Chang kept himself out of the game in 2nd half

By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Wrtier

Hawai'i quarterback Tim Chang spent more than 10 minutes signing autographs with his injured right hand after the game.

Chang's right thumb was injured when he struck an opposing player's hand during a follow through in the second quarter.

"I was going to get sacked in the (end zone) outside the pocket," Chang said. "I threw the ball and hit the guy's hand and my hand just goes into a swelling."

The former St. Louis High School quarterback said he couldn't grip the football with the injury and didn't return to the game.

When asked if he could have gone back into the game, Chang said he probably would have done more harm to the team if he tried to play with the injury.

Chang finished completed 14 of 21 passes for 124 yards and no interceptions.

"I thought I would be inaccurate like the BYU game and Alabama game," Chang said. "I thought I helped the team by sitting out and letting Shawn (Withy-Allen) take the reins."

Pregame accident: A car veered into the tour bus carrying dozens of Tulane fans on their way to the game and caused the bus to swerve into a guard rail. No one was hurt. Another bus was dispatched and drove the fans to the game on time.

War dance: Led by Vili the Warrior, the entire Hawai'i football team engaged in a Polynesian war dance before the game. The dance riled up the crowd and, apparently, juiced up the Tulane players who waved towels and jeered the UH players.

Warm welcome: Former UH safety Nate Jackson received a rousing ovation when he came out to midfield before the game.

Jackson, who is recovering from heart valve replacement surgery, said one of his goals was to return to Aloha Stadium for the Hawai'i Bowl.

Bowl songfest: Entertainer Danny Kaleikini sang the "Star Spangled Banner" and "Hawai'i Pono'i" to open the football game. At halftime, the crowd was treated to songs from the Society of Seven Las Vegas, musician Daniel Ho, and Michael Bright and the Kamehameha Schools Children's Chorus.

Career best boot: Hawai'i's Mat McBriar kicked a career-best 73-yard punt in the second quarter. On fourth-and-13 from Hawai'i's 3-yard line, McBriar unleashed a punt that bounced several times and was downed on Tulane's 24-yard line.

Overcoming Chang's injury: Backup quarterback Shawn Withy-Allen said Chang's injury was a big blow, but he tried his best to rally the team.

"(Chang's) our quarterback," Withy-Allen said. "He's one of the best quarterbacks in the country. It's my job to play just the same as his backup. My teammates depend on me. I sputtered a little bit, but I gave it my all. That's all I could do. My teammates were encouraging me the whole time."

First time for everything: It was the first time Tulane opened a game with an onside kick this season.

Kicker Seth Marler sent the onside kick bouncing, chased after the football and recovered it himself on Tulane's 48-yard line.