Rivers working hard to catch on

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

There is little doubt University of Hawai'i quarterback Tim Chang has a smooth follow-through.

Not content in helping to secure a commitment from the state's top football prospect in February, Chang has made sure that wideout Jason Rivers of Saint Louis School participates in daily unsupervised workouts at the UH's grass fields.

"I figured he needed to be around the guys, so he can learn and jell with our offense," said Chang, a 2000 Saint Louis graduate. "Being out here is key to his training. The faster he learns (the offense), the better an asset he can be."

Chang, who supplies the footballs for the 90-minute workouts, and Rivers have formed an easy connection.

"I've known him for a while," said Rivers, who will be among the 100 or so players reporting Tuesday for the start of the Warriors' training camp. "He kept telling me to come out here. I think it's helping me prepare."

NCAA rules prohibit UH coaches from discussing Rivers' role with the team until Tuesday. But it is no secret that he is expected to compete for a starting job at left wideout.

The 6-foot-2 Rivers, who also played basketball at Saint Louis, provides the Warriors with a speedy receiver (4.4 seconds over 40 yards) who is strong enough to fight off bump-and-run defensive coverages.

"Maybe he'll become the next Ashley Lelie," Chang said, referring to the only NFL first-round pick in UH history. "Or maybe, one day, kids will say, 'I want to become the next Jason Rivers.' "

Rivers said Saint Louis used a skeletal version of the Warriors' run-and-shoot offense. In high school, Rivers often could break away from defenders. During these summer sessions, he admitted, "everybody is just as fast, or faster."

Rivers also is working on weight training, focusing mostly on strengthening his legs.

"There's a lot of competition," Rivers said. "It's going to be a challenge, but I love challenges. I love the challenge in everything."

Goodbye to halo: UH's Chad Owens said he does not agree with the NCAA's decision to eliminate the so-called "halo rule," in which a punt returner is allowed a radius of 2 yards to catch the ball. Last year, the NCAA experimented with a rule in which the coverage team was assessed a 12-yard penalty if the defender encroached the 2-yard radius regardless of whether contact was made with the returner. The revised rule calls for a 15-yard penalty only if the returner is struck while the punt is airborne.

"What's the point of going back there if you're thinking, 'I can fair catch it or try to catch it but get knocked out,' " Owens said.

Owens said he does not like to call for fair catches, but now would consider it if "the ball is still in the air and I see a dude coming at me."

Reach Stephen Tsai at 525-8051 or stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com