RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM
Hawaii quarterback Shawn Withy-Allen is behind Jason Whieldon on the depth chart.Whieldon on the depth chart.
Hawaii football coach June Jones is giving Tim Chang's right pinkie another week to heal before deciding on a starter at quarterback for the season opener Aug. 31 against Eastern Illinois at Aloha Stadium. Chang still can
Receivers hurting
start opener
Bearcats trying to make name for themselves
By Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.com"I'd say if he can throw by Thursday of game week he'll have a chance," Jones said yesterday.
Chang broke a bone in the smallest finger of his throwing hand in practice one week ago. The prognosis then was that Chang could start throwing a football again in 10 to 14 days.
Junior Jason Whieldon has assumed the starting position in practice and Jones has been pleased with his progress. Senior Shawn Withy-Allen is No. 2 at this point.
Sopoaga progresses: Isaac Sopoaga came into camp with enough hype to move mountains. But so far, the 6-foot-3, 315-pound former JC All-American hasn't dislodged incumbent starters Lui Fuga and Lance Samuseva at defensive tackle.
But no one is alarmed. Defensive line coach Vantz Singletary said he is pleased with Sopoaga's progress.
"It's a lot we're throwing at him right now. We're a big zone blitzing team, there's a lot you have to know as far as pass drops, where you need to be, the blitz," Singletary said. "He's working extra hard, putting in extra time in the mornings and certainly the afternoons. Right now the other kids are a little more smooth with it. He will get to that point. Whether it takes another week or two, he will get there and he will push one of the two (starters).
"There could still be some shakeup in the starting lineup," Singletary added. "Hopefully all the guys will stay focused and continue to compete and support one another."
Sopoaga doesn't have himself on a timetable to become a starter. And he's smart enough to know being introduced coming out of the tunnel is overrated, especially at that position.
"To me, it doesn't really matter, I'm just happy I'm on the team right now," he said. "It's no problem, second team, first team, whatever. I'm sure I'll have a chance (to play)."
Sopoaga said he is fine physically, except for a stiff back that held him back a little bit yesterday.
Hit, move of the day: It's an art form, getting in your licks at practice when most of it is "hard touch" at best. Senior safety Sean Butts showed yesterday he's a master of making an impressive hit within the rules and without injuring a teammate. In team drills, he caught Thero Mitchell just right coming around the corner and sent the sturdy running back flying.
The offense got some revenge a few plays later, when Mike Bass took a short pass and juked defensive end Houston Ala, leaving Ala grabbing at air.
"I've got to get better in those situations," Ala said. "Dropping into coverage and making the play is part of the job."
Around the WAC: The Western Athletic Conference announced the Crucial.com Humanitarian Bowl has entered a two-year agreement with the Big 12 Conference to play in the game against a WAC opponent. That finalizes the league's bowl game tie-ins, as last week the WAC's agreement with the Pac-10 regarding the Silicon Valley Football Classic was announced.
The Dec. 25 ConAgra Foods Hawaii Bowl will match a WAC team (Hawaii, if it is eligible) against a Conference USA opponent. The GMAC Bowl pits a Conference USA team against either a WAC or Mid-America Conference team.
Short yardage: Second-team center Derek Faavi joined the injury list with a right shoulder ailment and is day-to-day. He practiced yesterday afternoon, but was shaken up during two-on-two drills and retired to the sideline. ... Freshman cornerback Kenny Patton returned to practice after sitting out five sessions with a hip injury. ... Jones said the players will vote for team captains before camp breaks Saturday.
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