As of yesterday, Hawaii quarterback Tim Chang hadn't participated in team practice drills this week. Chang says he’ll be ready
Faavi may start at centerBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comBut Chang, who threw on the side for about 30 minutes yesterday, said he will be ready to play against Alabama on Saturday.
Some of his passes were wobbly, as he is adjusting to throwing with a bruise on his right thumb. Chang also has a sore knee, which he sprained Saturday in a 20-19 victory against Cincinnati, but he was running well.
"I'm going to practice tomorrow and Friday and I'll get mentally prepared for Alabama," he said after practice. "The best guy will play. If I'm not throwing the ball as well as is needed to win the game, then may the next guy in line be ready to play. If coach gives me the call, I'm going to go out there and play Saturday."
If Chang can't go, Shawn Withy-Allen will get the call.
"We'll evaluate him tomorrow (Thursday)," coach June Jones said. "I didn't really watch him today (Wednesday)."
Coach Fran on the move?: That deafening silence coming out of Tuscaloosa is Dennis Franchione's response when asked if he is leaving Alabama for Texas A&M.
Franchione has refused to address speculation that he is in line for the job currently held by R.C. Slocum. It's been fueled in part by him holding off on accepting a five-year, $14 million deal to stay with the Crimson Tide.
Looking at the bright side: Alabama senior defensive tackle Jarret Johnson, the SEC's active sack leader with 22 and a team captain, takes the philosophical approach about not being allowed to play in a bowl game because of NCAA sanctions against the Crimson Tide.
"Ten years from now, I'll look back and say I learned a lot from my college experience, probably more than most guys who play college ball," said Johnson, who was part of an SEC championship team in 1999 and went through a 3-8 season in 2000. "I don't know if I would have changed anything."
Where to park: The Navy is making parking available on Ford Island for Saturday's game. There will be shuttle service from 11:30 a.m., when access to the island begins, to 3:15 p.m. and again from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. A $5 fee covers parking and shuttles.
No tailgating or other recreational activity is allowed on Ford Island.
Other alternate parking areas are available:
>> Leeward Community College: Free parking and $2 shuttle, opens 11:15 am.
>> Radford High School: $3 parking, no shuttle, opens 11:15 a.m.
>> Kam Drive-In: $5 parking, free shuttle, opens at noon.
Stadium parking gates open at 11:15 a.m., turnstiles open at 12:15 p.m. and kickoff is 2:45 p.m.
Short yardage: Starting cornerback Abraham Elimimian returned to the first team yesterday, as his sprained left ankle has improved. ... The Warriors were scheduled to practice this afternoon instead of their usual morning workout. ... Former UH coach Dick Tomey laughed at Internet rumors that he would replace his friend Ron McBride, who was fired by Utah on Monday. ... Nevada coach Chris Tormey, who led the Wolf Pack to a 5-7 season, received a one-year contract extension that takes him through the 2004 season. He makes $200,000 per season.
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Hawaii fans have been treated to a Tiger Woods appearance at the PGA Grand Slam of Golf for the past six years, and he may have given them the best show yesterday by storming to an 11-under 61 in which he made very few mistakes. Tiger took out the drama
Woods cruisesBy Nick Abramo
nabramo@starbulletin.comDespite his high level of play yesterday, the thrill of victory didn't quite compare to his victory in 2000, when he carded two eagles in a row to take the title in a playoff against Vijay Singh.
"I prefer to win comfortably (like yesterday)," Woods said. "The one in 2000 was really cool because it took a pretty special finish just to get into a playoff, and then to duplicate it again in the playoff."
Woods has shot 61 twice in tournament play previously, but he prefers yesterday's performance over the 61s in the World Series of Golf and the World Cup.
"I played better this one," he said. "Every shot I hit right in the middle of the face. On top of that, I was playing in some windy conditions and the greens were pretty grainy, not easy to putt."
No competition: On the eighth tee after Woods had just pulled off more of his magic with a 6-foot birdie putt on the par-3 seventh hole to take an overwhelming nine-shot lead, Rich Beem summed up the day: "TNT just called and they said the ratings are down."
Aces galore: A few years ago at the PGA Grand Slam of Golf, Tiger Woods said "15" when asked how many lifetime holes-in-one he's hit. The question came up again yesterday, and the number is up by one -- sixteen aces in 26 years on the planet. Justin Leonard has eight, while Davis Love III has three and Beem one.
"I had one a couple of weeks ago, so I'm on a roll," Love said.
The golfers' lowest lifetime scores on a regulation course are: Woods (59), Love (60), Leonard (61) and Beem (62).
Taking notice: Woods, Beem and Love all acknowledged people in the crowd at various points yesterday.
On the 10th fairway, a woman yelled, "Go Tiger!" and he responded with a wave.
After Love's second straight birdie attempt lipped the cup on the 12th hole, a fan said, "I thought you were going to make that one," and Love answered by saying, "Me too."
Due to the rainy weather, one fan asked Beem if he thought it was like being in Seattle. Beem said, "It's a lot warmer here." In the mid-1990s, Beem worked selling car stereos and cell phones in Seattle.
Inspector Leonard: Woods' last putt on the 18th was about 6 inches, but he elected to mark the ball. This allowed Leonard a chance to show some of his good humor. When Woods stepped up to the gimme, Leonard crouched over the ball and checked out the minute distance real close, as if to ask, "Why didn't you putt this out in the first place?"
No more 'C' game: As the golfers headed to the 15th tee, TNT commentator Bobby Clampett had this to say about Tiger's two rounds: "In the first round, he had his 'A' game on the front nine and his 'C' game on the back nine. Today he has his 'A' game everywhere and his course management is incredible."
