Whieldon's play earns starting QB role

By Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writer

University of Hawai'i head coach June Jones has said he doesn't like to switch his starting quarterback, but he pulled an about-face after yesterday's victory over Alabama.

Jason Whieldon replaced a struggling Tim Chang on the Warriors' opening drive of the second quarter and again late in the third quarter, and sparked the team to a 37-29 victory at Aloha Stadium.

Whieldon, a senior who transferred from Saddleback Community College (Calif.), completed 15 of 25 passes for 237 yards and four touchdowns.

When asked who will start in Saturday's regular-season finale against Boise State, Jones said: "There's no controversy, Jason will start."

Whieldon's strong outing was a continuation of last Saturday's 59-28 win over Army when he completed 16 consecutive passes to end the game.

He completed his first six passes for 123 yards yesterday, including two touchdowns, as Hawai'i tied the score at 14 midway through the second quarter.

"I was trying to make something happen," Whieldon said. "We were able to get a couple of quick scores."

Whieldon sparked the offense after the Warriors punted twice and missed a field goal on their first three possessions.

"I wasn't really sure I was going to play today so when (Jones) told me I was going in I really didn't have time to get nervous," Whieldon said. "I was kind of like 'Oh, here we go.' "

Chang, a junior who has thrown for more than 12,000 yards in his career, was 4 of 13 for 29 yards in the first quarter.

"Timmy was a little off from the get go," Jones said. "The first three throws I could tell he wasn't on."

Jeremiah Cockheran, who caught five passes for 124 yards, caught two touchdown passes and Clifton Herbert and Se'e Poumele had one apiece.

Whieldon started his first game at Hawai'i in the season-opening win over Appalachian State on Aug. 30, when Chang was suspended by the NCAA for academic reasons dating to last season's Hawai'i Bowl.

Whieldon's parents, who traveled from Orange, Calif., were among yesterday's crowd of 37,024 .

"I was stoked at the opportunity," Whieldon said. "My parents are in town, it's the first game they got to see me play."

Chang re-entered the game at the start of the second half, but the Warriors didn't score on three possessions and Whieldon was summoned again.

"I was going to play Timmy, let him battle through," Jones said. "Timmy struggled a little bit early. I wanted to get him back in there and tried to hang with him."

Whieldon said he felt bad for Chang, who was booed throughout the game, but thinks "he will bounce back from this and he has a lot more great games to play."

Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8041.