Chang’s chase begins
tonight
The UH quarterback’s pursuit
of Ty Detmer’s record starts
against Florida Atlantic
The most celebrated football player in the history of the University of Hawaii begins his final season tonight, with more opportunity and responsibility than anyone who wore the team's uniform before him.
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UH VS. FAU Where: Aloha Stadium When: Tonight, 6:05 p.m. Tickets: $9 to $20, free for UH students for this game. TV: Live, Pay-Per-View, call (808) 625-8100 or (808) 643-2337 on neighbor islands. Delayed, 10 p.m. on KFVE channel 5, Sunday, 10 a.m. Radio: Live, KKEA 1420 AM. Internet: kkea1420am.com KEY MATCHUP Before each UH football game this year, the Star-Bulletin will identify a key matchup, and will report on how that matchup played out in the game. In tonight's game, watch Florida Atlantic's offensive line against Hawaii's defensive line. If the Owls can find a way to negate the Warriors' overall size advantage, FAU might be able to run the ball effectively and allow for other offensive possibilities. If not, it could be a long night for the Owls.
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Hawaii coach June Jones -- who two years ago predicted Chang would have a shot at Detmer's mark -- said the quarterback has just completed the best of his five preseason camps.
"Timmy's been unbelievable," Jones said. "He's stronger and more accurate than he's ever been."
Chang hopes to get a few hundred yards closer to Detmer tonight in the season-opening game against Florida Atlantic at Aloha Stadium. But if zero completions mean a victory, he said he'll take it. UH hopes to improve on its 9-5 mark of last year, and especially its 5-3 Western Athletic Conference ledger.
"All the individual attention is good for our program," said Chang, who has been featured in several national articles and TV reports this preseason. "But the bottom line is still winning the games."
For the upstart Owls from Boca Raton, Fla., the bottom line goes beyond the game. FAU players, coaches and support staff -- as well as the 200 fans who came here for the game -- are also thinking about the safety of their friends and family and whether they will have homes to return to after Hurricane Frances hits the Miami area.
Coach Howard Schnellenberger made his beach house as hurricane-proof as possible before leaving Florida on Thursday.
"The only thing we can do now is focus on winning the game," Schnellenberger said yesterday.
The 19-point underdog Owls need to slow down Chang somehow while making the most of their own offensive opportunities to have a chance. FAU, in its fourth season of existence, went 11-3 last year, but that was mostly against Division I-AA competition. The Owls are transitioning into the Division I-A Sun Belt.
"We have a lot of guys with chips on their shoulders, guys who didn't get their first choice of school or transferred for whatever reason," FAU senior quarterback Jared Allen said. "We definitely feel like we have something to prove."
The Owls have good reason for confidence in their offensive schemes, since Schnellenberger uses the same ones he did as offensive coordinator of the undefeated Miami Dolphins in 1972 and head coach of the national champion University of Miami in 1983.
"We're old-fashioned," Schnellenberger said. "Tight end, two running backs, pro-style quarterback. We think it's the most versatile offense there is. We can knock it into the end zone when we get to the four-down zone. We have versatility and break formations whenever we want to.
"It worked for the Miami Dolphins, Oklahoma, Paul Brown, Otto Graham and Marion Motley," he said.
Most of the Owls don't know Jim Kiick from a point-after kick, but they like their offense.
"I think it's great, because a lot of the pros still use his offense," senior running back Anthony Jackson said. "It can help some of us go to the next level."
If it's going to help FAU tonight, the Owls offensive line will have to keep the big, but inexperienced Warriors defenders at bay.
FAU likes to mix things up by running the ball and throwing short passes to tight ends Anthony Crissinger-Hill and Dantson Dareus.
"All I know about them is that their tight ends are good. Really good," UH safety Lono Manners said. "And their quarterback is an accurate passer."
Senior defensive tackle Lui Fuga said it comes down to the old basic: stop the run.
"They'll give us all different looks, but they want to run. Sometimes they fake run and pass to the tight end, but like most offenses, they want to run."
When UH has the ball, Chang will have the luxury of operating behind an experienced, cohesive offensive line. All five blockers (six, if you count running back Michael Brewster) started last year.
"We were the big question mark going into the season last year," senior guard Uriah Moenoa said. "This year we've been having pretty good practices. A few breakdowns here and there, but other than that everyone should know what they're doing."
And the receivers appear to be ready, too.
