UH considers
retiring No. 14

College football teams rarely retire uniform numbers, for a very practical reason: They usually don't have enough to go around as it is.

Teams often have more than 100 players. So numbers are shared, much to the dismay of broadcasters and stat keepers.

But there is a possibility that No. 14 will be put on the shelf by Hawaii at some point after record-setting quarterback Tim Chang finishes his UH career. That will be either tomorrow against Michigan State, or Dec. 24 in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl if the Warriors (6-5) beat the Spartans (5-6).

The College Football Hall of Fame has requested UH send it Chang's jersey. He broke the NCAA records for career passing yardage and total offense this season.

UH has only one retired number, 32, which was worn by Tommy Kaulukukui, a star during the 1930s. The number actually became mistakenly "unretired" for a time when running back Richard Higa wore it briefly in the early 1980s.

Warriors coach June Jones said he's open to retiring Chang's number, though perhaps not right away.

"Certainly, as time goes by, there'll be more thoughts about it. It's kind of a special situation," he said.

Former Alabama, Georgia and Kentucky coach Bill Curry, now an ESPN analyst, was at the Warriors' practice yesterday. He said Chang deserves to have his number retired, if UH wants to do it.

"It's very much a decision that should be made by the school, so it's none of my business. But my opinion is that since he's the all-time record setter for passing yardage, and the way he's handled himself through a lot of adversity, if it were up to me I would retire his number," Curry said. "I wish I had a guy like that when I was coaching."

Predictably, the easy-going Chang said he would be OK with it either way.

"It would be an honor," he said. "But part of me hopes it continues on. I'd love to see some No. 14s running around in the future."

UH athletic director Herman Frazier was traveling and not immediately available for comment.

Chose the Spartans: UH fans had hoped Domata Peko would play more than one game at Aloha Stadium this year.

Peko, a junior-college All-American defensive lineman from Pago Pago, American Samoa, chose Michigan State over UH in one of last year's most intense recruiting battles for the Warriors.

"I had a really good visit. I liked the football, the coaches, the school. I stayed with (UH offensive lineman) Samson Satele's family, and they were great," Peko said. "But my brother went to Michigan State, and it was a great experience for him."

Tupe Peko plays offensive line for the Indianapolis Colts.

"I want to follow in his footsteps, even if they were in snow," said Domata Peko, who was in on 13 tackles in 11 games this season.

Got a shot: UH outside linebacker Kilinahe Noa made the most of his chance in Saturday's victory against Northwestern. Playing because other outside linebackers were injured or gassed, the little-used reserve pressured Wildcats quarterback Brett Basanez three times into errant passes, two on NU's last desperation drive.

Noa, one of 26 UH seniors playing their last regular-season game tomorrow, will be honored after the game. He said he realizes he probably won't play much on defense against the Spartans.

"I know what my role is, and I'm just glad I was able to do something when I got in there," he said.

Been here: MSU defensive tackle Joe Toth was born in Hawaii. ... Radio analyst Bill Burke played quarterback in the Spartans' 51-23 loss to Washington in the 1997 Aloha Bowl.