By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Columnist

EL PASO, Texas — Two years ago Tim Chang emerged from his University of Hawai'i football debut and, with audible relief, proclaimed: "Welcome to (the) college level."

It was right here, in the second half of a 39-7 loss to the University of Texas-El Paso, that Chang, UH's most celebrated freshman quarterback, had stepped in for Nick Rolovich and seen his first head-spinning action.

"I felt it all, a little bit of everything — butterflies, jitters, you name it — that day," Chang recalled. "It was a lot faster, harder-hitting game than high school," he acknowledged after a 9-of-22, 2- interception, 130-yard effort.

Now, admittedly "a little older; a little more mature" — Chang is back in the Sun Bowl nearly two years to the day in a return that begs to showcase his progress.

This is the fifth road start of Chang's burgeoning career and what the Warriors need out of the third-year sophomore is a breakthrough performance that will help deliver his first road victory.

What the Warriors require in this Western Athletic Conference opener is for Chang to take charge in what shapes up as their most winnable away game of the season.

"I haven't won on the road yet and that has been a problem," Chang said. "Hopefully this one will change all that. It is important to me. I'd definitely like to get that one out of the way."

In the familiar setting of Aloha Stadium, where he guided St. Louis School to Prep Bowl titles and the first state championship, Chang has had his moments and 300-yard plus nights, going 5-5 as a starter. At home, before an encouraging crowd, we have witnessed an emerging talent and glimpsed what the future can hold.

But on the road, where the challenges have been deeper for a young quarterback and the defenses and crowds less forgiving, the wins have so far been elusive. And, the struggles have persisted. Four interceptions at Brigham Young the most recent among them.

"I think it has been a little bit of a lot of things," Chang said. "It comes down to focusing and getting used to the environment and performing the same way as you did at Aloha Stadium. You just have to take the atmosphere and put it in there (to another stadium)."

Not that it figures to be easy despite the Warriors being 20-point favorites on the Las Vegas betting line.

"They'll blitz us and come after us a little more (than usual)," head coach June Jones predicted. "We'll see five- and six-man rushes, I think that'll be their mentality."

With backup Craig Whieldon having left the team last week, Chang's importance to the Warriors has increased and so has their dependency on him for this season, fractured pinky and all.

Back in the 2000 season, the UTEP defense knew it had a green-as-a-gourd freshman on the run and took its measure.

"But after the game, they were pretty good," Chang said. "They knew I was a freshman and told me, 'you'll be good in a couple years, hang in there.' "

He has and now, two years later, it is Chang's turn to show them just how much he has learned in the interim.