Posted on: Wednesday, October 3, 2001

Senior quarterback replaces injured Chang against SMU

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

In a somber transition, quarterback Nick Rolovich received ownership of the University of Hawai'i football team's offense.

Rolovich replaces Tim Chang, who has a wrist injury and will not play in Saturday's road game against Southern Methodist.

"I just want to get through the game with a win," Rolovich said. "If we can do that, it's step one."

With Chang expected back next week, and UH coach June Jones' code that a starter does not lose a job to injury, this probably will be a one-shot deal for Rolovich.

"If that's how it works out, that's how it works out," said Rolovich, a senior. "We're all dealt a different hand in this world. You have to do the best you can with it."

After transferring from City College of San Francisco last year, Rolovich started in the first two games of the 2000 season. But he was pulled in the second half of the second game, and the ensuing week, "we had an old-fashioned quarterback shootout," Rolovich said.

Chang was named the starter for the third game. At the time, Rolovich recalled, "They knew I was upset. . . . I wanted to play. It wasn't that I did not want Timmy to play. I just wanted to play."

Looking back, "Timmy probably was more ready in this offense than I was," Rolovich said. "I can honestly say that. I didn't try to spend every second I had trying to learn (the offense) better. I can't blame that on anybody but myself."

He said he viewed the schemes through "fuzzy vision. Now, it's like I have glasses on."

This time, he said, "I don't want to do bad again. I don't want to throw a pick. I want to throw for big yards. I want to throw for big touchdowns."

• Time warp: Even if the clock strikes midnight in Dallas, to the Warriors, it will be dinner time. At dawn, they will prepare for bed.

"We're going to stay on Hawai'i time (tomorrow)," UH coach June Jones said of this week's trip into the Central time zone.

Believing there is not enough time to immediately adjust to the five-hour time difference — the Warriors arrive in Dallas tomorrow afternoon — they have decided to keep to their usual schedule for the first day.

"We think that's the best approach," Jones said.

Jones said the Warriors should be used to the 11 a.m. kickoff (6 a.m. Hawai'i time) because they practice every morning at 7.

But several players believe the preparation time will be an adjustment. They will eat their pregame meal at 7 a.m. (2 a.m. in Hawai'i).

"I usually wake up at 5:30 or 6, but that's when we'll be playing," middle linebacker Chris Brown said. "It's going to be weird getting up extra early."

Still, safety Nate Jackson said, "even if I have to get up at midnight (Hawai'i time) to get ready for a game, it won't bother me. I'll be ready, and I know the team will be ready. Football is football. We have to adapt no matter what time it is in Hawai'i."

• Iosua ailing: Defensive tackle Mike Iosua said he has a possible ligament tear in his right shoulder. While the shoulder is sore and "a little stiff," Iosua said, "it won't keep me from playing."

Iosua already has missed one game because of a hyper-extended right knee.