Quarterback
becoming a
strength for MinersCarson Palmer's brother,
Jordan, gets his second start
of the season against UH
All of a sudden, Texas-El Paso has depth at quarterback -- a position that has been a problem for the Miners for several years now.
But redshirt freshman Jordan Palmer and sophomore Orlando Cruz have both played well recently. Cruz has started all but one game, but Palmer is expected to take the first snaps tomorrow when UTEP (2-5, 1-1 Western Athletic Conference) tries to ruin Hawaii's (4-3, 3-1 WAC) homecoming at Aloha Stadium.
Palmer started Sept. 27 against Sam Houston State and led the Miners to a 59-14 romp. But a hairline fracture of a shinbone kept him out of the next two games.
Despite 56 fewer passing attempts than Cruz, Palmer leads UTEP with four touchdown passes. He has completed 34 of 74 passes for 443 yards and has thrown four interceptions.
Pretty good work for a second-year freshman, especially considering that he's operating out of a fishbowl.
"All of a sudden he's become Jordan Palmer, the brother of Carson Palmer, the Heisman Trophy winner (last year from USC)," UTEP coach Gary Nord said. "He doesn't let it bother him. He's a level-headed kid. He comes from a good family, very solid family. His brother went through all the down times and then he came back and fought through it and had good times."
Palmer, 6-5, 230-pounds, has rushed 32 times for a net 61 yards, indicative of the aggressive style that makes him popular with his teammates.
"Palmer is a good guy and a good leader, as young as he is," tight end Jonas Crafts said in an El Paso Times article. "He's not afraid."
Shifting gears: It's very unlikely UH will come out with the same specialized 4-2-5 defensive scheme it started the game against Louisiana Tech with last week.
The Miners run the ball more than the Bulldogs, and Hawaii's stout defensive tackles, Isaac Sopoaga and Lui Fuga, are a week healthier from knee injuries.
"They're pretty physical," defensive line coach Vantz Singletary said of UTEP's offensive line. "LaTech was a little more finesse."
Tale of the tape: Nord said the fact that Hawaii and UTEP share a common last opponent (the Miners lost 38-35 to LaTech on Oct. 11 before a bye last week) isn't an aid in preparation.
"I think the week off was a good thing. But playing LaTech and playing Hawaii, they're two different football teams. LaTech plays with a tight end a lot of times and they're gonna run the lead tackle and the counters and the draw a lot more," he said. "(Hawaii's) running the run-and-shoot. They're running a totally different offense."
Short yardage: Freshman wide receiver Jason Rivers is expected to miss tomorrow's game due to a hamstring injury. Rivers started his second consecutive game last week due to Jeremiah Cockheran's ankle sprain, but Cockheran is close to 100 percent and will start tomorrow. ... Sophomore backup Brown Faavae has been moved from safety to linebacker. But Faavae has missed practice this week due to personal reasons and the special teams regular might not play. ... Sophomore center Derek Faavi is the only Warriors offensive player to start every game at the same position this season. Linebacker Ikaika Curnan, cornerbacks Abraham Elimimian and Kelvin Millhouse and safety Leonard Peters have done so on defense. ... UH has added freshman linebacker Rustin Saole from Waipahu to the roster.
UTEP at Hawaii
When: Tomorrow, 6:05 p.m.Where: Aloha Stadium
Tickets: $23 sideline, $18 south end zone, $10 north end zone (adult), $9 north end zone (students/seniors, age 4-high school), UH students free (super rooter only). Available at Aloha Stadium, Stan Sheriff Center, UH Campus Center and Windward Community College's OCET Office. Or call 800-944-2697 or etickethawaii.com on the Internet.
TV: KFVE (Channel 5), delay at 10 p.m., with rebroadcast Sunday at 9 a.m. Also available live on Pay-Per-View. Call 625-8100 on Oahu or (866) 566-7784 on neighbor islands to subscribe.
Radio: KKEA, 1420-AM.
Parking: Gates open at 2:30 p.m. Parking is $5. Alternate parking at Leeward Community College, Kam Drive-In and Radford High School.
Traffic advisory: 1420-AM is the official traffic advisory station and provides updates before each home game.
Bus: Roberts Hawaii School Bus will run shuttles to and from the stadium with pick-ups at six Oahu locations. Call 832-4886 for information and reservations.
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