UTEP troubling for Chang

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

•	Hawai'i vs. UTEP WHAT: Western Athletic Conference football. WHO: Texas-El Paso (2-5, 1-1 WAC) vs. Hawai'i (4-3, 3-1) WHEN/WHERE: 6:05 tonight at Aloha Stadium TICKETS: $23 (sidelines), $18 (South end zone), $10 (North end zone), $9 (senior citizens, ages4-18), $3 (UH students). PARKING: $5. RADIO: KKEA (1420 AM). TELEVISION: Delayed on K5 (channel 5) at 10 p.m. ODDS: Hawai'i favored by 27 points

It might not matter that Chang is rolling (10 touchdown passes in the past two games) while the Miners are reeling (on track for their 14th losing season in the past 15 years).

"They always cause me a lot of problems personally," said Chang, whose team hosts UTEP tonight at Aloha Stadium.

As a freshman in 2000, Chang made his NCAA debut against UTEP, completing 9 of 22 passes for 130 yards. Six of his passes were dropped, two deflections led to interceptions and his fumble in the end zone resulted in a safety.

An injury kept Chang from competing in the 2001 meeting. In last year's game, Chang was pulled after completing 9 of 27 passes for 85 yards. Shawn Withy-Allen, a fifth-year senior who had not previously thrown a collegiate pass, led the Warriors to a 31-6 rout.

"I haven't had good games against them," said Chang, who leads the Western Athletic Conference with 365.5 passing yards per game. "For some reason, I'm not executing out there. They cause me problems whenever I play them."

But Chang is hopeful of changing fortunes this time, especially because he is coming off his best back-to-back performances of his career.

In a 55-28 victory over Fresno State two weeks ago, Chang received one of the highest performance ratings by a quarterback in June Jones' five seasons as UH's head coach. In last week's 44-41 victory over Louisi-ana Tech, Chang threw for a career-high 534 yards.

Chang also will be in the comfort of his home stadium, where he has not been intercepted in 130 passes this season. His 10 interceptions were on the road.

"It's always great to be home," said Chang, who lives in Mililani, a 15-minute drive on H-2. "It's tough when you have to travel seven hours on a plane. Aloha Stadium has been very friendly to me. As long as I can get the passes into receivers' hands, I'll be fine."

For the Miners, Aloha Stadium has been a house of horrors. They have lost their past four games in the Islands by a combined 193-31.

"They've got an outstanding quarterback and an explosive offense," UTEP coach Gary Nord said. "They've got eight seniors on defense. They've got very good special teams. They weren't ranked No. 1 in the conference at the beginning of the year for nothing. There's a reason they were ranked No. 1, and I think it was a good reason. I voted for them, and I wouldn't change my vote."

The Miners, 2-5 and 1-1 in the WAC, have struggled in the fourth year of Nord's five-year building plan. They have lost 26 of their past 32 games, dating to 2000, when they won a share of the WAC title in Nord's first year as head coach.

Last year's starting quarterback, Jon Schaper, is not on the two-deep chart. Jordan Palmer has replaced Orlando Cruz as the starter.

Since the third game of the season, Nord has called the offensive plays, replacing offensive coordinator Patrick Higgins. Nord was the Miners' offensive coordinator for four years before being named head coach.

Two years ago, he attempted to implement the eagle defense that was successful at Arizona and with the Chicago Bears. But he scrapped the idea and reverted to a simplified scheme.

"It's a very difficult time that you have to go through, but I do see a light at the end of the tunnel," Nord said.

Note: Game 6 of the World Series will be shown on the Aloha Stadium JumboTron before the game.