Senior slotback Chad Owens had one of the best statistical seasons of any pass-grabber nationally in 2003. The 5-foot-9, 177-pound "Mighty Mouse" was second in receptions per game (7.73) and eighth in yards (103.1). He will also return kicks and punts this year, something he was extremely proficient at as a freshman.
Speaking of first-year players, Jones plans to use several tonight, including second-team defensive tackles Keala Watson and Clarence Tuioti-Mariner. Linebackers C.J. Allen-Jones and Khevin Peoples might not get in on defense, but their speed and athleticism will be employed on special teams. True freshman speedster Andrew Pearman might see action as a kickoff return man if Owens needs a rest.
Jones hadn't decided on Jason Ferguson, who had an excellent camp but is caught in a numbers game behind several other slotbacks.
"We'll see how the games go. If we need him we'll use him."
Fuga, defensive end Mel Purcell, outside linebacker Paul Lutu-Carroll and kicker Justin Ayat were injured during camp. Fuga (knee), Purcell (ankle) and Ayat (groin) are expected to play tonight, while Lutu-Carroll needs more time to heal.
FAU's defense is led by outside linebacker Chris Laskowski and cornerback Willie Hughley.
Overall, the Owls come in healthy -- and with nothing to lose.
"You never know what to expect from a team like Florida Atlantic," Moenoa said. "Obviously they're coming in with the mentality to win. This is their big game, we're their Alabama. They're going to come in firing right off the bus, so we have to be ready for everything they show."
Pay per view: Around 10,000 pay-per-view subscriptions have been sold for this season, UH spokeswoman Lois Manin said.
A crowd of less than 30,000 is expected for tonight's game, which would be the lowest for an Aloha Stadium home opener since 1977.
Probable starters
FLORIDA ATLANTIC
Offense WR 9 Larry Taylor 5-9 170 Jr. LT 77 Dave Richards 6-3 271 Sr. LG 72 Jarrid Smith 6-2 258 Fr. C 70 Nello Faulk 6-6 264 Fr. RG 68 Chris Shepherd 6-3 288 So. RT 76 Kevin Fischer 6-5 259 Sr. TE 84 Anthony Crissinger-Hill 6-3 205 So. QB 12 Jared Allen 6-3 213 Sr. HB 5 Doug Parker 5-11 217 Sr. FB 35 Aaron Sanchez 5-10 195 Jr. WR 17 Roosevelt Bynes 6-1 181 Jr. Defense DE 96 Johnnie Sloan 6-1 259 Sr. DT 94 Teddy Strachan 6-2 264 Sr. DT 92 Yrvens Guerrier 6-0 276 Sr. DE 90 William Gray 6-4 230 So. OLB 50 Tyrone Higgins 6-2 220 Sr. MLB 59 Shomari Earls 6-4 250 Jr. OLB 46 Chris Laskowski 5-10 218 Sr. CB 22 Lawrence Gordon 5-11 175 So. SS 29 Jerrell Terry 5-11 203 Sr. CB 24 Willie Hughley 6-0 170 So. Specialists PK 38 Mark Myers 6-2 197 Sr. P 18 Mike Brown 6-2 212 Jr. Snap 66 Dewain Akerblom 6-0 218 So. Hold 11 Danny Embick 6-1 210 Jr. KR 4 Anthony Jackson 5-9 197 Sr. 9 Larry Taylor 5-9 170 Sr. PR 1 Brittney Tillis 5-9 170 Sr. 9 Larry Taylor 5-9 170 Sr. HAWAII
Offense X 84 Jason Rivers 6-1 189 So. H 2 Chad Owens 5-9 177 Sr. LT 70 Tala Esera 6-3 291 So. LG 64 Samson Satele 6-2 278 So. C 59 Derek Faavi 6-0 271 Jr. RG 69 Uriah Moenoa 6-2 336 Sr. RT 66 Brandon Eaton 6-2 291 Jr. Y 7 Se'e Poumele 5-9 171 Sr. Z 9 Britton Komine 5-10 188 Sr. QB 14 Tim Chang 6-1 196 Sr. RB 6 Michael Brewster 5-5 185 Sr. Defense LE 98 Mel Purcell 6-4 266 Jr. LT 99 Lui Fuga 6-1 294 Sr. RT 91 Matt Faga 6-2 324 Sr. RE 30 Kila Kamakawiwo'ole 6-3 241 Jr. SLB 5 Chad Kapanui 6-0 226 Sr. MLB 51 Ikaika Curnan 5-10 221 Jr. WLB 45 Tanuvasa Moe 5-11 210 Jr. CB 37 Abraham Elimimian 5-10 185 Sr. S 42 Leonard Peters 6-1 184 Jr. S 22Lamar Broadway 5-11 175 Jr. CB 24 Kenny Patton 6-0 187 Sr. Specialists P 25 Kurt Milne 6-0 196 So. K 47 Justin Ayat 6-0 201 Sr. Snap 61 Bryce Runge 5-11 236 Jr. PR 2 Chad Owens 5-9 177 Sr. KR 2Chad Owens 5-9 177 Sr. Hold 25 Kurt Milne 6-0 196 So.
