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Tuesday, October 31, 2000
Chang reviews Tim Chang sat in front of his locker last Saturday night looking like the battered challenger in a heavyweight title fight.
‘the hit’
The Hawaii quarterback
criticizes the knockout blow
by San Jose StateTODAY'S FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK
By Paul Arnett
Star-BulletinWith his ear held together by butterfly stitching, the University of Hawaii quarterback turned and faced the press, a little dazed and confused, perhaps, but coherent enough to understand the questions coming his way.
One reporter asked whether the shot by middle linebacker Josh Parry that put Chang in this condition was legal. Chang didn't take a politically correct pause before responding. His answer was direct: "The hit was clean." After watching the hit yesterday on film, Chang had a different response.
"I originally thought it was a clean hit, but after looking at it, I thought it wasn't real cool," Chang said this morning. "It's one thing to just hit somebody, but he didn't pull up.
"He came through and hit me so hard, my helmet flew off. Then he drove me to the turf. Look at my face. That ain't pretty. He could have held up, ease down, it's over. But he continued to drive me into the ground."
Parry asked about Chang's condition as he left the field to join his San Jose State teammates for the ride home. He, too, was questioned whether he thought his hit on Chang fell into the late category.
"That was a good play," Parry said. "I hope he's all right. But that's football. He's a helluva quarterback, I'll tell you. The guy's a true freshman. He's going to take this program to big things, I'll tell you that."
Being a former quarterback himself, you can understand why Warriors head coach June Jones is a little sensitive about shots in the pocket. While the offensive line didn't give up a sack in last Saturday's loss to San Jose State, Chang still took a beating.
Five times, Spartan linebackers and linemen made Chang pay for his quick release. The true freshman hung in there, but he was hit from every direction -- front, behind and center -- including the shot by Parry.
Jones didn't mince words about what he thought of the play that took Chang out of a pulsating game reminiscent of arena football where no amount of points seems enough. He said on camera yesterday it was a flagrant foul on two accounts -- No. 1, using the top of a helmet as a weapon; No. 2, driving Chang to the turf to the point where he almost lost part of his ear.
Originally, Jones wasn't going to send the tape to the conference office for further review. But yesterday, he changed his mind. He wants to use the KFVE-TV footage, that in slow motion, appears damning. But at full speed? Well, that's a little more difficult to judge.
Be that as it may, Chang will be under center as the Warriors get ready for the road trip to hell this Saturday in Fresno, Calif. The Bulldogs have won 13 consecutive games at home and will be playing to keep their hopes alive of winning their second league championship.
"I'll be ready to play this Saturday," Chang said. "I couldn't practice today because I couldn't put on my helmet. Hopefully, they'll put a rule in to protect the quarterback more."
UH Athletics
Ka Leo O Hawaii
