Warriors play at 0-3 SMU today
| • | Starting lineups |
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
DALLAS — There is a saying that if you don't like the weather in Texas, wait an hour and it will change.
Radio: 5:45 a.m., KCCN 1420 AM
That was true yesterday, as rain turned into heavy rain and, finally, into heavy rain with strong winds.
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TV: 6 a.m., KFVE
But the University of Hawai'i football team, which will play Southern Methodist today at Gerald J. Ford Stadium, has defiantly vowed to overcome the five-hour time difference, gridlock-a-mile traffic and miserable weather.
Two UH players with flu-like symptoms — defensive ends Travis Laboy and Wayne Hunter — even wore rubber slippers to practice.
"We're here on business," UH safety Nate Jackson said. "We're trying not to let anything bother us."
The Warriors also are prepared to weather the loss of starting quarterback Tim Chang, who did not make the trip because of a sprain on his throwing wrist. The Warriors have added a few wrinkles to their run-and-shoot offense to take advantage of quarterback Nick Rolovich's scrambling abilities.
Rolovich, who had considered redshirting this season, said he has become more focused since being named the starter on Monday.
"I realize this is something I can't take for granted," said Rolovich, who struggled in his three starts last season.
In preparation for the Mustangs' plans to milk the clock with a power running game, the Warriors have scrapped last week's experimental 4-2-5 defensive alignment in favor of their traditional 4-3 scheme. Matt Wright will start in place of strong-side linebacker Keani Alapa, who still is bothered by a sore left knee.
Also, redshirt freshman Abraham Elimimian will earn his first collegiate start at field cornerback (defending the wide side of the field), replacing struggling Kelvin Millhouse.
The Mustangs also will shuffle their lineup. Quarterback David Page, who played high school football in Korea, will earn his first start this season, SMU coach Mike Cavan announced to the visiting media yesterday afternoon.
Kelan Luker started SMU's first three games — all losses — and contributed to three of the Mustangs' nine turnovers. Against North Carolina State two weeks ago, Luker fumbled in the SMU end zone, and the Wolfpack recovered for the decisive touchdown. Six of the Mustangs' turnovers have resulted in touchdowns.
While Luker received the majority of the snaps last week in practice — SMU had a bye after the North Carolina State game — Cavan opened up the position on Monday. Page practiced with the first team on Thursday.
While both quarterbacks are expected to play, Page earned the start because of his consistent play, Cavan said.
The Mustangs will need a boost. Expectations have been high since last year's completion of 32,000-seat Gerald J. Ford Stadium.
Ford, a Dallas businessman (who served as host to actress Angie Harmon's recent wedding), donated $20 million to start the project. Soon after, Texas oilman Lamar Hunt donated $5 million, and the Pettus family donated the stadium seats.
But the Mustangs struggled last season and are winless this year. One Dallas columnist said that if today's menu were a football buffet, the UH-SMU game would be the "beanie weenies." The Fort Worth Star-Telegram suggested that instead of watching this game, football fans should "mow the yard, walk the dog, run some errands."
With the Texas-Oklahoma game also scheduled for today in the Cotton Bowl, only about 15,000 are expected to attend the UH-SMU game.
None of that, of course, matters to the competitors.
"We just want to get a win," Rolovich said. "That's all we're thinking about."
