Wednesday, September 5, 2001
[ UH FOOTBALL ]
UH hopes THE HAWAII football team learned a lot about myth and reality in its season opener last fall against Portland State.
history doesn’t
repeat itself
Hawaii was pounded
the last time it played a
Division I-AA teamTeam names captains
No suds, no grills for Maui';s UH football tailgating
By Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comAny of the Warriors who felt Division I-AA automatically means inferior quality left Aloha Stadium with a very different opinion after the Vikings whipped them, 45-20. The loss set the flat tone for Hawaii's 3-9 season.
It should be a valuable lesson as UH starts the 2001 campaign Saturday against Montana at War Memorial Stadium on Maui. If the Warriors have forgotten, the I-AA national runner-up Grizzlies will be happy to remind them.
"We have some great athletes (in I-AA)," said Montana running back Yohance Humphery, who rushed for 159 yards in Montana's 31-17 victory over Cal Poly last Saturday. "A lot of programs can compete with Division I teams.
"There may be a difference in depth because of the number of scholarships, but sometimes that's evened out by our extra motivation. When you get a chance to play a big school and get your name out there and people see you beat them or play good, that says a lot about your program."
Senior slotback Craig Stutzmann and senior defensive tackle Mike Iosua have been voted team captains by their Hawaii football teammates. Hawaii names team captains
By Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.com"They're both deserving, and most important of all, the team feels they're deserving," Warriors' coach June Jones said.
Stutzmann (5-feet-10, 203 pounds) is a third-year starter from St. Louis School who has caught 123 passes for 1,414 yards and 13 touchdowns in his UH career.
"With it comes a little more responsibility," Stutzmann said. "You have to lead by example a little bit more. We don't want to lead vocally. Action is what speaks loudest."
Iosua (6-2, 282) has played in 30 games at defensive line and tight end. Last year he played in eight games, starting six at defensive tackle. His season was shortened by a shoulder injury.
Iosua has made 55 tackles in his UH career, including 12 for loss.
"It's an honor," Iosua said. "We have a lot of other seniors and leaders on this team, so it we will all share the responsibility."
Hawaii opens its season Saturday against Montana at Maui's War Memorial Stadium.
Humphery, who was all-state on offense and defense at Chugiak High School in Alaska, was offered a scholarship by Division I Washington State. But the offer was pulled when Humphery suffered a knee injury his senior year.
"It came down to them and Montana, and I probably would have picked Washington State," the Grizzlies' all-time leading rusher said. "But I'm glad they did what they did."
So is Montana coach Joe Glenn.
Humphery has helped destroy another myth Hawaii will do well to recognize: The Grizzlies are not just a passing fancy, the legend of Iolani product and All-American quarterback Brian Ah Yat notwithstanding.
Yes, Montana passed for an average of 312.4 yards a game last year, but it also rushed for 133.5, including 20 of the team's 53 touchdowns. Despite a hamstring injury that cost him three games last fall, Humphery rushed for 883 yards and nine TDs after a sophomore year of 1,277 yards and 15 scores.
"We're definitely not totally pass, with Yo (Humphery) and some good horses up front," Glenn said. "We've got to do what the defense gives us, try to take advantage of how many they commit to run and pass."
On defense, Montana yielded a mere 76.6 yards rushing and 188.4 passing in 2000. But Glenn is concerned about Hawaii's run-and-shoot offense.
The Grizzlies do have some quality athletes in the secondary in safeties Vince Huntsberger and Trey Young, and cornerback Calvin Coleman. Still, they will need to pressure UH quarterback Tim Chang.
"I can't see us winning if Hawaii gets rolling big-time," he said. "That's critical. We can't have a track meet. I don't think we can score in a hurry the way they do. We can't let Timmy Chang get hot."
Glenn has coached more games at War Memorial Stadium than most of the Warriors have played there.
He coached in the 1997 and '98 Hula Bowls. The latter game was on Maui.
"It's a great place for a game," Glenn said. "I'm an offensive coach by trade, but (head coach) Bruce Snyder told me I've got defense. He said, 'Get Mosi (Tatupu) to help you.' Mosi was just there to give out an award, so we had about two defenses and that was it. It worked out. We damned near shut them out and won."
Perhaps Glenn's self label as an offensive coach is another myth UH should beware of buying in to.
THROUGH THE YEARS UH vs. Montana
All games at Hawaii
Sept. 8, 2001
Montana vs. Hawaii,
at War Memorial Stadium
Sept. 11, 1982
Hawaii 40, Montana 0
Oct. 21, 1972
Hawaii 30, Montana 3
Nov. 13, 1971
Hawaii 25, Montana 11
Dec. 20, 1947
Montana 14, Hawaii 12
UH Athletics
Ka Leo O Hawaii
