UH, UTEP ready to tangle

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Lately, it seems, the sideshows have become the main event.

•	UH vs. UTEP • WHAT: WAC football game • WHERE/WHEN: Aloha Stadium/6:05 p.m. today • TICKETS: Admission ranges from $11 to $19. Parking is $3. • RADIO: 1420 AM/107.9 FM (O'ahu), 1110 AM (Maui), 570 (Kaua'i) • TV: 10 p.m. (delayed) on K5

• The quarterback mystery.

UH coach June Jones said he will not decide until kickoff if quarterback Tim Chang will start.

Chang did not play last week after suffering a sprain in his throwing wrist Sept. 29. He was able to compete in 11-on-11 drills Thursday, and the mobility in his right wrist has improved. Jones said Chang is able to throw deep passes accurately.

If Chang has difficulty completing passes during pre-game drills, Jones said, Nick Rolovich will earn his second consecutive start. Rolovich has worked with the first team the past two weeks.

"I don't think it really matters who starts," UTEP coach Gary Nord said. "They're both very good. June is going to run the run-and-shoot (offense) no matter who the quarterback is. That's the system he knows best. We're going to prepare for the system, not the quarterback."

• The quarterback dilemma.

Two weeks ago, UTEP quarterback Wesley Phillips pleaded guilty to a 14-month-old charge of driving under the influence of alcohol.

He has completed UTEP's mandated counseling and community service, and has not missed any games.

• The missing tapes.

During a conference call Monday, Jones said the UH coaches had not received videotapes of UTEP games from the Miners.

UH was supposed to have received tapes of the Miners' first four games by the previous Wednesday and the tape of last Saturday's game against Alabama on Monday.

Nord said the Miners sent the tapes of the first four games by registered mail, and that "someone signed for it at their university on Friday" — Oct. 5 — "at 10 a.m."

Jones said the tapes were found at the airport Monday afternoon, and he did not recognize the signature of the person who accepted the package.

But Jones said the delay would "not be a problem for us" in preparing for the Miners. "We know how they're going to be playing," Jones said.

• The shakeups.

Last year, cornerback Weldon Cooks was named to The Sporting News' All-WAC team. But he has struggled this season in the Miners' new zone schemes, and this week lost his starting job.

"He got beat out," Nord said of the 6-foot-2 Cooks, who will be replaced by 5-8 Jahmal Fenner.

• The Aloha Stadium bans.

The decision to ban purses, handbags, umbrellas and outside food and beverages caused a stir — and confusion.

Now, stadium officials say that binoculars, cameras and radios are permitted. But they are not allowed to be carried in a bag, and binocular and camera cases will be searched.

Notes: The Dec. 8 game between UH and Brigham Young will start at 11 a.m. to accommodate ESPN2. The game originally was scheduled for Dec. 1 at 6 p.m. ... Tonight's game is available on DirectTV satellite. Details are available at DirectTV.com. ... Upon further review, the Warriors do not lead the WAC in time of possession. WAC spokesman Dave Chaffin said Southern Methodist officials submitted incorrect statistics of their game against UH. The Warriors are ranked fifth in the 10-team WAC, Chaffin said.

2001 UH schedule

• Sept. 8: UH 30, Montana 12
• Sept. 22: Nevada 28, UH 20
• Sept. 29: Rice 27, UH 24
• Oct. 6: UH 38, SMU 31, OT
• Today: Texas-El Paso
• Oct. 20: at Tulsa
• Oct. 26: Fresno State
• Nov. 3: San Jose State
• Nov. 10: Boise State
• Nov. 17: Miami (Ohio)
• Nov. 24: Air Force
• Dec. 8: Brigham Young (moved from Dec. 1)

Today's games

Rice at Navy, 6 a.m.
Louisiana Tech at Nevada, 10 a.m.
SMU at San Jose St., 11 a.m.
Tulsa at Boise St., 2 p.m.
Fresno St. at Colorado St., 4 p.m.
UTEP at Hawai'i, 6:05 p.m.