Full Court Press
IF you had a ticket and didn't use it Friday night to watch one of the more entertaining shows in the Western Athletic Conference, shame on you. The only way you get the same seat in 2002 is to make sure you're around for the remaining five. UH football is the hottest
ticket in townIt's too bad Fresno State had to stumble and fall at home against Boise State or Hawaii's win over the Bulldogs might have recalled the days of Garrett Gabriel and his Heisman Trophy performance against Ty Detmer and the fourth-ranked Brigham Young Cougars.
As it stands, the heart-stopping 38-34 victory over no longer nationally ranked Fresno State is an important step toward bringing respectability to a program still trying to escape the shadow of an 0-12 season.
This team is not as good --- yet -- as the 1999 model that found its way to a 9-4 campaign, capped off with a win over Oregon State in the Oahu Bowl. But that doesn't mean the 5-2 Warriors aren't worth the price of admission.
You've got a head coach who almost died on George Washington's Birthday. You've got a school president who is a cross between Al Davis and Jerry Glanville. Did you catch Evan Dobelle's get-up at the game, complete with black jacket and those cheap sunglasses? He should have ditched his Porsche and ridden home on the back of June Jones' Harley.
And what about Tim Chang and Nick Rolovich? If you got to the stadium early Friday afternoon, you were treated to Chang and a few of his friends playing touch football before the biggest game of the season.
True, Chang appears headed toward a medical hardship if his tender right wrist doesn't heal soon. Jones had thought about having Chang remove that ballcap and put on a helmet after Rolovich went down in a heap in the fourth quarter vs. Fresno State.
Rolo's left shoulder popped out, prompting Jones to ask if he needed to be carried to the sidelines. The senior quarterback answered, "Coach, I throw with my right hand." No wonder he's under center. But can he stay healthy? And should he go down, is Chang mentally ready to be the golden child once more?
It might not matter with a receiver like Ashley Lelie to throw to in crucial situations. He continues to amaze. After a rather ho-hum first half, Lelie made two spectacular touchdown catches in the fourth quarter to help bail out a defense still trying to learn its various positions.
Robert Grant is new at safety. Chris Brown continues to adjust to linebacker life in the middle. Defensive backs Hyrum Peters, Nate Jackson, Jacob Espiau, Abraham Elimimian and Gary Wright are hobbled. But somehow, secondary coach Rich Miano keeps the pieces together long enough to allow the offense to do its run-and-shoot thing.
The real question is Jones. There aren't a lot of coaches who command feature stories in ESPN The Magazine. Part of the residual effect is having Nate Jackson considered one of the fiercest hitters in college football in the most recent ESPN issue. But without Jones' media appeal, hardly anyone would know anything about this walk-on from Waianae.
Sooner than later, Dobelle will clear the way for a new athletic director, one who's not as plain as an oatmeal cookie and who sees the potential of this program as a legitimate Top 25 contender. Fresno State proved it can be done. What Hawaii must do is play respectably against established programs away from these shores.
IT WOULDN'T BE surprising if Jones asked to restructure his contract after the 2001 campaign. He has brought in a firm marketing plan, is established at a national level and is the one person who can bring about lasting change to this still beleaguered athletic department. That comes at a price. Say, $750,000 a year?
Sounds high? Perhaps, but under Jones' tutelage, this team has grown into a legitimate WAC contender and maybe even into a national player should the Warriors run the table. Louisiana Tech helped everyone over the weekend by rallying to beat Rice in overtime.
True, Hawaii's health could be a real issue soon, especially on defense. What's the status of Mike Iosua and his chronic shoulder, and when does fellow defensive lineman Lui Fuga finally play for the Warriors?
Through it all, Hawaii is putting on a performance worthy of mention. Get your tickets ready over the last five weeks of the season or risk missing one of the better shows in town.
Paul Arnett has been covering sports
for the Star-Bulletin since 1990.
Email Paul: parnett@starbulletin.com.