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Further Review
Dave Reardon
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Looking past Weber State would be wrong
This week we learn if a team that just lost 56-10 can look past its next opponent.
How does traipsing a quarter of the way around the world to get shellacked at Florida affect this Saturday's date, with a team that drew 5,182 for its home opener?
It may be hard for you and me to take seriously something called Weber State. I keep thinking of the goofball from "Happy Days," even though I know it's pronounced differently.
But if the Warriors don't respect the Wildcats and come out lax, it will be 21-0, Potsies, before they know what hit them. Beating anyone 62-6 is impressive, and that's what Weber did last week against Montana-Western.
This is also much the same offense that went bullet-for-bullet with Jerry Glanville and Mouse Davis last year vs. Portland State, prevailing 73-68 and setting the NCAA record for most points in a game by both teams.
Speaking of the home of the run-and-shoot, Nick Rolovich is probably preparing a speech right now called "Portland State, 2000 - DO NOT REPEAT." That edition of the Warriors was the most overhyped in school history, and crumbled at the first sign of trouble ... against a I-AA team.
The 2004 Warriors let Florida Atlantic (not I-AA, but close enough) beat them at Aloha Stadium, also in the season opener.
There are many reasons it was smart for Greg McMackin to announce last night that Inoke Funaki is the starting quarterback for this game. One is that you don't need a competition for starter right now, you need a unifying force and Funaki can be that. Give the QB derby at least one week off.
I'll speculate that the Florida backups Funaki scored upon are as good as the Weber State starting defenders. So forget about Funaki lacking the strong arm of Greg Alexander or a healthy Brent Rausch, for now. It shouldn't matter if the Warriors are focused, and Funaki can help them do that.
McMackin said the offense is still in training, and other than Tyler Graunke (to be continued), Funaki has the most experience running it.
There is no quarterback controversy at Weber State, where Saint Louis School product Cameron Higgins runs the show. The 2007 Big Sky Newcomer of the Year is just one of many Hawaii products anxious to put a beating on the home team. And coach Ron McBride has something to prove, since he was a finalist when June Jones got the UH job.
Higgins is not Tim Tebow, but the Warriors need to give him the same amount of respect or they'll be asking for trouble.
By the way, anyone caught uttering the words "Oregon State Beavers" this week should be sentenced to grass drills at high noon.
We will learn much more about the Warriors from this game than from the slaughter in Gainesville two days ago, especially about their resilience.
Senior linebacker and captain Adam Leonard said some players held their heads a little too low Saturday afternoon in The Swamp for his taste. But most know it isn't the end of the world.
It's one thing to be crushed by the most talented team east of the L.A. Coliseum. But if UH doesn't take care of business against Weber State in the ultimate trap game, it will be a long season for the Warriors and those who remain faithful.
