Posted on: Tuesday, August 27, 2002

Chang braces for UH opener

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

The University of Hawai'i athletic trainers have created a specially made brace that should enable quarterback Tim Chang to play in the football season opener Saturday against Eastern Illinois.

Chang has not practiced since Aug. 15, when he suffered a broken right pinkie on his throwing hand.

The brace, which Chang began wearing yesterday, secures the pinkie while providing enough flexibility to grip a football.

"It's supposed to keep a little space (between the ring finger and pinkie), so I can feel like I have a normal grip," said Chang, a third-year sophomore from St. Louis School. "I put it on a couple of times, but I didn't throw with it on yet."

In fact, with reporters monitoring his every movement yesterday afternoon, Chang did throw one pass — left-handed — on the sideline.

Chang renewed his pledge to begin competing in contact drills by tomorrow or Thursday.

"That's the plan," he said. "I still want to play. I want to be in there. I want to run out of that tunnel (when the starters are announced) on Saturday."

Said UH coach June Jones: "If he practices Wednesday and Thursday, I'll play him. If he doesn't play Wednesday and Thursday, he's not going to play."

Jones said if Chang is healthy, he will start. Of the seven quarterbacks on the roster, Jones said, Chang is the most knowledgeable of the run-and-shoot offense.

As for the crush of reporters following Chang — two television stations sent remote trucks to transmit live reports — Jones said: "He's the quarterback, and it would be that way no matter who the starting quarterback is. The attention comes with the position."

Meanwhile, three key players returned to practice yesterday. Defensive end Travis Laboy, the team's best pass-rusher, worked out with the first team. Laboy missed the previous 14 practices because of injuries to his left wrist, hamstring and right big toe.

"I feel rusty, but I have some time to work on it," Laboy said. "I'll be all right. I'm not frustrated. As long as I'm ready when I need to be, that's my main goal."

Laboy knocked down a Jason Whieldon pass during a controlled scrimmage between the top offensive and defensive teams.

"He's working his way back," defensive coordinator Kevin Lempa said. "He's not 100 percent."

Although UH will rotate defensive linemen during the game, Kevin Jackson, a fourth-year junior from San Diego, is expected to open at right end.

Laboy "is going to play as much as (Jackson)," Jones said, "but right now, the other guy (Jackson) will start."

Defensive tackle Isaac Sopoaga, who did not practice Friday and Saturday because of a toe injury, worked out yesterday.

Starting offensive guard Shayne Kajioka, who did not compete in the previous nine practices because of a concussion, was back in the lineup.

"It feels good to practice again," Kajioka said. "I missed it when I was out. It was hard to stand on the sideline. I knew if I came back anytime before today, I would have ended up hurting the team. But I gave a couple of hits and took a couple of hits, and my head feels good. I plan on playing on Saturday."