Rolovich's patience pays off in second chance
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
DALLAS — University of Hawai'i quarterback Nick Rolovich proved that sequels can come with storybook endings.
Hurt after losing his starting job after two games last year, Rolovich waited 13 months to receive a second chance.
After right-handed Tim Chang suffered a sprain on his throwing wrist last week, Rolovich was promoted to starter for yesterday's game against Southern Methodist. This time, Rolovich came through, passing for 325 yards and two touchdowns, including the decisive six-yard pass to Tafiti Uso in overtime.
Most telling about his improvement was Rolovich's ability to rebound from a momentum-busting interception near the end of the first half. With the ball at the SMU 24 and UH trailing 10-3, Rolovich's pass was intercepted by cornerback Jonas Rutledge, who zig-zagged for a 56-yard return. Two plays later, the Mustangs scored a touchdown to extend their lead to 17-3.
"The guy (Rutledge) played with my eyes," said Rolovich, a senior who transferred from City College of San Francisco in January 2000. "I shouldn't have thrown the ball. He baited me into throwing the ball. That shouldn't happen. I have to come back and make plays."
Quarterback coach Dan Morrison said Rolovich was offered the full menu of offensive plays. At the intermission, it was decided to narrow his selection to his most effective: to the perimeter and to wideouts on crossing patterns.
"It helped him and it helped us," said Morrison, noting the final scoring pass to Uso came on a crossing route.
Rolovich also scrambled for 30 yards, a skill Chang has yet to show. Rolovich's mobility prevented the Mustangs from sneaking in an extra blitzer.
"I came here to play," he said. "I said, 'I have to be ready,' and I was. I prepared with film work and getting my mind clear. There were no distractions at all."
Still, the quarterback job is on loan. UH coach June Jones' code is to not allow an injury to cost a player his starting job. Jones said he expects Chang to miss next week's game against Texas-El Paso. But after that, Jones said, "It will still be Timmy" as the starter.
Said Morrison: "I think Nick knows he's the backup quarterback who came in and played really well. But Timmy's the No. 1 guy. It'll remain that way, and it should. Nick will be the first one to tell you that."
But Rolovich, caught up in the celebration of the Warriors' first road victory since 1999, said he was not ready to look ahead.
"We'll show up Monday (at practice) and see what happens," he said.
NOTES: Hawai'i television viewers didn't get to see the final seconds of regulation live yesterday when K5's telecast was cut off. K5 vice president and general manager John Fink said the station had arranged for ample satellite time, but that a satellite company in Los Angeles failed to make a switch in satellite feeds at 9:30 a.m. The telecast came back 10 minutes later, but viewers missed Justin Ayat's errant field-goal attempt in the final seconds that could have won the game. The game went into overtime, and K5 showed a replay of Ayat's miss after UH's first possession. The game was re-broadcast last night and will be shown again at 1 p.m. today on News8. . . . UH quarterback Nick Rolovich was so exultant after leading the Warriors to victory that when K5 sportscaster Russell Yamanoha asked him how he felt, Rolovich began his response with an expletive. Rolovich said afterward he thought the interview was being taped, and when advised it was live, he shook his head. His mother, Lori, kiddingly threatened to get a bar of soap to wash his mouth out with. . . . UH officials said no major injuries were sustained in the game. . . . SMU linebacker Vic Viloria, the Western Athletic Conference's leading tackler last year out of Chalmette, La., says teammates have nicked him "Benny" as in Agbayani. "I guess it is because I'm Filipino," said Viloria who said he thinks he might be related to boxer Brian Viloria.
. . . When Keith Bhonapha returned a block punt 38 yards for a touchdown in the final 11 seconds of the third quarter, it was the first time the Warriors had returned a blocked punt for a score since Nov. 12, 1994. . . . Assistant coach Rich Miano had predicted before the start of the season the Warriors would end their seven-year drought this season. It was set up by a blocked punt by Robert Grant.
