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Notebook
Thursday, August 24, 2000
And then there were three. UH FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK
It’s Mike, Nick
Small college notebook
or TimmyUniversity of Hawaii head coach June Jones narrowed the quarterback race yesterday to Mike Harrison, Nick Rolovich and Timmy Chang.
Those three players will get an equal amount of repetitions over the next several days before Warriors head coach June Jones narrows his focus to two. He will likely announce a starter by the end of next week.
"We tried to get down to three guys to give them a few more reps," Jones said. "We're going to take a look at them for four or five days and try to isolate it even further the final week."
It appears Harrison is at the top of the depth chart with Rolovich and Chang hot on his heels. The sophomore has the only Division I experience, albeit it's limited to 20 pass and and eight rush attempts.
"We kind of felt like it was down to us because we've been competing for quite awhile now," Harrison said. "But now we double the reps and are able to get more in sequence.
"So it helps us get into a groove. Not just one rep and you're out. It narrows it down to where we're competing against the guys we're going against."
Rolovich and Chang aren't that many snaps behind Harrison, something not lost on the Bellflower, Calif., resident.
"I feel like if I can play my game, I can't get beat out," Harrison said. "I just have to go out there and do that every day. Some days I have it, some days I don't.
"I know I had more experience with this team in this system. I know Timmy ran it in high school, but it's a little different up here. And I know it has helped me with my reads, being a little bit quicker and seeing things a little bit better.
"But the way Coach Jones teaches it, everyone is catching up real fast. I have a slight edge, but it's not a big one. Whoever gets it, is going to have someone breathing down their necks this year."
Rolovich believes he's in the thick of things. Last year, he led San Francisco City College to the mythical national junior college championship.
He also had the opportunity to learn the system last spring. He and Jared Flint, who is out for the year after undergoing shoulder surgery, did a good job learning what Jones wants in given situations. Now, it's just a matter of executing it on the field.
"We narrowed it down to three guys getting the same amount of reps," Rolovich said.
When there were six quarterbacks, each player took about 25 snaps a practice. Now it will be more like 60.
"I think Coach Jones thought we're the three best coming along with the offense," Rolovich said. "Pretty soon it will be down to two in a few days and by next week they'll have their guy.
"I'm glad to be in that group. I can't complain about that. I still have some work to do on reads and work on accuracy always. It's tough because the other two guys are good and are playing well. I think it's somebody's job to win."
Jones reiterated that if Chang is good enough to play this season, he won't redshirt the freshman star of St. Louis School fame. But at this point, Chang is still a long shot to be the starter against Portland State on Sept. 9.
Aloha Stadium workout
Jones confirmed yesterday that the Warriors will hold a closed practice tonight at Aloha Stadium.Because of injuries and inexperience in the offensive front, Jones has decided not to hold a scrimmage this year.
"The workout at Aloha Stadium will be just like if we were having a morning practice," Jones said. "We're not going to do anything special. We just want to give the guys a feel for the place."
Tonight's practice will replace the normal morning workout. Jones said the Rainbows will return to their regular practice routine tomorrow.
Injury update
Defensive lineman Doug Sims returned to practice yesterday after being sidelined with a knee injury that might be related to his overall weight.Jones was disappointed Sims came in so heavy. He had hoped the senior tackle would have shed a few pounds during the summer, but such was not the case.
Sims was the only walking wounded player to return to practice. Free safety Nate Jackson (foot), wideouts Mark Tate (ankle) and Craig Stutzmann (ankle), defensive tackle Lui Fuga (shoulder), safety Tavis Campbell (shoulder) and defensive end Joe Correia (ankle) remain sidelined.
Jones is hopeful most of those players will be back in the lineup by next week.
By Paul Arnett
It apparently never gets old for Sharon Peterson. The University of Hawaii-Hilo women's volleyball coach enters her 23rd year with the Vulcans with virtually the same type of team and much of the same sentiment that she had back in her first campaign in 1978. SMALL COLLEGE NOTEBOOK
Old is new
again for PetersonThat is, primarily with a team of new players and an excitement to develop the entire squad's potential.
Peterson has seven new players -- one junior and six freshmen. The last time she had at least this many was in her rookie campaign.
"This is really a brand new team, but that's what is enjoyable and exciting about the start of this year," Peterson said. "I have only a few returning starters, but they will not be playing at their same positions from last year.
"It really feels like when I started in '78. I have a wonderful group of intelligent, confident and competitive women."
They are also "green.'' Most of the newcomers are arriving with numerous high school accolades but will still have to adjust to the more complex schemes, stronger opponents and better play found at the collegiate level.
Peterson's newcomers are: Junior Marnie Grant, and freshmen Brittany Baum, Megan Denman, Heidi Fabritz, Emily Hutchinson, Tiffanie Ollison and Sara Pilgreen.
They join returning junior Brandi Hori and sophomores Ann Haggerty, Kauikeolani Nani'ole, Cheriesse Shiroma-Ming and Marie Tuifao.
The Vulcans have been without a true setter for a few seasons. That will no longer be the case. Baum and Denham are setters, which will allow last year's primary setter, Haggert, to return to her natural position as right-side hitter.
Haggerty's move allows Peterson to shift Shiroma-Ming to middle blocker after playing last season on the right.
"It's hard to say right now how we'll stack up against the rest of the competition, but we definitely want to make a splash this year and I think we can,'' Peterson said. "I plan to push this team, but with a combination of patience. We're going to make mistakes, but hopefully we learn from them."
Despite her being just 21 wins shy of 500 (479-203), it had been rumored that this season might be Peterson's last with the Vulcans. She casually dismissed this notion, however, saying that she still very much enjoys her job -- albeit stressful -- and ideally would like to stay around until this new crop of recruits graduate.
"I told my husband, 'If I'm still having fun, then I want to keep coaching,' " Peterson said. "Fun means good team chemistry and steady improvement, though winning obviously helps. Either way, I'll probably not be around for more than four more years."
The Vulcans begin their season with a match against their alumnae this Saturday, before facing off against Cal State Dominguez Hills next Tuesday.
BYUH, HPU Nos. 1-2
BYUH and HPU open the season ranked No. 1 and 2, respectively, in the American Volleyball Coaches Association's NCAA Division II preseason national poll. BYUH is the defending national champion, while HPU won the Pacific West Conference title last year and the national championship in 1998.No other PacWest team is ranked in the Top 25.
All four of the state's PacWest teams will participate in the Hawaiian Style Classic Tournament next Thursday through Saturday. Three mainland teams will vie for the title along with HPU, BYUH, Chaminade and the host Vulcans.
HPU's Stefanov cited
HPU soccer sweeper Iovo Stefanov was named PacWest Player of the Week on Tuesday for his stellar performance during the first week of the season. After playing the midfield his first three seasons with the Sea Warriors, Stefanov has made a seamless transition to defender. Stefanov was instrumental in the Sea Warriors posting two shutouts in their first three games (1-1-1 overall).
Women's soccer recognized
The PacWest will sponsor women's soccer for the first time this season, and will hold a championship tourney.The HPU women's team opens the season as the No. 5 ranked team in the eight-team PacWest. As the state's lone representative in the league, the Sea Warriors will have an extended road trip on the mainland.
HPU opens at Seattle University Sunday. The team remains in Seattle for matches against Montana State-Billings Tuesday and Western Washington on Thursday. Then it's off to Arcata, Calif. for two more games on Sept. 2-3. against Western Oregon and Humboldt State.
Brandon Lee, Special to the Star-Bulletin