Posted on: Thursday, July 29, 2004

Warriors focused on winning their first outright WAC title

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

RENO, Nev. — The University of Hawai'i football team has set only one goal for this season: To win its first outright Western Athletic Conference football title.

"That's it," announced quarterback Tim Chang yesterday at the WAC Football Media Preview. "Everything is second to that. We aren't thinking about records or anything else."

The Warriors were co-winners in 1992 and 1999. Last year, they finished fourth with a 5-3 WAC record. The WAC media predicted the Warriors will finish third this season, behind two-time defending champion Boise State and Fresno State.

"We're never in that one seed in the conference," Chang said. "It would mean so much for the school, so much for the state, so much for my teammates and so much for me."

UH cornerback Abraham Elimimian said: "This is my last year. I want a championship ring."

Mid-major gripe: Despite an 11-game winning streak, the second longest in college football, Boise State is struggling for national admiration.

"I don't care about the love as long as we get the ring," safety Chris Carr said, "but it would be nice to get the love, too."

Carr said the league's top three teams — Boise State, Fresno State and Hawai'i — would be competitive if they were in a Bowl Championship Series conference.

"No disrespect to the Pac-10, but I don't think the Pac-10 is the same as it was in years past," Carr said. "There are a lot of good teams in the Pac-10, but I think three teams in the WAC each year could compete with any team in the Pac-10. Other teams don't give the WAC credit."

Carr said he welcomes the opportunity to prove the Broncos' recent success "wasn't a fluke. We're not just a good team in an OK conference, like everybody says. We have good teams in the WAC."

Fresno State quarterback Paul Pinegar agreed, adding, "It's pretty dang tough to play in the WAC. Having to go to Boise and play on that blue turf and then having to travel to Hawai'i is tough."

I'm a believer: Linebacker Robert Rodriguez thought he was being punk'd when a newscast suggested Mike Price was interested in the vacant Texas-El Paso head coaching job last December.

"I honestly thought it was a joke," Rodriguez said.

Price was a successful coach at Washington State before accepting the job at Alabama after the 2002 season. But he was fired in the spring of 2003 for violating terms of his contract.

While watching the television report on Price's interest in UTEP, Rodriguez recalled, "I thought they were throwing out names. I was like, 'Come on, this guy will be coaching Miami or something.' "

Rodriguez and defensive lineman Aaron Osborn "were yelling at the screen, 'You're messing with our emotions.' "

He added: "All of a sudden they showed (Price's) picture. Underneath it, it said, 'the voice of Mike Price.' He said, 'I'm extremely interested in this job.' I still didn't believe he was interested."

After Price signed with UTEP, Rodriguez recalled, "I wanted to give the man a hug. I still couldn't believe he was my coach. I'll be honest with you. Sometimes he'll talk to us and I'm wondering if it's real. It's hard to explain."

Tools of the trade: The last time the Warriors played in Fresno, UH coach June Jones charged that a thrown screwdriver landed near his feet. FSU athletic director Scott Johnson issued a public apology for the incident.

For the Nov. 13 rematch in Fresno, Jones mused: "Everyone who brings a screwdriver will be allowed in free."

FSU coach Pat Hill said: "We're going to call it, 'Home Depot Night.' "

Keli'ikipi update: UH athletic director Herman Frazier said he expects the status of suspended running back West Keli'ikipi to be resolved by this weekend. Frazier leaves Friday night for a month to work with the U.S. Olympic committee.

Keli'ikipi was suspended because of his alleged involvement in the theft of money from a medical insurance account.

"I think he has a chance to be reinstated, a real good chance," Frazier said.

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8051.