RICHARD WALKER /RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM
An injury may force starting quarterback Tim Chang to miss Hawaii's first game of 2002 against Eastern Illinois on Aug. 31.
Whieldon is Is there a Rolo in the house?
tentative No. 1
He and Withy-Allen are
BSU WAC team to beat
the 2 backups in line to
replace injured QB ChangBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comIt appears a broken finger Tim Chang suffered yesterday in practice will keep the Hawaii starting quarterback out of the season opener Aug. 31 against Eastern Illinois.
Last year when Chang got hurt in the season's third game, Nick Rolovich took his place and never looked back, leading UH to victory in eight of the last nine games.
"This team needs somebody to step up right now and play at a better level than even Rolo did last year," Shawn Withy-Allen said. "It's going to be tough, but we have the talent here to fill those shoes."
Junior Jason Whieldon and senior Withy-Allen are the two candidates to replace Chang. Fans can get a good look at them and the rest of the Warriors at a scrimmage tomorrow at UH at 8:30 a.m.
"We'll tackle," coach June Jones said.
Not Whieldon and Withy-Allen, of course. They'll be untouchable, especially with one less QB in the fold.
Jones said Whieldon, a 6-foot-1, 187-pound junior college transfer, is the tentative No. 1.
"I would say right now Jason, yeah," Jones said.
Whieldon and Withy-Allen performed well in spring practice, with Withy-Allen emerging as No. 1 on the depth chart, while Chang recuperated from surgery for ligament damage to the same hand he hurt yesterday.
Chang rehabbed well and came into fall camp as the starter.
"This past spring not having him there prepared us for this situation," said the 6-4, 219-pound Withy-Allen. "We all thought he was coming back and then something freak happens today. You never know. This game ... one snap. You never know when it could be your last, when you could be out for a day, a week, whatever. Everyone's got to be ready."
Whieldon has only been working in the run-and-shoot offense since the spring, but is picking up the nuances quickly.
"This kind of offense is unique. The more reps you get the more comfortable you get. We've been running long practices, with a lot of reps. Everyday everyone gets better, all around," Whieldon said.
Whieldon and Withy-Allen both said they are excited about the opportunity, but both also said they are disheartened by Chang's injury.
"It's unfortunate news. You never want someone to get hurt, especially a teammate," Whieldon said. "It's kind of a bummer, my heart goes out to him. We'll be praying for him. But the team's got to move on. We've got a game in two weeks. We're just trying to get ready."
Withy-Allen has had nearly 20 other quarterback teammates in his five seasons at UH. He has never started a game.
"It's unfortunate what happened today. It's just one of those freak accidents," the Kalaheo High School graduate said. "But we have to step up and the team has to go on. I feel readier than ever. Spring ball felt great. I prepared all summer to be the starter. It's just a matter now of going out and gettin' it. I'm in a tough battle with Jason right now."
There are varying opinions on how long Chang will be out. A news release from UH said 10-14 days. Jones said two or three weeks, based on how much time he missed with a similar injury.
It's safe to say if Chang doesn't make it back to practice by next week sometime, it would be difficult for him to be sharp enough for the game two weeks from tomorrow.
"I would say he probably won't play the first game, for sure," Jones said.
Chang hurt his finger about 45 minutes before the end of this morning's practice. Withy-Allen said he thinks the injury occurred when Chang's finger was brushed by another player's helmet.
"Timmy has a non-displaced fracture in his proximal phalanx on his throwing hand," team doctor Andy Nichols said. "He'll be in a splint. Hopefully, the time off will allow the injury to heal and not require surgery."
Chang was attended to by trainers and doctors on the sideline. About 15 minutes before the end of practice he was taken to the trainer's room for additional treatment.
The early diagnosis was that Chang jammed the finger and would return to practice soon. But yesterday afternoon UH announced that the finger is broken.
"We're disappointed because he worked so hard to get back after his wrist injury," Jones said. "Hopefully we can get him back after a few weeks."
Chang had surgery in the offseason after injuring ligaments in his right hand last year in the third game of the season against Rice, and was granted an extra season due to medical hardship.
After a record-breaking high school career at St. Louis School, Chang played in 10 games as a true freshman and was named Western Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year.
"It's a minor setback," Chang said. "I wish it wouldn't have happened, but it did, so how we deal with it now is what counts. I'll be out there again. Everything's going to be all right."
Chad Owens is one of three new starters at the four receiver spots. He said the Warriors can win with Chang, Withy-Allen or Whieldon passing the ball.
"Of course we'd love to have Timmy in there. He's our starter," Owens said. "But whoever steps up to the challenge and makes the best of the opportunity will get to play.
"We take reps with everybody. As long as they get the ball there when they're supposed to, that's all that matters."
Jones remains optimistic, although Chang is the second projected starter injured in practice this week. On Monday, Leonard Peters, who was No. 1 on the depth chart at strong safety, suffered bruises to his spleen and kidney and was still under observation in a hospital yesterday.
"I think in the long run these things make you better anyway," Jones said. "It's a good chance for Jason and the other quarterbacks to get some reps now. Unfortunately, Timmy was really starting to come on, but that's the way it is. We just have to adjust and move on."
... In 1987, longtime Hawaii assistant Bob Wagner, replaced Dick Tomey as head coach, and the Rainbows went 5-7 and 3-5 in the WAC. Defensive tackle Al Noga's senior season was nowhere as dominant as his junior All-American season, but he did repeat his single-season record of six forced fumbles and was drafted in the third round by the Minnesota Vikings.
Wagner, who was fired near the end of the 1995 season, went on to be an assistant at Arizona and Texas-El Paso.
Today, Wagner is beginning his tenure as the first athletic director of the Kamehameha Schools' Big Island campus.
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