Chang still hurting; Rolovich to start against Tulsa
| • | Starting lineups |
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
TULSA, Okla. — In the final preparation for today's college football game against Tulsa, quarterback Nick Rolovich retained control of the University of Hawai'i's offense.
Rolovich will start his third consecutive game in place of Tim Chang, whose sprained right wrist has not healed.
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"He wasn't throwing well," UH coach June Jones said of Chang.
At breakfast yesterday morning, Jones told reporters that Chang would not start. But the move was not finalized until the afternoon practice at Jenks High School, where Rolovich worked exclusively with the first team while Chang watched, often massaging his sore throwing wrist.
Team officials said Chang aggravated the injury during Wednesday's practice at UH's grass field. At the time, Chang downplayed the pain, insisting he did not compete in passing drills as a precaution.
Even after Thursday night's practice at Jenks, Jones told reporters that Chang would start against the Hurricane.
But after Chang complained of soreness late Thursday night and early yesterday, Jones decided to stick with Rolovich, who has guided the Warriors (3-2) to consecutive victories.
"Rolo will be the guy," Jones said.
Dr. Andrew Nichols, the team's physician, said Chang has not suffered further damage.
Jones also said running back Thero Mitchell likely will start because of the Hurricane's defensive schemes, but freshman Mike Bass will get the majority of the carries. Bass rushed for 146 yards in last week's 66-7 victory over Texas-El Paso.
Tulsa also will be without its starting quarterback. Tyler Gooch, a freshman who started the past two games, will not play because of a deep bruise on his right ankle.
Josh Blankenship, who lost his job after 20 consecutive starts, will open at quarterback.
"We're more concerned about that guy (Blankenship)," said Jones, noting that Blankenship has a stronger arm than Gooch.
But Tulsa coach Keith Burns said Gooch has a better grasp of the one-back offense, and that he is better at improvising when the pass pocket collapses.
Burns said that freshman quarterback James Kilian also might play. Kilian was raised in Medford, Okla., where his high school football team competed in an eight-on-eight league. Kilian did not play 11-on-11 football until an all-star game in Tulsa last year.
Burns said running back Eric Richardson is "90 percent healthy" after suffering a pinched nerve in his neck. But Richardson has run tentatively, and freshman Kevin McKenzie will receive more carries. McKenzie has rushed four times in four games this season.
Burns said wideout Donald Shoals, the Hurricane's best player, has been slowed by an ankle injury.
The Hurricane's three best defensive players — linebacker Chad Smith, strong safety Keithan McCorry and cornerback CJ Scott — will not play because of injuries.
"We've really been hit by the injury bug," Burns said. "But we can't use that as an excuse. We'll try to control the things we can control."
