Each believes in light-contact practices to save the rough stuff for games.

And each dreams of a game in which every play is a pass.

Against Miami in 1985, Brown, then Rice's coach, designed a plan in which "we lined up in a no-back, no-huddle (offense) the whole game. We did have some quarterback draws, but we came close to not having any running plays. That would have been fun."

The teams also run spread-passing offenses that are distant cousins. At Rice (in Houston), Brown consulted often with Mouse Davis, the Houston Gamblers' offensive coordinator. Jones was the Gamblers' quarterback coach at the time. Davis, who now coaches UH's special teams, is Jones' mentor.

UH's four-wide offense and UAB's three-wide vertical schemes, at their basics, involve choosing pass routes — often on the fly — based on the defensive coverage.

The offensive philosophy can be traced to so many sources that, like the pyramids, nobody knows who came up with the original concept.

"I borrowed from every guy who came along," Davis said. "I stole from everybody. I don't mind stealing from anybody who has a good idea. That's football. You steal from everyone. You steal and you steal and you steal. You stole so much now it's your own."

Brown said: "There are no (coaching) geniuses. The geniuses are around the good players. There are no geniuses and there are no gurus. All of us learn from somebody else. That's just the way it is."

Here's a look at today's bowl teams:

UAB offense

• SE—10 Roddy White 6-3 190 Sr.
• A—25 Norris Drinkard 6-0 195 So.
• LT—70 Cornelius Rogers 6-4 320 So.
• LG—72 Andy Galloway 6-5 310 Sr.
• C—50 Matt Batusic 6-3 295 Jr.
• RG—69 Quinton Harris 6-5 330 So.
• RT—78 Julius Wilson 6-5 310 Jr.
• TE—80 Cedric Hampton 6-3 275 Jr.
• FL—11 Reggie Lindsey 5-10 185 Jr.
• WR—15 Bradly Chavez 6-0 195 Sr.
• QB—4 Darrell Hackney 6-2 250 Jr.
• TB—34 Dan Burks 6-1 210 So.
• FB—89 Sam Dudley 6-3 265 Sr.

Outlook: The Blazers have so many formations they list 13 starters. Most of the time, they align with three wideouts, a tight end and a tailback. They also have formations involving two tight ends, and an empty set with no running backs. Against a UH defense that has been inconsistent against the run, they might start Dudley, who is used as a blocker or safety-valve receiver.

"We're not an all-out, five-wideout team," Brown said. "We're multiple formation. We use different personnel. We use a tight end — everything."

Before training camp, the players receive an offensive playbook as thick as the Kaua'i White Pages. By the start of the season, the offense is committed to memory — and entrusted to Hackney, a fearless thrower.

Because of his build — he optimistically lists his weight at 250 — Hackney often is compared to Daunte Culpepper, the Minnesota Vikings' super-sized quarterback. "I would compare my mentality and thought process to Peyton Manning's," said Hackney, who can run 40 yards in 4.87 seconds and bench press 385 pounds. "I watch a lot of films. I'm still learning the game of football. I'm having fun in college, and trying to be a successful quarterback."

Hackney often looks to throw deep, mostly because of White (121.7 receiving yards per game, 13 TDs in 11 games) and partially because "chicks dig the deep ball. When you're watching a football game from the stands, you see people throw it and you hear the crowding saying, "aaaah," and then, "oooh," when they catch it. It's exciting to hear that."

UAB defense

• DE—44 Larry McSwain 6-1 240 So.
• DT—90 Sam Williamson 6-5 295 Jr.
• NT—93 Shamar Abrams 6-1 320 Sr.
• DE—91 David Miller 6-4 268 So.
• SLB—53 Gaylon Black 6-1 230 Sr.
• MLB—59 Nigel Eldridge 6-2 235 Sr.
• WLB—58 Zac Woodfin 6-2 230 Sr.
• LCB—2 Bobby Keyes 6-0 185 Sr.
• SS—31 Brandon Register 5-11 185 So.
• FS—21 Dominique Cosper 5-11 190 Jr.
• RCB—13 Will Evans 5-9 175 So.

Outlook: The Blazers align in a 4-3, but blitz only out of necessity. "When we need to get pressure, we definitely get pressure," said Woodfin, UAB's career leader in tackles with 368. "But we're not a team that has to blitz every down. We think we can play well with our front seven attacking."

When the Blazers slide into nickel coverage, Durrell Fucqua enters as the fifth defensive back.

The defensive secondary has been successfully rebuilt after losing two starters — cornerback Carlos Hendricks (knee) and safety Justin Whitmore (leg) — to injuries. Whitmore is available to play today. Keyes is the best pass defender, and Cosper, who has forced four fumbles, is the hardest hitter.

Brown studied games played in Hawai'i, noting visiting defenses often tired in the second half. He said he plans to continually substitute defensive linemen and linebackers. "We've got to play them three deep," Brown said. "We've got to play them early. We're not going to wait until the second half. We're going to roll them right out the gate. We're planning on not trying to keep anybody out there over four plays at a time. Play four plays and get off the field. Roll them in and out ... especially defensive linemen and linebackers. You're going to see a flow of people coming on and off the field."

