Warriors hope to kick off turnaround football season

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

WAILUKU, Maui — It is the work of a surgeon's cut, a red-and-purple Gummi worm of a scar that weaves from the chest to the abdomen.

•	Hawai'i (0-0) vs. Montana (1-0) When/where: 6:05 tonight at War Memorial Stadium on Maui. Tickets: Only end-zone tickets remain at $23.50. Purchase by calling TicketPlus at 526-4400. Radio: 1420 AM (O'ahu), 1110 AM (Maui), 570 AM (Kaua'i). TV: Live statewide on K5.

University of Hawai'i football coach June Jones was told of how his Lincoln Towncar, badly deformed from striking a concrete pillar built to support a four-lane freeway, could not fit into a storage container wide enough for a van.

He was told of the first operation to alleviate the pressure on his brain, and the subsequent surgery to prevent more blood from leaking.

For Jones, who has no memory of that day, those stories seem to be about someone else, like tales of an old man's infancy.

And in the more than six months, "we take it for granted that he's healthy," UH offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh said. "We see him doing so many things out there (on a practice field) that we sometimes forget how far he's come."

But Jones can never dismiss that day, not when sudden movements cause his neck and legs to ache, not as long as he has that scar.

"Looking back at it," Jones said, "I'm very fortunate to be here."

And in that perspective, tonight's college football game against Montana is unlike any other in recent UH history.

It is viewed as a turning point for a UH team that went 3-9 last year, and for a head coach who nearly died.

"I can't wait to get out there and play," middle linebacker Chris Brown said. "I can't even dream about the game, because to dream you have to sleep, and I can't even sleep. I'm going nuts. Right now, this game is something I want more than anything in this life."

The Warriors insist they are a better team than a year ago. Nine starters return on offense, including Tim Chang, the first incumbent UH quarterback since Michael Carter in 1993.

The defense has been reshaped — Brown and Joe Correia were moved from defensive end to linebacker; Wayne Hunter and Houston Ala join the starting defensive line; the cornerbacks are first-year starters — and the strategy has gone from constant blitzing to sensible balance.

There also have been personal improvements. Left guard Manly Kanoa III, a promising blocker on the 1999 Western Athletic Conference championship team, has worked to rebound from last season's sub-par effort, when he appeared to be sluggish.

Defensive end Laanui Correa, largely ineffective after redshirting in 1999, has regained his pass-rushing fierceness in preseason training.

"I was very disappointed in my play last year," Correa said. "I thought I could play 10 times better. It was mental. I came (into camp) stronger, faster and in better shape. I'm as ready as I'll ever be."

Left wideout Justin Colbert and left slotback Channon Harris, fast but unpredictable, worked on improving their receiving skills. Tafiti Uso, who transferred from Stanford, where he was projected to start, challenged Colbert, and Chad Owens and Britton Komine pushed for Harris' job. In the end, there were no changes.

It appears Chang has seized ownership of the team. Although he was not selected as a team captain, Chang is regarded as the honorary leader.

Chang expected to redshirt as a freshman last year. But during the 2000 training camp, Chang was listed as the No. 2 quarterback. By the third game of last season, Chang was handed the keys to Jones' run-and-shoot offense.

"I feel comfortable," Chang said, "and I feel really close to the receivers and the O-linemen. I would trust the O-linemen with my life.

"We want to do well for Coach Jones and for ourselves," he added.

Notes: Defensive lineman Lui Fuga, linebacker Viliami Taufa, defensive back Lamar Broadway and offensive lineman Brandon Eaton will not play because of injuries.