Jones glad BYU
rivalry is backIt's official: The BYU game is back, and according to June Jones, it should be as big as ever.
"You know, I think BYU's the only rivalry probably this school has ever had," Jones said. "So from that standpoint, I'm sure the people of Hawaii will be happy for it to happen, and we've got two weeks to get ready, and it'll be national exposure, and be probably bigger than a bowl game for us."
The Dec. 8 game is the return of a series that held such luster for Hawaii followers that Jones said he kept track of it even during his travels through the pro ranks.
"Oh, yeah. Always," Jones said. "Yeah, I always did. And that game with Ty Detmer, I remember watching that. And you could tell then that it was a special rivalry."
But this year's edition of the Cougars comes with its own Ashley Lelie. Tailback Luke Staley set several BYU records this season, including single-season rushing (1,433 yards and counting), career touchdowns (48) and single-season touchdowns (28), and won Mountain West offensive player of the week honors the last three games. Staley has also raked in two national player of the week awards, and was recently named first-team All-America by Football News.
"It looks like on offense they're unstoppable, to be quite honest," Jones said. "It's similar to Louisiana Tech, but I think they got better people. They can throw it and run it," Jones said, citing Staley by name.
But at 8-3 with his offense clicking, Jones is looking forward to the return of the BYU rivalry.
"I'm sure when they scheduled this game, it was not real big on their minds, but right now it is, I can tell you that," he said. "Because they're thinking the same thing we're thinking: We've got to slow these guys up.
"And hopefully they won't."
Something special: Hawaii freshman Chad Owens was named the Western Athletic Conference special teams player of the week yesterday, after returning a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown in UH's 52-30 victory over Air Force on Saturday.
"Yeah, he has been really pretty unbelievable this whole year," Jones said. "I think we're No. 1 in the nation (Hawaii leads with a 28.2 yard average) in kickoff returns and most of that is because of him."
Owens, with a 31.0 yard average, would lead the nation individually, has not played in enough games to qualify.
"Certainly every time he touches the ball, he's got a chance to score," Jones said. "And he's doing it probably the most difficult way to do it, on returns."
Owens' return was Hawaii's first TD runback of a kickoff since Darrick Branch's 92-yard touchdown return in 1992.
Nevada running back Chance Kretschmer was named WAC offensive player of the week and Boise State's Quintin Mickell nabbed the defensive honor.
The defense needs a rest: After getting banged up on Saturday night, Jones said his defensive unit needs the upcoming break before it plays another game.
"No, we need the bye week," Jones said. "We don't have enough players to play right now."
Several defensive players, including Matt Wright and Travis Laboy, were sidelined during the Air Force game and might not have played in a game this Saturday, Jones said.
Hawaii's defense needs every spare part it can get after giving up 603 yards to the Falcons.
"Yes, but there's a lot of reasons for that," Jones said. "You don't ever see that offense very often. And we're pretty beat up. And we're out there doing all we could do.
"We did what we had to do to win, and that's all you got to do."
Short yardage: Jones on the Air Force win's long-range ramifications: "You're trying to make a statement that you've improved your program ... and against a team that really probably didn't think we could play. Last time they (Air Force) played here, (they) thought it was a joke. So it's good to kind of make a statement that we are back." ... Jones said he didn't think he would be allowed to attend the Chevron State Football Championship game, but would watch the delayed broadcast closely. "There's a lot of talent on that field," he said. Sampson Satele, an offensive lineman for Kailua made a verbal commitment to UH.