
likes having so many talented athletes
to choose from, and the team's
schedule gives him more
time to evaluate themEx-'Bow Elam's four FGs lift Denver
By Paul Arnett
Star-BulletinGranted, quarterback controversies are as old as helmets and pads. They originate when two guys believe themselves comfortable fits for the director's chair. They feed off the indecision of a coach to pull the trigger when one quarterback falters. And they die only when one man clears himself from the rest.
The late Tom Landry wrestled with it during the days of Dallas Cowboys quarterbacks Craig Morton and Roger Staubach. He even went so far as to alternate the two on each play during a game, before finally settling on Staubach and trading Morton to Denver.
Late Saturday afternoon, Hawaii head coach June Jones watched newcomers Timmy Chang and Matt Manuma throw footballs all over the lot to equally talented wideouts Mark Tate and Richard Crowell.
For sure, the defense is going to be improved. The front is big, talented and deep. The linebackers are experienced, tried and true. And the secondary is bigger, stronger and quicker to the ball.
The offensive line is a little green in the gourd, but that's offset by a senior-laden backfield and a stable of receivers capable of going up and getting the football. But even after Jones ran that mental picture through his brain, he knew all too well it comes down to one spot: quarterback.
Does he already know who that will be? If so, he's not telling. Is this any cause for concern? Not with the University of Texas off the schedule, suddenly creating two byes the first three weeks of the season. The more Jones studies his schedule, the more he sees the advantages of opening with Division II Portland State.
"And then having another bye after that before we go to UTEP," Jones said, "is good for us. I think things will shake out after that and we'll have a good idea of what we've got. Not playing Texas gives us an extra week to evaluate things."
It also allows the incoming freshmen an opportunity to gain equal footing with the five quarterbacks who took part in spring ball. Had the Longhorns been coming to town as scheduled, there wouldn't be as much time for the newcomers to learn the steps.
At this point, you would think sophomore Mike Harrison, the first quarterback Jones recruited, would have a slight edge. He is the only one to take a Division I snap and he's been around Jones' newest take on the run-and-shoot from the start. On the downside, the durability of Dan Robinson and the need to finish strong last year to earn a bowl bid kept Harrison carrying a clipboard most of the time.
Such was not the case for quarterbacks Nick Rolovich and Jared Flint. They were busy keeping their respective California junior colleges in the spotlight.
They also had the luxury of spending the spring learning the offense, and in effect, dodging the same crash course facing newcomers Chang, Manuma and possibly Chad Kapanui. Because he wasn't around this summer, it's likely Kapanui will compete at linebacker -- a position he played in high school -- because he wants the opportunity to compete right away.
"This is the quality of athlete we have with us this year that should make us even better," Jones said. "It's going to be an interesting few weeks to see who emerges back there at quarterback.
"But even if we pick somebody to start for Portland State, we'll probably use this same quarterback rotation to keep everybody in it. Because you never know what might happen."
Jones said yesterday the two days of newcomer workouts left him confident this class would contribute right away. Walk-on wideout Crowell prompted Jones to comment, "I knew we would get good wide receivers to walk on to play for this program. I'm telling you this: Crowell may be the best guy we have lining up out there. And that's saying something."
Defensive coordinator Kevin Lempa is equally excited about the players lining up on his side of the football. This won't be like last year's defense -- gambling on nearly every down. If you've watched the San Diego Chargers, then you have an idea what UH will look like defensively.
"We have a very talented group with a lot of depth in the front seven," Lempa said. "We lost some leaders and talented players off last year's team. But I liked what I saw in the spring."
We're going to be an aggressive group (whose) first job will be to stop the run."
As well as the Rainbows played last season, the defensive numbers weren't always harmonic. Hawaii yielded 25 points and 377 yards a game, statistics in need of improvement if the Rainbows want to contend for the WAC crown.
Last year's game plan against the option wasn't always what it should have been, something Lempa already addressed in the spring.
"We'll have a period where we just deal with the option," Lempa said of two-a-days which began this morning at Cooke Field. "That way, the players will already have a good idea what we want to do the week we play a team that runs the option."
Special teams is one area that might not be quite as settled as coach Dennis McKnight would like. Place-kickers Eric Hannum and Jake Huggins will welcome competition from newcomers Greg Kleidon and Justin Ayat. Senior Jamal Garland is back to handle punt returns, but finding as capable a return specialist on kickoffs will be settled over the next three weeks of workouts.
DENVER -- Losing to the Denver Broncos apparently wasn't enough punishment for the Green Bay Packers. Elam's four FGs lift Denver
Star-Bulletin wire services
Adding injury to insult, the Packers also lost three players, at least two of whom will be sidelined several weeks.
Olandis Gary ran for 94 yards and a third-quarter touchdown, and ex-UH kicker Jason Elam lofted four field goals in the Broncos' 26-20 victory yesterday.
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Ka Leo O Hawaii
