RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM
QB Shawn Withy-Allen, a fifth-year senior, is battling to take over for the injured Tim Chang.Hawaii quarterback Tim Chang went to practice yesterday wearing a splint and a smile. The injured starter watched Jason Whieldon and Shawn Withy-Allen take the snaps that were his before he broke a bone in his right pinkie Thursday, and then told media he expects to be back practicing in time to regain his position and start the season opener Aug. 31 against Eastern Illinois. Chang confident he’ll
Hitting time for UH
be ready Aug. 31
By Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.com"Yeah, if the bone heals in 10 days, I'll be ready to go," Chang said.
The diagnosis Thursday was that Chang would be out 10-to-14 days.
He said he'd begun taking precautions against other bones breaking.
"I wasn't a big milk drinker, I take calcium pills," Chang said. "But from now on, in the cafeteria, I am drinking milk. I started this morning."
Chang, who suffered the break when a teammate's shoulder pad cracked it, said being injured most of last season is helping him deal with the latest travail.
"I ain't going to show anybody I'm down. What for? I'm happy to have another season, happy to be alive. Stuff happens," he said. "It's what you do with it afterward that makes you the person you are."
Just visiting: Former UH quarterbacks Michael Carter and Rodney Glover took in practice yesterday afternoon.
As they left the field, they were jokingly asked if they were ready to step in for the injured Chang.
"Sure, as long as they put in the option," Carter said.
Glover said he'll stick to his new job as a manager at Gordon Biersch.
"They don't want none of what I got," he said. "They're playing flag football."
Former UH defensive backs David Maeva and Mike Tresler brought their Kaiser High School players to watch the morning session.
"Today's our last day of camp," said Tresler, who is assisting Maeva in his first year as the Cougars' varsity head coach.
Colbert, Manuma out: The injuries continue to mount for the Warriors.
Senior wide receiver Justin Colbert, the only returning starting receiver, is sidelined with a strained right calf. He expects to return to full duty by Monday.
Sophomore Matt Manuma, who came into camp third on the depth chart at free safety, sprained his left knee in the morning practice and is day-to-day.
The good news is that inside receiver Gerald Welch returned to drills after two days of treating his sore right knee.
Possible return men: Several players are auditioning for kick return duties. Starting inside receiver Chad Owens, who returned three kicks for touchdowns last year, is not among them.
"Mike Bass, Michael Brewster and Jeremiah Cockheran will be back there for kickoffs and punts," Jones said. "John West will be back for kickoffs."
Assistant coach Rich Miano, who works closely with the special teams players, said the blocking schemes on returns are as important as the ballcarrier.
"People forget we were fourth in the nation before Chad began returning kicks for us last year," Miano said.
Short yardage: Season-ticket sales ended Thursday, and around 24,500 eight-game sets — 500 more than last year — were sold, according to Walter Watanabe of the UH ticket office. ... Brigham Young offensive tackle Ben Archibald, an Outland Trophy candidate, is out for the season after breaking a leg in practice. Hawaii plays at BYU on Sept. 6.
UH Athletics
