[ UH FOOTBALL ]
Warriors
aren’t acting
like underdogsNo. 4 USC is favored
by 21 1/2 today, but Hawaii's
players don't seem to know it
LOS ANGELES -- Someone forgot to tell Hyrum Peters that Hawaii is a 21 1/2-point underdog at fourth-ranked Southern California today.
"It's going to be great for everyone. Even the coaches, our fans, the families," UH's all-conference safety and leading tackler said earlier in the week. "It's gonna be big-time in the record book, beating a team that is highly ranked. A big traditional team from Southern California."
Hawaii at USC
When: Today, 10 a.m. Hawaii time
Where: L.A. Coliseum
TV: Live, Fox Sports Net
Radio: Live, KKEA 1420-AM
Line: USC by 21 1/2
If Hawaii can pull this one off it will be right there with beating Nebraska 6-0 in 1955 and Washington 10-7 in 1973 among the school's biggest road wins. And a crowd expected at 70,000 (including 5,000 Hawaii fans) at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum will have seen it.
But the score most people remember with these two teams is 62-7. That was the final accounting of the pasting the Trojans put on the Warriors in 1999 at Aloha Stadium in June Jones' first game as Hawaii coach.
"That wasn't very much fun," said Warriors sophomore linebacker Anapati Mailo, who played on special teams that day in his first Hawaii game before going on a two-year religious mission. "But that was the first game in a new system. We are a lot better prepared now."
Two weeks ago the Trojans were as intimidating as ever, and there was no reason for anyone to think USC wouldn't make it five wins and no losses against Hawaii, and add to its 173-18 scoring differential. UH quarterback Tim Chang said the Trojans looked like "big, scary monsters" after USC pounded Auburn on the road.
But last Saturday the Warriors watched on TV as Brigham Young stayed with the Trojans until the final minutes before giving up two late touchdowns and losing 35-18.
All of a sudden, the Monsters of Troy looked human again. Especially since Georgia Tech, which BYU beat the previous week, knocked off Auburn. Especially since UH felt it should have beaten BYU last year on the road. Especially since the Warriors pounded the Cougars 72-45 in 2001.
USC dominating a supposed SEC power like Auburn was something Hawaii couldn't relate to. But barely getting past BYU? At the Coliseum, site of today's game? There's hope in Warrior land.
Jones' slingshot is the run-and-shoot offense, an attack that finds holes in zones and beats man-to-man defenses because at least one guy out of four or five receivers -- on nearly every play -- has to get open. It produced the second-best passing-yardage average in the nation last year, and produced 450 yards with backup quarterback Jason Whieldon at the controls in a 40-17 victory over Appalachian State two weeks ago.
But can it work against a big-time defense full of talented defenders (even with cover corner Kevin Arbet out and safety Darnell Bing slowed by a high-ankle sprain), most who have seen their share of sophisticated passing attacks in Pac-10 battles of previous years?
Although Chang doesn't need a whole lot of time, will he get the little he needs behind Mike Cavanaugh's major revision of an offensive line he began building last spring that turned out to be a very rough draft? Only one starter from the opener, center Derek Faavi, opens today's game at his same spot. True freshman Jeremy Inferrera is expected to start at left tackle.
Defense-minded USC coach Pete Carroll -- for the record, anyway -- says the Jones run-and-shoot will be a challenge to stop, or at least to slow.
"Basically the offense has continued to evolve over the years and they do a lot of wonderful things with their formations and protections that are in addition to what they used to do," said Carroll, who schemed against Jones with varying levels of success many times when both coached in the NFL. "He's just grown and expanded stuff and I think the offense is the best it's ever been. Regardless of what level it's on, it's the most complete that I've ever seen it presented."
This game is a huge opportunity for Chang. Right now his Heisman hopes are about on level with Gary Coleman's aspirations for governor of California. But if Chang can put up some good passing numbers and (here's the hard part) a W here in a game against a fourth-ranked team that should end around 8 p.m. Eastern Time, his name might get added on to at least the long list.
Chang, who missed the opener because of an academic suspension, said he is more concerned with the number one (win) than 15,031 (Ty Detmer's career passing yardage record that Chang has a chance to eventually break).
"We want to win games, and the only way we can do that is as a team," Chang said.
UH junior receiver Britton Komine doesn't think of the Warriors as underdogs.
"It's a big game. We know it's a big game. We're all Division I athletes. No. 4 in the nation, probably just as good as No. 25 in the nation. We've just got to go out there and play."
USC's players are very aware of Hawaii's desire to prove itself.