UAB specialists

• PK—60 Nick Hayes 6-1 180 Sr.
• P/H—86 Parker Mullins 5-1 185 So.
• LS—62 John Newton 5-10 205 Sr.
• KR/PR—11 Reggie Lindsey 5-10 185 Jr.
• KR—3 Jason Southall 5-10 175 Sr.

Outlook: Hayes is perfect on 11 field-goal attempts up to 38 yards, but is zip-for-4 on attempts longer than 40 yards.

UH offense

• LWR—84 Jason Rivers 6-1 189 So.
• LSB—2 Chad Owens 5-9 177 Sr.
• LT—70 Tala Esera 6-3 291 So.
• LG—67 Phil Kauffman 6-1 286 Sr.
• LG/C—64 Samson Satele 6-2 278 So.
• C—59 Derek Fa'avi 6-0 271 Jr.
• RG—69 Uriah Moenoa 6-2 325 Sr.
• RT—66 Brandon Eaton 6-2 291 Jr.
• RSB—38 Gerald Welch 5-7 216 Sr.
• RWR—9 Britton Komine 5-10 180 Sr.
• QB—14 Tim Chang 6-2 204 Sr.
• RB—6 Michael Brewster 5-5 185 Sr.
• RB—16 West Keli'ikipi 6-0 266 Sr.

Outlook: Jones is probably correct in claiming Owens owes his All-America selection to nationally televised performances against Northwestern and Michigan State of the Big Ten. Owens' output — 22 catches, eight touchdown receptions (a ninth TD came on a punt return against Northwestern) — was the most productive back-to-back performance in UH football history, surpassing Ashley Lelie's (15 catches, six TDs in 2001) and Justin Colbert's (22 catches, 3 TDs in 2002). Owens' surge coincides with Rivers' ability to draw double coverage on slants and post routes, allowing Owens to go one-on-one against a safety or nickelback. Most important, Owens is in top condition, with 12 of his 19 touchdowns scored in the second half.

Owens, who runs 40 yards in 4.5 seconds, can bench press a maximum 365 pounds, and bench 225 pounds 27 times. "He's really strong," said Mel deLaura, UH's strength and conditioning coach.

Fa'avi, who started against Michigan State, has been bothered by a sore foot. If he is not healthy, Kauffman will open at left guard and Satele moves to center.

UH defense

• LE—98 Melila Purcell III 6-4 266 Jr.
• LT—99 Lui Fuga 6-1 294 Sr.
• RT—96 Matt Faga 6-2 317 Sr.
• RE—30 Kila Kamakawiwo'ole 6-3 241 Jr.
• SLB—5 Chad Kapanui 6-0 226 Sr.
• MLB—55 Watson Ho'ohuli 5-11 222 Sr.
• WLB—45 Tanuvasa Moe 5-11 220 Jr.
• LCB/NB—37 A. Elimimian 5-10 185 Sr.
• LS—42 Leonard Peters 6-1 184 Jr.
• RS—15 Lono Manners 5-10 204 Jr.
• RCB—24 Kenny Patton 6-0 187 Fr.

Outlook: The answer is: Rodney Tavui.

The question: Who's the biggest quarterback Kamakawiwo'ole has ever faced?

"He was about the same (as UAB's Hackney)," Kamakawiwo'ole said of Campbell High's starting quarterback in 1998. "He was tough to tackle. You just have to go out there and go after him."

The 250-pound Hackney's ability to repel would-be tacklers will force the Warriors to summon the big hitters. Kapanui returns to the lineup at strong-side linebacker. Ikaika Curnan, who has recovered from a high-ankle sprain, will rotate at linebacker.

Manners, who has missed the past seven games because of a broken right ankle, is scheduled for an expanded role. In a show of, well, good manners, Manners has offered to cede the starting job he had before his injury, saying, "I feel the other players deserve to start over me because they did a great job during the season."

Most likely, UH will rotate Manners, Lamar Broadway and Landon Kafentzis at right safety. When the Warriors go to a nickel defense, Elimimian becomes the rover and Turmarian Moreland enters at left cornerback.

UH specialists

• PK—47 Justin Ayat 6-0 195 Sr.
• P/H—25 Kurt Milne 6-0 196 So.
• LS—61 Bryce Runge 5-11 236 Jr.
• KR—6 Michael Brewster 5-5 185 Sr.
• PR—2 Chad Owens 5-9 177 Sr.

Outlook: Fulfilling a season-long promise, Jones is allowing Brewster to return kickoffs today. Brewster returned 18 kickoffs as a sophomore in 2002, averaging 24.7 yards, but had six returns last year and none this season. Davis, who coordinates the special teams, said Brewster is similar to Reggie Smith, who played for the Atlanta Falcons in the early 1980s. "Reggie didn't play much other than return kicks," Davis said. "Reggie was a small guy with quickness. You couldn't pull his flags. Brewster is probably a little stronger runner than Reggie."