STAR-BULLETIN / 1999
East Illinois coach Bob Spoo congratulated UH coach June Jones after the Warriors beat the Panthers on Sept. 11, 1999, snapping a 19-game losing streak. UH faces EIU today at Aloha Stadium.
UH wants another No reminder will be needed tonight about how bad things can be and how they can be turned around. All the Hawaii Warriors have to do is look across the line of scrimmage at their Eastern Illinois opponents.
timely win
over Panthers
The Warriors broke a 19-game
UH Football Starting Lineups
losing streak by beating
Eastern Illinois 3 years ago
By Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comThe I-AA Panthers are the team that was at once the end and the beginning for the UH program in 1999. They are a fitting opponent for a new beginning.
One week after a 62-7 shellacking from USC for their 19th consecutive loss, the Rainbows looked like they were on their way to No. 20 as EIU took a 10-0 first-quarter lead. But UH rallied for a 31-27 victory, the first under coach June Jones. It was the launching point to a 9-4 season, including a share of the conference championship and Oahu Bowl victory.
"I remember the feeling coming off the field," said senior linebacker Matt Wright, who was a freshman running back in 1999. "Just winning, finally, at last. It was a good feeling, something you want all the time, something that implanted in my head."
Wright watched that game from the sideline as a redshirting member of the offense. Now he is a starter on a vaunted UH defensive unit.
"It's kind of weird, I've seen both sides of the tape. I like it better at linebacker," Wright said. "We're pumped up and ready to go."
Both offenses are capable of putting up lots of points, but the Warriors are more experienced and deeper on defense. Some have said this could be UH's best defense ever; as good a judge as former All-American tackle Al Noga -- who led a unit that was fourth in the nation against the run -- didn't take offense to the notion during fall camp.
Defensive coordinator Kevin Lempa doesn't want to hear such talk. He knows the Warriors improved vastly last year and added some depth, including junior college standouts Isaac Sopoaga at tackle and Chad Kalilimoku (who may redshirt) at linebacker. But Lempa's been around long enough to know not to make predictions.
"I'm excited, for the players," Lempa said. "I think we have a chance to be good. But you never, nobody ever, knows if you're any good or not until you actually play. I don't know. If I did, I wouldn't be here, I'd be in Las Vegas laying down bets."
Usually Lempa has one or two offensive scouts don a yellow jersey the week before a game, simulating the upcoming opponent's most dangerous threats. This past week four or five guys wore yellow.
"We talked about the multiplicity of their offensive weapons," Lempa said. "They have a lot of different guys they can beat you with."
The two-time defending Ohio Valley champions are ranked fourth in the nation in Division I-AA. The main reason is the offense, led by quarterback Tony Romo, whom Jones thinks will be drafted.
"He's got pro size (6-foot-3, 220 pounds) and ability," Jones said.
Romo, and tailbacks J.R. Taylor (6-1, 221) and Andre Raymond (5-10, 196), have an offensive line with all five returning starters back to help them out. Taylor, a senior, rushed for 18 yards against UH in 1999.
"We have to stop their run and we can't give up the big play on the pass," Jones said. "They will complete some passes because their quarterback is good, but we can't afford to give up the big play."
UH will try to stop EIU without some of the guys the Warriors wanted to use. Leonard Peters, the projected starter at strong safety, is out with abdominal injuries. Linebacker Ikaika Curnan, who made a strong move up the depth chart in camp, sprained his right knee Thursday and probably won't play tonight.
When: Today, 6:05 p.m. Hawaii vs. Eastern Illinois
Where: Aloha Stadium
Tickets: $19 sideline, $15 end zone, $11 students/seniors, UH students free (super rooter only). Available at Aloha Stadium, except for student tickets at Stan Sheriff Center. Also at Ticket Plus outlets or by calling (808) 526-4400.
TV: KFVE Channel 5, delay at 10 p.m., with rebroadcast Sunday at 9 a.m. Also available live on Pay-Per-View. Call 625-8100 on Oahu or (866) 556-7784 on neighbor islands to subscribe.
Radio: KKEA-AM 1420, live.
Linebacker is still a strong point, though, with seniors Wright, Chris Brown and Pisa Tinoisamoa. The latter two are candidates for the Butkus Award.
Also, defensive end Travis Laboy -- possibly the most naturally gifted of the Warriors -- has battled through myriad aches and pains to reclaim his starting spot.
Panthers coach Bob Spoo, however, is more concerned with Hawaii's offense. Although departed quarterback Nick Rolovich and receiver Ashley Lelie were most responsible for the Warriors' air assault of last season, Spoo is wary of the run-and-shoot.