"Whenever you have a team that's determined and focused they'll cause a lot of problems for you," senior defensive end Omar Nazel said. "You can't take any team lightly and you can't be underprepared for any team, especially in this type of situation.
"They're coming to our house, and they want to win. It would be a mistake for us to take it lightly. I don't think Hawaii is taking it lightly. Hardly."
Neither is USC offensive coordinator Norm Chow, a Punahou graduate coaching his second "homecoming" game in a row; he was also a longtime BYU coach.
Carroll said USC's offense has yet to click, and UH hopes this isn't the game where it does.
After yesterday's practice, Jones said the Warriors' super rush end Travis LaBoy will play (though not start) despite a painful groin injury that's kept him out of practice all week. That will help, but the real key for Hawaii's defense is the secondary of corners Kelvin Millhouse and Abraham Elimimian and safeties Leonard and Hyrum Peters. Can they cover one of the best receiver tandems in the nation, Mike Williams and Keary Colbert?
The mild-mannered Millhouse has the physical size and skills at 6-feet-1 and 205 pounds to match up with most receivers, but the 6-5, 230-pound Williams is a different type of beast than most players Millhouse is asked to cover.
Double-teaming is asking for trouble, since the 6-2, 210-pound Colbert is also dangerous.
Millhouse, a Santa Ana, Calif., resident, who was somewhat snubbed by USC during recruiting, said he will play with a chip on his shoulder.
"I'm not the type to hold grudges," he said. "But I will definitely use it for motivation."
This is also a big game for the Western Athletic Conference, as is Fresno State's at Oklahoma. It's one thing for Texas-El Paso to get blown out at home by Division I-AA Cal Poly. But if the WAC is going to ask for respect, it has to prove that its top teams -- UH, Fresno and Boise State -- can at least show they belong on the field with the elite. Otherwise, why should the BCS powers change anything?
As for Jones, he's just focused on his own team. He said the right things about USC during the week, but doesn't have time to be worried about USC's tradition and trappings.
When he called for a 2-minute drill yesterday at the Coliseum, someone pointed out the players would have to run through little pylons marking off the midfield logo, like an area of a golf course that is under repair.
Jones told his players to not worry about it and run through them. Any USC spies at practice surely saw the action as a sign of disrespect. For UH, it was simply a matter of practicality -- and maybe an opportunity for Jones to psychologically even the playing field.
In Jones' mind, only the former.
"If any of our guys were scared, I told them to stay home," Jones said. "If they can't get up for this game on their own, they're the wrong guys."
The Star-Bulletin's Grace Wen contributed to this report.
Probable starters
Hawaii
Offense
DEFENSE
LWR 84 Britton Komine 5-10 187 Jr. LSR 2 Chad Owens 5-9 174 Jr. LT 74 Jeremy Inferrera 6-2 281 Fr. LG 64 Samson Satele 6-3 289 Fr. C 59 Derek Faavi 6-1 273 So. RG 69 Uriah Moenoa 6-2 365 Jr. RT 66 Brandon Eaton 6-3 287 So. RSR 38 Gerald Welch 5-8 205 Jr. RWR 19 Jeremiah Cockheran 6-0 190 Sr. QB 14 Tim Chang 6-2 194 Jr. RB 16 West Keliikipi 6-1 266 Fr. or 6 Michael Brewster 5-6 180 Jr.
SPECIALISTS
LE 93 Houston Ala 5-11 260 Sr. LT 97 Isaac Sopoaga 6-3 336 Sr. RT 92 Lance Samuseva 6-0 309 Sr. RE 11 Kevin Jackson 6-4 245 Sr. SLB 46 Keani Alapa 6-1 229 Sr. MLB 56 Chad Kalilimoku 5-11 240 Sr. WLB 51 Ikaika Curnan 5-11 218 So. CB 37 Abraham Elimimian 5-10 173 Jr. S 33 Hyrum Peters 5-8 188 Sr. S 42 Leonard Peters 6-1 174 So. CB 3 Kelvin Millhouse 6-1 205 Sr.
