For obvious reasons, Brigham Young coach Gary Crowton is not disclosing much about adjustments he has planned to avoid another embarrassing loss to Hawaii when the Cougars host the Warriors on Friday. Cougars want to avoid
getting beat by OwensBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comBut here's one:
"We'll play more starters on special teams, on coverage teams," Crowton said. "Their returns helped set up at least 21 points. We have to kick it away from him."
"Him" is Chad Owens.
Owens, then a freshman, returned a punt and a kickoff for touchdowns and broke two NCAA return records when the Warriors blasted the Cougars 72-45 last December. He was named a preseason All-American as a return specialist last summer.
But Owens -- now a starter at inside receiver -- returned only one kickoff for 25 yards in UH's season-opening 61-36 victory over Eastern Illinois on Saturday.
Owens is not listed on the depth chart at either kickoff (Michael Brewster, John West) or punt (Mike Bass, Clifton Herbert) return, but don't be surprised if Owens pulls at least some of the duty come Friday.
UH coach June Jones didn't want to tip his hand, either.
Owens is up for it if his coach is.
"You never know with Coach Jones," Owens said. "Brewster did a good job. Like I've said before, it doesn't really matter who is back there if the blocking schemes are right. We'll just do what Coach says and try to do some things to give ourselves a better opportunity to win.
"Whatever happens, I'm pretty sure they'll be gunning for me."
Owens caught five passes (including some tough grabs) for 56 yards in his debut as a starting receiver last week.
"I felt pretty good about it, 5-for-5, caught everything thrown to me," Owens said.
Payback time: When BYU goes looking for revenge, it usually gets it. Since 1998, the Cougars are 14-0 in payback opportunities, with the most recent being last week's 42-21 beating of Syracuse making up for a 42-14 loss to the Orangemen in 2000.
BYU is 40-21 in such situations since 1980.
Cornered: The Cougars will try to stop the Warriors' passing game probably without one of their best pass defenders, all-Mountain West cornerback Jernaro Gilford.
Gilford, a 6-foot-2, 187-pound junior, has undergone two arthroscopic surgeries on a knee and didn't play last week. Crowton said he likely needs another week of mending.
"He practiced yesterday, but we're shooting for (Sept. 14) Nevada game," Crowton said.
Wary Warrior: Jones knows this is a tough early season task for his team.
"We know we're walking into a lion's den," said Jones, who is aware Hawaii has never won in Provo, Utah, in seven tries. "There's altitude, there will be a screaming crowd. Everything's against us. It doesn't matter. We have to overcome it."
Short yardage: UH athletic director Herman Frazier and former AD Hugh Yoshida are hosting an alumni event in Orange County, Calif., today, on their way to Provo. ... Former BYU All-American and NFL All Pro Todd Christensen will provide color for the ESPN broadcast. He is the father of Cougars receiver Toby Christensen. ... BYU has won nine straight home games, and Hawaii has won two in a row on the road.
UH Athletics
