Posted on: Sunday, September 1, 2002

Chang shows his maturity as Warriors' leader

By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Columnist

Before Tim Chang had lofted his first pass of this new season, his University of Hawai'i teammates knew what the rest of us would come to glimpse in short order last night.

As they began to crowd into the Aloha Stadium tunnel before taking the field, they would nudge each other and nod approvingly at the quarterback who was growing before their eyes.

"From the way he had talked to the offense in the locker room and had taken charge in there, we knew he was becoming the leader that we were looking for," said linebacker Chris Brown, one of the tri-captains.

But the proof of their faith would come in deeds, not words, during the Warriors' 61-36 season-opening victory over Eastern Illinois.

Wedged in amongst the 19 pass completions in 30 attempts for 374 yards and three touchdowns would be two plays that told the tale of their third-year sophomore quarterback's growing maturity and emerging leadership.

A 27-yard tuck-and-run scamper for a first-quarter first down and a 13-yard chuck-and-duck pass for a first down in the second quarter, plays that Chang would not have made and likely would not have attempted in earlier seasons, said a lot about Chang last night.

Chang, after struggling on the first three series, which included two punts and an interception, helped guide the Warriors to scores on seven consecutive offensive possessions.

The way he went about it told his beaming teammates and a crowd of 38,019 that he was growing into this most vital of positions.

"They told us a lot about his heart and how much it has grown," said offensive tackle Wayne Hunter.

"It showed us he's a leader and a weapon," said center Lui Fuata.

For this was Chang as we have rarely glimpsed him before — at least not in Warriors' colors.

This was Tim the bold when he had to be. Tim the tenacious, when the circumstances required it. The quarterback who would tuck the ball in toward him, hug the sideline, staying inbounds until he could get off an important third-down pass, even when he was sure of the fate that awaited him after he launched it.

This is the way we had hoped to see the one the detractors had sometimes derided as "timid Chang."

That Chang could read defenses and throw all the patterns at UH was not really in question. That he would be capable of putting up some big numbers up on the hip?

His predecessors in June Jones' offense, Dan Robinson and Nick Rolovich, had won their teammates' respect with rugged, selfless play. They had become leaders as much for the little things — such as diving for loose balls and bulling for extra yards.

And, now, in opening a new season, it was Chang's turn. The opportunity was there to show his teammates and, indeed, the Warrior faithful that he had arrived as their quarterback.

In that, he had come of age.