P 25 Kurt Milne 6-0 204 Fr. K 47 Justin Ayat 5-11 205 Jr. Snap 45 T.J. Moe 6-0 220 So. PR 2 Chad Owens 5-9 174 Jr. KR 82 Ross Dickerson 5-10 173 Fr. or 2 Chad Owens 5-9 174 Jr. H 8 Jason Whieldon 6-1 187 Sr. USC
Offense
Defense
SE 1 Mike Williams 6-5 230 So. LT 77 Jacob Rogers 6-6 305 Sr. or 73 John Drake 6-4 350 Jr. or 76 Nate Steinbacher 6-5 305 Sr. LG 78 Lenny Vandermade 6-3 275 Sr. C 62 Norm Katnik 6-4 280 Sr. RG 57 Fred Matua 6-2 300 Fr. RT 74 Winston Justice 6-6 300 So. TE 86 Dominique Byrd 6-3 255 So. QB 11 Matt Leinart 6-5 220 So. FB 35 Lee Webb 6-0 240 Jr. TB 34 Hershel Dennis 5-11 190 So. FL 83 Keary Colbert 6-2 210 Sr.
Specialists
DE 94 Kenechi Udeze 6-4 285 Jr. NT 99 Mike Patterson 6-0 285 Jr. DT 84 Shaun Cody 6-4 285 Jr. DE 56 Omar Nazel 6-5 245 Sr. SLB 6 Matt Grootegoed 5-11 215 Jr. MLB 58 Lofa Tatupu 6-0 225 So. WLB 51 Melvin Simmons 6-1 220 Sr. CB 28 Will Poole 6-0 190 Sr. FS 27 Jason Leach 5-11 210 Jr. SS 20 Darnell Bing 6-2 220 Fr. or 43 Mike Ross 6-0 175 So. or 42 Dallas Sartz 6-5 220 So. CB 8 Marcell Allmond 6-0 200 Sr.
P 14 Tom Malone 6-0 190 So. PK 16 Ryan Killeen 5-11 200 Jr. LS 50 Matt Hayward 6-1 225 Sr. Snap 64 Joe Boskovich 6-4 240 Sr. Hold 14 Tom Malone 6-0 190 So. KR 8 Marcell Allmond 6-0 200 Sr. or 5 Reggie Bush 6-0 190 Fr. or 24 Justin Wyatt 5-10 180 So. PR 19 Greg Carlson 5-10 195 So. or 24 Justin Wyatt 5-10 180 So. or 5 Reggie Bush 6-0 190 Fr. Schedules
HAWAII WARRIORS (1-0)
USC TROJANS (2-0)
Aug. 30 Appalachian State W, 40-17 Today at Southern California Sept. 19 at Nevada-Las Vegas Sept. 27 Rice Oct. 4 at Tulsa Oct. 11 Fresno State Oct. 18 at Louisiana Tech Oct. 25 Texas-El Paso Nov. 1 at San Jose State Nov. 15 at Nevada Nov. 22 Army Nov. 29 Alabama Dec. 6 Boise State
Aug. 30 at Auburn W, 23-0 Sept. 6 Brigham Young W, 35-18 Today Hawaii Sept. 27 California Oct. 4 at Arizona State Oct. 11 Stanford Oct. 18 at Notre Dame Oct. 25 at Washington Nov. 1 Washington State Nov. 15 at Arizona Nov. 22 UCLA Dec. 6 Oregon State Per-game comparison
Hawaii Category USC 40.0 Scoring 29.0 91.0 Rushing 97.0 359.0 Passing 213.5 450.0 Total Offense 310.5 18.0 First Downs 16.5 3.0 FD Rushing 6.0 15.0 FD Passing 8.5 0.0 FD Penalty 2.0 17.0 Points Allowed 18.0 122.0 Rushing Allowed 44.5 137.0 Passing Allowed 217.0 259.0 Total Offense Allowed 261.5 1-4 Interceptions -- Yards 4-21 41.2 Punting 48.3 6-55 Penalties 11-112 1-0 Fumbles-lost 0-0 28:47 Time of Possession 30:30 6-15 Third Down Conversion 9-31 0-1 Fourth Down Conversion 1-1 Key players
Passing A C Int Yards TD Jason Whieldon, UH 35 21 2 359 3 Matt Lienart, USC 64 36 3 427 4 Rushing A Yards YPA TD John West, UH 6 27 4.5 1 Mike Bass, UH 5 23 4.6 0 Hershel Dennis, USC 37 125 3.4 2 Chauncey Washington, USC 6 92 5.3 0 Receiving Rec Yards Avg TD Jeremiah Cockheran, UH 7 154 22.0 3 Chad Owens, UH 5 77 15.4 0 Mike Williams, USC 18 228 12.7 3 Dominique Byrd, USC 5 82 16.4 0 Tackles S A Tot FL/S Hyrum Peters, UH 6 3 9 0-0 Travis LaBoy, UH 8 0 8 2-1 Lofa Tatupu, USC 17 6 23 5.5/3 Mike Patterson, USC 12 2 14 2.5/1.5
