Jones said the Warriors will improvise when they resume practicing this morning. He gave the team three off days, not allowing the players to view videotapes of the blowout.

"We're going to practice, and we're going to find some way to change (clothes)," Jones said.

The outcome dropped the Warriors to 3-4 overall and 3-3 in the Western Athletic Conference. They need to win four of the five remaining regular-season games to qualify for a special invitation to play in the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl on Christmas Eve.

Jones acknowledged the perception of this year's team "depends on the next five games."

Of the most one-sided loss in his six seasons as UH head coach, Jones said, "That was the worst (butt)-kicking I've ever been a part of."

The impact was magnified because the game was shown on ESPN2, the result was published nationally because of Boise State's Top-25 ranking and UH quarterback Tim Chang was expected to break Ty Detmer's NCAA record of 15,031 career passing yards. Chang now needs 14 yards to surpass Detmer.

"Unfortunately, it was bad timing," Jones said, "but you can't worry about things that are done with. You have to go play again."

Jones said Chang was not injured during a first-quarter sack. Chang, who entered with three interceptions in six games, was picked off four times by the Broncos.

Television commentators had speculated the sack had affected Chang. A member of the officiating crew told The Advertiser Saturday morning that Chang appeared to have hurt his right (throwing) arm when he fell onto the turf.

But Jones insisted: "That hit didn't bother him, no."

Asked about Chang's play, Jones said: "Obviously, he would have liked to have performed better. There's a lot riding on his shoulders, obviously, in what we do. Every week it's that way. But it got magnified, I think, a little bit in that game."

Chang's immediate backups are Kainoa Akina and Jack Rolovich. Freshman Brandon Satcher can be used in special situations involving option runs and play-action passes. Jones said none of the reserves has Chang's grasp of the pass-oriented, four-wide offense.

"Our guys (who) would go in right now are not where he is with some of the things we're doing," Jones said. "So you scale back quite a bit of (the offense for them), which sometimes works to your benefit, too."

Jones said the health of the Warriors' defense did not contribute to the loss. Five defensive starters were not in the opening lineup, including right end Kila Kamakawiwo'ole, who is recovering from appendicitis.

Jones said left end Melila Purcell III, who did not practice last week, complained of soreness after the game. He is recovering from a bruised sternum and sore right foot.Two players who joined UH as basketball players — Nkeruwem "Tony" Akpan and Ikaika Alama-Francis — were the starting defensive ends.

Jones said middle linebacker Ikaika Curnan, who played despite a sprained right ankle, "was limping pretty bad after the game."

Jones said he is concerned about the health of offensive right guard Uriah Moenoa, who suffered a pulled hamstring. "We'll see how that is," said Jones, adding, "I don't think the injuries were a factor."

The Warriors had planned to advance the ball with their new alignment of using 266-pound running back West Keli'ikipi as a tight end or running back Michael Brewster as a slotback. On their opening drive, the Warriors rushed four times for 25 yards. They had one running play on each of their next three possessions.

Asked why the Warriors abandoned the time-consuming running plays, Jones said, "the score. It's hard to run when you're down 35 points."

When reminded it was 24-3 at the intermission, Jones said, "Screens are runs to us. They're not to you, but they're runs to us."

During yesterday's news conference, Jones said the outcome left him "embarrassed" and added, "it still hurts right now. What do you do about it? You go play another game and win."

He said the game would not hurt the Warriors' recruiting efforts if they have a strong finish. "They'll forget about that one," Jones said.

When Jones accepted the UH coaching job in December 1998, he envisioned transforming the Warriors into a Top-25 program that consistently appeared in bowl games. Although Jones' 40 victories in his first five seasons are tied for the best five-year stretch in school history — UH was 40-20-1 from 1988 through 1992 under Dick Tomey and Bob Wagner — it is Boise State living the Warriors' dream, serving as football's Talented Mr. Ripley.

Jones said part of the problem is UH is at a disadvantage recruiting Mainland players. If Fresno State and UH were competing for the same California player, Jones said, FSU would have the edge because its coaches could scout the player regularly. Jones said the Warriors rely heavily on videotapes to evaluate Mainland prospects and seeking recruits who have a tie to Hawai'i.

"We do it with mirrors," Jones said.

Jones said the first priority is to recruit locally, but "we need to steal one or two kids from the Mainland. That's what you've got to do."

Jones said UH is looking to Australia and New Zealand for prospects. Of the international players, Jones said, "You have to teach them how to play football once they get here, but at least they're athletes."

Jones also said he will take a chance on players who "are not as physically big." He noted freshman quarterbacks Tyler Graunke and Taylor Humphrey are about 6 feet. "Other schools have 6-foot-3 kids who throw like those guys," Jones said. "We have to do things to be competitive."