Posted on: Sunday, August 8, 2004
Detmer has passing interest in Chang's record run
| • | For starters, UH Warriors loaded on offense |
By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Columnist
Ty Detmer, the man whose NCAA career passing yardage record University of Hawai'i quarterback Tim Chang is pursuing, has heard the footsteps.
Well, not footsteps, exactly.
More like friendly digs, tongue-in-cheek reminders and verbal jabs.
"It has been, 'Timmy Chang is taking you down! Your record (15,031 yards) is going down!' that's what I've heard," Detmer said last week from the Atlanta Falcons' training camp, where he is beginning his 13th NFL season.
"I heard it last year already, when I was with Detroit, from one of the Hawai'i (born) players," Detmer said. "Dominic Raiola (who was a Saint Louis School senior when Chang was a freshman) would tell me to get ready, that Timmy was coming for my record, but it was all in fun."
Which is how somebody who has been there advises Chang, the air apparent as it were, to take the whole record campaign — in fun.
The Warriors assemble for fall camp today, and from now on through the time Chang breaks the record — which could be the sixth or seventh game of the season, considering his average of 320 yards per game — Detmer's shadow will not be very far away. Better to make the most of it and enjoy the ascent, Detmer counsels.
A countdown has started on the UH athletic department's Website (www.hawaiiathletics.com), it is prominently mentioned in the school's media guide, and the sports information office will be sending packets to major media outlets across the nation.
When Detmer left Brigham Young in 1991, the NCAA career passing mark was one of the 58 NCAA marks he held, "(but) I probably couldn't have told you half of them," Detmer said.
One by one, some of those have been picked off, a Steve McNair (season total offense) here, a BJ Symons (single season passing) there ...
But his two favorites, for career touchdowns (121) and career yardage (15,031), symbolizing the long-haul consistency that Detmer prided himself upon, endure.
Chang needs 2,218 yards to break the latter but would require 42 touchdowns to top the former, a challenge for somebody whose best season output to date was 29 TDs last year.
"I've seen quite a few true freshmen playing now and the passing game is more widespread than when I was playing," Detmer said. "If guys are throwing it 50-60 times a game (Chang averages 45.8), I figure somebody is going to come along and get it (the record)."
Not that Detmer, who had always been a good sport, whether it was picking up the 1990 Heisman Trophy or picking himself up off the Aloha Stadium turf after 10 sacks that same day, would begrudge him either.
"It is part of the game," Detmer said. "They (the records) were a lot of excitement for me and my teammates, and it was nice for people to have that excitement level. Your family gets involved in it and the players are proud. It is good for everybody to have something like that happen to them in their career."
Now, Detmer says, "It is nice to spread the wealth. It is fun, and people like you call me, so I get to talk about it a little and remember the old days."
Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.
