EIU is heavy ’dog vs. UH

The Panthers' coach has won and lost as a visitor here

Mark Hutson knows that the Hawaii home-field advantage, considered one of the biggest in college football, is conquerable.

He was part of a group that did it.

The acting head coach of Eastern Illinois was the offensive line mentor at Tulsa when the Golden Hurricane swept through Aloha Stadium and beat the Warriors 24-14. That game was six years ago from tomorrow, when UH (1-2) hosts the Division I-AA Panthers (2-2).

Hutson has also had the view from the losing end. He was on the Tulsa staff when the Hurricane lost to the Warriors in 2001 and 2002, once here, once there.

"I can certainly tell you June Jones' offense is a lot of fun to watch, unless you're on the opposing sideline," Hutson said yesterday from his Waikiki hotel room. "I can tell you that from my experience at Tulsa."

Hutson was also here as a player, in the 1988 Hula Bowl, capping an outstanding career at Oklahoma. He was a member of the 1985 national championship team, and played for the Dallas Cowboys in 1988 and 1989.

Despite Hutson's pedigree and EIU's No. 20 ranking in Division I-AA, the Panthers are prohibitive underdogs tomorrow. The outcome figures to be so lopsided there is no official betting line.

EIU came pretty close in 1999, but couldn't extend UH's losing streak to 20 games; Jones got his first win, 31-27. Three years later, Hawaii warmed up with a 61-36 rout of the Panthers for its season opener and went 10-4. Hutson was still on the Tulsa staff at that time.

He became acting head coach when Bob Spoo required surgery before the start of the season. Spoo, going into his 20th year at EIU, was originally expected to come back within the next several weeks, but no precise return date is set.

"The circumstances aren't the best in the world," Hutson said. "But we're to game five now, so we have a routine, we're going on without the coach. Our thoughts and prayers are with him."

The Panthers arrived Wednesday night. They practiced in the morning yesterday and today and were scheduled to go to Pearl Harbor this afternoon.

"The main thing is acclimating to the time change, and we want to take advantage of the culture here," Hutson said.

Linebacker depth: It's a three-way battle for the bulk of the playing time at weakside outside linebacker, UH defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville said.

Freshman Brashton Satele has taken a lot of the first-team reps, but not necessarily the starting job from sophomore C.J. Allen-Jones, Glanville said. The coaches are leaning toward Satele, but the starter will be a game-day decision.

"We're looking at Brashton," outside linebackers coach George Lumpkin said.

Glanville said Amani Purcell, a former defensive end, is beginning to grasp the finer points of the position.

"All of them will play. (No.) 54 (Purcell) had a great day in practice today, maybe his best."

Sophomore inside linebacker Solomon Elimimian practiced this week and his sprained knee might be game-ready.

"I think so. Looks like it to me," Glanville said.

Karl Noa is listed as the starter on the strong side with Purcell as his backup. He replaced Tyson Kafentzis, who injured an ankle in pregame warm-ups. Glanville said yesterday Kafentzis will likely be out several weeks.

Sample at wide receiver: Ian Sample will likely start at the Z wide receiver position tomorrow, with usual starter Ross Dickerson splitting time with Sample there and Aaron Bain at the Y slot, replacing injured Ryan Grice-Mullins, Jones said after yesterday's practice.

"We'll probably rotate Aaron and Ross inside," Jones said.

Sample has four catches for 40 yards in three games off the bench this year.