Posted on: Tuesday, October 2, 2001

UH football
Rolovich gets nod to lead Warriors

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Yesterday morning, University of Hawai'i quarterback Nick Rolovich ran sprints in the rain. Yesterday afternoon, he worked out under the Manoa sun.

Rain or shine, Rolovich has been Mr. Reliable, and this week he is being asked to lead the Warriors in the absence of injured Tim Chang.

"I'll do what it takes to win," said Rolovich, who started the first two games of last season, his first at UH after transferring from City College of San Francisco.

Rolovich has been bothered by an injury, a sprain on the middle finger of his right (throwing) hand. But he has remained upbeat during that injury, as well as the pain of ceding his starting job to Chang last year.

"He's a team player," said slotback Craig Stutzmann, UH's co-captain. "He didn't grumble once about not playing. He has always supported Timmy. We have a lot of respect for Rolo."

Rolovich said he was determined never to complain, saying, "That hurts everybody and it doesn't help me any. I don't want to make myself better at somebody else's expense."

Chang and Rolovich offer different styles. While a Chang pass travels on an arc, a Rolovich pass is a laser. "They come straight at you," wideout Ashley Lelie said.

Said Stutzmann: "When Rolo throws, you have to believe what you see. The pass comes on a dead line. It won't drop."

Also, Rolovich is more willing to scramble when receivers are covered; Chang prefers to wait until a receiver breaks open.

"If it's third-and-2, Rolo will tuck it and go for the first down," Stutzmann said. "If he gets out of the pocket and doesn't throw it in a couple of seconds, you might as well try to block somebody."

But UH coach June Jones said he will not adjust the offense to fit Rolovich's mobility. Jones also said he believes Rolovich has made a significant improvement from his erratic start last season.

"Rolo is better prepared right now than he ever was," Jones said. "He's experienced some games. He understands what we're doing better. ... I know he's anxious to play, and I'm confident he can move the team and put us in the end zone."

The Warriors also are counting heavily on Jared Flint, who did not play last season after undergoing shoulder surgery.

Flint, who also transferred to UH in January 2000, said he has regained his arm strength.

"It's 100 percent," he said.

With Rolovich considering the possibility of redshirting this season, Flint practiced regularly with the first team last week. Because of that extra work, Flint was summoned when Chang suffered the wrist injury in the fourth quarter of a 27-24 loss to Rice last Saturday.

But yesterday, Jones made it clear that Rolovich was next in line behind Chang.

"I love second chances," Rolovich said.

Notes: Defensive tackle Mike Iosua, who aggravated a shoulder injury against Rice, is expected to play against SMU.