While Tulsa was losing its 17th consecutive game Saturday at Aloha Stadium, the Golden Hurricane's video equipment was being stolen from the team's Waikiki hotel. Tulsa loses equipment,
Into the WAC madhouse
in addition to gameBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comCoach Keith Burns said he and his staff have not been able to watch tape this week because of the theft.
"It's nobody's fault, but it's misfortunate," he said. "We lost two projection screen TVs, they're real expensive. We figured it was probably between $6,000-10,000."
Burns said the team also lost two video cassette recorders and accessories.
"That was about everything we had," he said.
Burns said the equipment was locked in the team's two meeting rooms at the Radisson Waikiki.
"Someone took advantage of us being gone Saturday night," Burns said.
A police report was not filed and the hotel's management did not return calls from the Star-Bulletin.
The big man: The way Hawaii's defense is designed, the tackles aren't expected to make a whole lot of stops. But on Saturday, 6-foot-2, 310-pound junior Isaac Sopoaga did his job of drawing double-teams -- and, as a bonus, he led the Warriors with seven tackles, including one of UH's 10 tackles-for-loss.
Sopoaga was the focal point of Hawaii's most consistent defensive game of the season.
"Defensively we made some really big stops and physically we got after them," UH coach June Jones said. "Isaac was a big, big part of that. He came off a double-team two or three times and split it. Isaac just keeps getting better and better and better. Before he's done he's going to be a dominant player.
"He's starting to be the guy he can be. The best thing is I can tell by the look in the eye he wants to get better."
Role players on a roll: New guys continue to climb the depth chart and contribute every week for the Warriors.
Saturday it was running back Josh Galeai's turn. He only carried the ball three times for net 2 yards, but the 5-11, 233-pound senior from Oceanside, Calif., scored his first career touchdown on an 18-yard second-quarter pass from quarterback Tim Chang.
"All of our backs catch the ball pretty well. He's smart and he's worked hard. We were planning on playing him this week," Jones said. "With Brew (Michael Brewster) down, Josh is our best blocking back, after (starter) Thero (Mitchell)."
Right guard and team captain Vince Manuwai said he enjoys seeing players he practices with get a chance to show something on Saturday night.
"It's getting harder and harder for the coaches to decide who's going to start at those skill positions. We have no doubt in anyone who lines up that they're going to make big plays," Manuwai said. "We're not worried about anybody who steps in. I just hope they all get a chance."
Jones said it's usually just a matter of time.
"We have a lot of guys just waiting for chances to play, some positions more than others, but a lot of guys deserving of playing time."
Chang gets it: Jones said Chang's recent improvement doesn't have to do with knowledge of the run-and-shoot -- he already had that, the coach said.
"He had it right away. First practice I saw him," Jones said. "He had a good understanding of what we were doing, but he'd been running it for four years (at St. Louis School).
"(NFL Hall-of-Famer) Jim Kelly didn't get it until game five or six. Rolo (former UH quarterback Nick Rolovich) didn't get it until a year and a half. Different guys, different ways."
Players of the week: Boise State quarterback Ryan Dinwiddie (406 yards and five TD passes), BSU defensive back Quinten Mikell (nine tackles, two sacks) and Texas-El Paso kicker Keith Robinson (game-winning 59-yard field goal) were named the Western Athletic Conference offensive, defensive and special teams players of the week.
Chang was Hawaii's only nominee.
National rankings
Hawaii is ranked in several national statistical categories:
Team
Pass offense Att Com Yds YPG 2. Hawaii 336 183 2,688 384.0 Pass defense Att Com Yds TDs Pts 10. Hawaii 272 133 1460 10 114.21 Total offense Plays Yds YPG 2. Hawaii 494 3,581 511.6 Scoring offense G Pts Avg 5. Hawaii 7 293 41.9 net punting no. Punts Avg yards net Ret Ret Avg 30. Hawaii 19 42.6 7 119 36.4
Individual
Total offense Plays Yds YPG 5. Tim Chang 2,175 7.6 310.7 Leading Passers Att Cp Yds Tds Pts 50. Tim Chang 275 151 2,126 12 127.7 Interceptions G Int Yds TD Pg T15. Hyrum Peters 7 4 176 3 .57 Receptions Per Game Gms Ct Yds CPg 20. Chad Owens 6 36 456 6.0 33. Justin Colbert 7 37 528 5.3 Receiving Yards Per Game Gms Ct Yds YPG 42. Chad Owens 6 36 456 76.00 43. Britton Komine 7 27 529 75.57 44. Justin Colbert 7 37 528 75.43 Scoring TD XP FG PPg T37. Justin Ayat 0 36 7 8.14 Field Goals FGA FG Pct FGPG T44. Justin Ayat 11 7 .636 1.00