Chang to rest Hawaii career passing leader Tim Chang does not plan to throw in spring football practice this year.
arm this spring
The UH quarterback will attend,
but won't take passing reps
By Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.com"I'm going to be there, but there are a lot of quarterbacks coming in and I still have a thumb injury," the junior from Saint Louis School said.
Chang sprained the thumb of his right (throwing) hand in last month's ConAgra Foods Hawaii Bowl loss to Tulane. He said the injury does not require surgery, and neither does the knee he sprained late in the season.
"Both of them are getting better, but sometimes when I'm training I can feel the effects," Chang said. "With enough time off with no stress both will be totally healed."
Spring practice is scheduled to begin March 31 and end April 24. One of the Warriors' biggest goals will be to develop a backup to Chang. Shawn Withy-Allen, who filled that role admirably last year, has graduated.
The candidates are senior Jason Whieldon, junior Kainoa Akina, sophomore Jeff Rhode, second-year freshmen Ryan Stickler and Preston Maloney. Rhode has left the baseball team to concentrate on football.
"There's a great deal of quarterbacks coming in. I've had two springs already. This will be a chance for the others to showcase themselves with the reps I would normally have," Chang said. "But I'll be there every day, hopefully."
Chang said he has been working out twice a week with teammates.
Chang completed 349 passes in 624 attempts for 4,474 yards last season for Hawaii, which finished second in the nation in total offense and passing yardage. Chang threw 25 touchdown passes and was intercepted 22 times.
With two seasons left, Chang has passed for a school-record 8,615 yards. The NCAA record for career passing yards is 15,031, by Ty Detmer of Brigham Young.
In other UH news, one of the best high school defensive linemen in California orally committed yesterday to accept a scholarship from UH.
Chris Cole is only 5-foot-9 and 225 pounds, but has "outstanding instincts and anticipation," according to Bob Johnson, his coach at Mission Viejo High School.
Cole will probably be moved to outside linebacker for the Warriors.
"You'll love Chris. He's undersized but never lets it bother him," said Johnson, the father of Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Rob Johnson.
Cole was his league's MVP, and Mission Viejo lost only three games in his three years on the varsity, Johnson said.
Cole has some minor academic issues to clear up before he can qualify for UH admission, but Johnson said it won't be a problem.
"He's very capable of getting it solved," Johnson said.
Meanwhile, Kahuku safety Viliami Nauahi, the state's No. 3 high school prospect, was still pondering yesterday whether to choose UH or BYU.
Also, running back Mike Liti, the Orange County offensive player of the year, chose Utah. Hawaii was one of the other schools he visited.
UH Athletics
