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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, October 6, 2003

UH now playing for survival

 •  'Woozy' Chang expects to play against Bulldogs

By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Columnist

When head football coach June Jones declared this to be the University of Hawai'i's toughest schedule ever back in the summer, the claim was derided as a stretch of the imagination.

Now, nearing the halfway point of the season, it turns out the Warriors are seemingly intent on making it most arduous anyway.

In a 2-3 start that has become their worst since the 3-9 season of 2000, the Warriors have taken a challenging schedule and given it a greater degree of difficulty.

There might not be a weekly parade of nationally ranked teams, but that hasn't stopped the Warriors from helping to make opponents look like Top 25 material and every road game an adventure.

Giving up 42 unanswered points to then-No. 4 Southern California in the Coliseum was one thing. But 20 in a row in a loss to Nevada-Las Vegas? Twenty-one unanswered points by Rice? And, 24 in a row in a 27-16 loss Saturday night to Tulsa? Those are something else.

When the team that has been picked to win the Western Athletic Conference blows a 16-3 early second-quarter lead and never threatens again against the team predicted to finish dead last, as the Warriors did Saturday, it underlines how deep the struggle has become.

A UH team that 12 months ago was resourceful in victory now is creative in defeat. Heaping helpings of adversity have become a constant diet. Self-inflicted wounds and disappointing endings are regular occurrences.

It really doesn't have to be this hard. And, it would not be if not for the heavy imbalance in turnovers (16-9), a propensity for ill-timed penalties (25 yards worth on one drive-killing segment Saturday), special teams misfires and mounting injuries.

As players at UNLV and Tulsa have testified, the word is out on the Warriors now. And, it isn't good. The scouting report is that they will help beat themselves if you give them half a chance. It is that there is talent to be found in their ranks but they lack the patience, focus and grit to see things through on a four-quarter basis.

There is still a lot for the Warriors to salvage — a winning season, perhaps a run at the conference title, a bowl game, etc. — if only they can make it tough on their foes instead of themselves.

But as Fresno State comes to town Saturday, time is beginning to run short and opportunities are dwindling. What was to have been a showdown of rivals now becomes a game of survival.

Watching Tulsa and Hawai'i meet at the center of the field after the final gun Saturday, you got the distinct feeling you were watching them pass in opposite directions.

The Golden Hurricane, which having shown itself able to manufacture ways to win, is moving up. And, then, there were the Warriors, who are plummeting.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.