Schedules
FLORIDA ATLANTIC OWLS (0-0)
Tonight at Hawaii Sept. 11 at North Texas Sept. 18 at Middle Tennessee State Sept. 25 Illinois State Oct. 9 at Texas State Oct. 16 at Northern Colorado Oct. 23 Louisiana-Monroe Oct. 30 at Florida A&M Nov. 6 at Troy State Nov. 13 New Mexico State Nov. 20 Florida International Nov. 27 Edward Waters HAWAII WARRIORS (0-0)
Tonight Florida Atlantic Sept. 18 at Rice Oct. 2 Tulsa Oct. 9 Nevada Oct. 16 at Texas-El Paso Oct. 23 San Jose State Oct. 29 at Boise State Nov. 6 Louisiana Tech Nov. 12 at Fresno State Nov. 20 Idaho Nov. 27 Northwestern Dec. 4 Michigan State
2003 STATISTICAL COMPARISON
FAU Category UH 28.9 Scoring 34.7 127.7 Rushing 103.7 244.1 Passing 384.4 371.9 Total Offense 488.1 19.4 First Downs 24.1 7.5 FD Rushing 5.4 10.4 FD Passing 16.6 1.6 FD Penalty 2.1 21.9 Points Allowed 30.5 144.9 Rushing Allowed 158.4 224.7 Passing Allowed 239.4 369.6 Total Offense Allowed 397.7 (above stats are per-game averages) 17-254 Interceptions -- Yards 15-66 38.7 Punting 39.0 115-1037 Penalties 105-929 23-17 Fumbles-lost 23-10 29:41 Ave. Time of Possession 28:44 78-188 Third Down Conversion 80-200 8-15 Fourth Down Conversion 6-19
KEY PLAYERS (2003 STATS)
Passing A C I Yards TD Jared Allen, FAU 346 218 9 3,003 24 Danny Embrick, FAU 37 30 0 397 4 Tim Chang, UH 601 353 20 4,199 29 Kainoa Akina, UH 1 1 0 9 0 Rushing A Yards Avg TD Anthony Jackson, FAU 151 779 5.2 7 Doug Parker, FAU 134 513 3.8 5 Michael Brewster, UH 54 405 7.5 2 Mike Bass, UH 53 307 5.8 3 Receiving Rec Yards Avg TD Anthony Crissinger-Hill, FAU 74 1,134 15.3 9 Roosevelt Bynes, FAU 47 772 16.4 9 Chad Owens, UH 85 1,134 13.3 9 Britton Komine, UH 53 602 11.4 5 Tackles S A Tot FL/S Chris Laskowski, FAU 51 42 93 8/2 Willie Hughley, FAU 47 31 78 2/0 Ikaika Curnan, UH 71 50 121 12/4 Abraham Elimimian, UH 59 19 78 2/0
WAC STANDINGS
CONFERENCE OVERALL W L Pct W L Pct Str Boise State 0 0 .000 0 0 .000 -- Fresno State 0 0 .000 0 0 .000 -- Hawaii 0 0 .000 0 0 .000 -- Louisiana Tech 0 0 .000 0 0 .000 -- Nevada 0 0 .000 0 0 .000 -- Rice 0 0 .000 0 0 .000 -- San Jose State 0 0 .000 0 0 .000 -- SMU 0 0 .000 0 0 .000 -- Tulsa 0 0 .000 0 0 .000 -- UTEP 0 0 .000 0 1 .000 L1
THURSDAY'S SCORE
Arizona State 41, UTEP 9
TODAY'S GAMESTulsa at Kansas
Texas Tech at SMU
Idaho at Boise State
San Jose State at Stanford
Florida Atlantic at Hawaii
TOMORROW'S GAMESHouston at Rice
Fresno State at Washington
MONDAY'S GAMENevada at LaTech
