California QB says he'll sign with UH

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

A record-setting high school quarterback from Northern California said he expects to accept a scholarship offer from the University of Hawai'i football team during his recruiting visit this month.

"That's what I'm looking to do," Taylor Humphrey told The Advertiser last night.

Humphrey, of Miramonte High in Orinda, Calif., said he will watch the Warriors play in the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl on Christmas Day. During the 48-hour recruiting trip, he said, "I'm finalizing" my commitment.

Humphrey, who is a little taller than 6 feet and weighs 205 pounds, has lost two games during his four seasons, the past two as the varsity starter.

This season, he has passed for 5,183 yards, surpassing the Miramonte record set by former University of Miami quarterback Ken Dorsey. Humphrey has 22 scoring passes this season.

Fresno State, Washington, Kentucky, Syracuse and Oregon expressed interest in Humphrey, although none made him an offer. But UH coach June Jones, through an area scout, learned of Humphrey.

Humphrey and his father attended UH's road game against San Jose State Nov. 1. Two days later, after reviewing Humphrey's highlight video, Jones sent an e-mail and then called.

"He told me he wanted to be the first one to offer me a scholarship," Humphrey recalled.

Humphrey said the Matadors run a version of the West Coast offense.

"We're probably more oriented toward passing," he said. "We threw the ball 305 times last season."

The Matadors are in the North Coast Section finals.

• Back to work: In the first practice since being demoted to No. 2 quarterback for Saturday's game against 17th-ranked Boise State, UH quarterback Tim Chang appeared to be upbeat, joking with teammates and competing in a post-workout game of touch football with the other passers.

But Chang politely declined interview requests, telling reporters, "Have a good day."

"He'll bounce back," slotback Chad Owens said of Chang, one of seven NCAA Division I-A players to throw for 12,000 yards in a career. "He's a competitor. He'll do all right."

Jason Whieldon, a senior from Orange, Calif., will start Saturday, although Chang is scheduled to play in several series.

Owens was critical of fans at Aloha Stadium who booed Chang during the Warriors' 37-29 victory over Alabama Saturday.

"It's not cool going out there and getting booed by your own people," Owens said. "He chose to come here because of the fans, and he wanted to play in front of the home crowd. Just because he's not doing so well, it doesn't mean you do something like that. You've got to back him up.

"He's all right. He's only human. Humans make mistakes. You can't be perfect. He makes some mistakes but he's going to win some big games for us. We need him. (The booing) doesn't help at all. It doesn't help the kid's self esteem and all of that kind of stuff."

Justin Ayat, who was downgraded as the only placekicker, also has been the target of criticism. He has missed his past five field-goal attempts during a three-game span, including a 31-yarder against Alabama. Ayat and Chang speak frequently, and Ayat acknowledged, "both of us have been at the center of attention because we're struggling. Both of us have had a lot of pressure recently to perform, and we haven't been."

Ayat said he felt relaxed against Alabama, blocking out the peppered jeers when he was summoned for the field-goal attempt. But he expressed disappointment in "the way the crowd was responding, even though Timmy wasn't getting it done. He knows he's not getting it done. He's just as hungry as Jason to complete passes and score touchdowns. It's not like he's not trying."

Ayat said he is hopeful the mood will change this weekend. "We'll get out there and perform well and show everyone what we can do and keep the critics quiet," he said.

• WAC places four: Western Athletic Conference champion Boise State will play Texas Christian in the Dec. 23 Fort Worth (Texas) Bowl, giving the WAC four teams in football bowl games, UH athletic director Herman Frazier announced yesterday.

UH will host Houston in the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl on Dec. 25, Fresno State will play UCLA in the Silicon Valley Classic on Dec. 30 in San Jose, Calif., and Tulsa will play in the Humanitarian Bowl on Jan. 3 in Boise, Idaho.

This is the first out-of-state bowl for Boise State since becoming a Division I-A member. The Broncos' berth in Fort Worth opened the way for the WAC to place Tulsa and Fresno State. The WAC is co-sponsor of the bowls in Hawai'i, San Jose and Boise.

"It's a win-win situation for the conference," Frazier said.

• Health report: Slotback Chad Owens was on crutches yesterday after aggravating a sprain on the big toe of his left foot.

"I expect to play (Saturday)," Owens said. "It's sore and swollen, but I have pain killers to control it. The doc says I'll be OK for the game, and I'm going off of that."

• Tough line to cross: For the second consecutive game, the Warriors did not allow a sack. "We're starting to click," right tackle Brandon Eaton said.

Before the Alabama game, Jones challenged his linemen. "He told us to step it up," Eaton said. "It was a big game, and (Alabama) had good defensive ends. He challenged us to block them as best we could."

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