"Hawaii is one of the most explosive offensive teams in the nation. We don't want to get into a run-and-gun shootout with them," Spoo said. "So we're going to rely on controlling the ball as best as possible, hopefully disrupt their tempo and fly to the football with an aggressive defense."
Jones said sophomore Tim Chang will probably start at quarterback despite a broken bone in the pinkie of his throwing hand. Chang returned to practice this week and looked very sharp on Thursday. JC transfer Jason Whieldon will likely play, too, Jones said.
"I wouldn't say they (the quarterbacks) are struggling, but they need a leader," Tinoisamoa said. "Tim can be that leader as long as he steps in and works through this."
Chang and Whieldon break in a group of receivers that includes only one returning starter, senior Justin Colbert. They go up against a young secondary with only one senior, cornerback Roosevelt Williams.
UH's offensive line is considered a strength, with All-America candidate Vince Manuwai at right guard. But right tackle Uriah Moenoa is the only other starter in the same position he started at last fall.
BACK TO TOP |
STARTING LINEUPS
Eastern Illinois
Offense
TE 88 Nick Eller 6-3, 273 Jr. LT 77 Mike Bujnak 6-6, 288 So. LG 76 Kevin Hill 6-3, 287 Sr. C 64 Scott Sholl 6-3, 285 Sr. RG 67 Chris Rosenlund 6-5, 305 Sr. RT 56 Frank Castagnoli 6-4, 272 Jr. SE 80 Will Bumphus 6-1, 211 Sr. FL 9 Devon O'Neal 5-10, 170 Jr. FB 8 Andre Jones 5-11, 235 Sr. TB 22 J.R. Taylor 6-1, 221 Sr. QB 17 Tony Romo 6-3, 220 Sr. Defense
LE 46 Alex Schmink 6-0, 238 Jr. LT 98 Damien McCottrell 5-11, 290 Jr. RT 97 Marcus Lorick 6-2, 276 So. RE 96 Kory Lothe 6-4, 250 Fr. LB 99 Lance Thompson 6-2, 225 Sr. LB 55 David Bentley 5-8, 215 Jr. LB 2 Nick Ricks 6-0, 229 Jr. CB 36 Roosevelt Williams 5-11, 172 Sr. CB 8 Nick Allison 5-9, 169 So. SS 6 Fred Miller 6-1, 211 Jr. FS 24 Kevin Anderson 6-0, 207 So. Specialists
R 5 Andre Raymond 5-10, 196 Jr. P 33 Tom Schofield 6-3, 197 Fr. K 10 Steve Kuehn 6-0, 181 Fr. LS 66 Farley Schalk 6-6, 285 Jr. H 13 Kyle Kissack 6-2, 200 So.
Hawaii
Offense
WR 18 Justin Colbert 5-8, 170 Sr. WR 2 Chad Owens 5-9, 177 So. LT 70 Wayne Hunter 6-6, 278 Jr. LG 77 Shayne Kajioka 6-3, 308 Jr. C 53 Lui Fuata 6-2, 315 Sr. RG 65 Vince Manuwai 6-2, 309 Sr. RT 69 Uriah Moenoa 6-3, 327 So. WR 4 Nate Ilaoa 5-9, 204 Fr. or 21 Clifton Herbert 5-8, 157 Jr. WR 88 Neal Gossett 5-10, 177 Sr. QB 14 Tim Chang 6-2, 191 So. or 8 Jason Whieldon 6-1, 187 Jr. RB 24 Thero Mitchell 5-10, 210 Sr. Defense
LE 58 La'anui Correa 6-5, 264 Sr. LT 99 Lui Fuga 6-1, 301 Jr. RT 92 Lance Samuseva 5-11, 290 Jr. RE 1 Travis Laboy 6-4, 249 Jr. LB 44 Matt Wright 6-1, 225 Sr. LB 54 Chris Brown 6-1, 255 Sr. LB 10 Pisa Tinoisamoa 6-0, 218 Sr. CB 37 Abe Elimimian 5-10, 173 So. SS 33 Hyrum Peters 5-8, 188 Jr. FS 23 Sean Butts 6-3, 202 Sr. CB 3 Kelvin Millhouse 6-1, 205 Jr. Specialists
P 49 Mat McBriar 6-1, 221 Sr. K 47 Justin Ayat 5-11, 205 So. LS 45 T.J. Moe 5-11, 218 Fr. PR 1 Mike Bass 5-6, 158 So. KR 6 Mike Brewster 5-6, 176 So. H 7 Shawn Withy-Allen 6-4, 219 Sr.
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