Posted on: Sunday, November 7, 2004

Record fine, but Chang showed true grit in fourth

By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Columnist

It is University of Hawai'i quarterback Tim Chang's 7-yard touchdown pass to Jason Rivers 5 minutes, 33 seconds into the first quarter that they'll be showing over and over on television today.

It is the toss that finally allowed Chang to break Ty Detmer's 13-year-old NCAA career passing record that will linger in the memories of the humid night at Aloha Stadium.

But for all the talk of milestones and history, the passes that defined Chang this night came hours after the record hoopla, in the fourth quarter of the 34-23 victory over Louisiana Tech.

For that was prime time, where this most necessary of victories, the fourth against four losses that keep the Warriors mathematically in the hunt for a winning season and a Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl appearance, would slip away or be sealed. It was where the Warriors had to have Chang's best against the Bulldogs yet again.

It was where he once again summoned it, taking UH 82 yards in nine plays — completing 5 of 8 passes including two big third-down tosses — for his fourth and most crucial touchdown, a 14-yard pass to Chad Owens that finally put some breathing space between the Warriors and the fast-closing Bulldogs, 34-23, with 11:58 left.

For the second time in two years against Louisiana Tech, Chang took charge of a key fourth-quarter drive.

Until then, "I was 100 percent sure I thought we were gonna win it," Tech coach Jack Bicknell said. "But, he (Chang) has a knack."

One for hitting the telling third-down passes (7 of 12), it seemed. Overall, the numbers were good — 26 of 42 passes for 285 yards and an interception. But hardly Top 20 in Chang's list of all-time hits.

But the production was timely, the completions key, and his authority unmistakable. In the fourth quarter especially, he read blitzes, found hot receivers and stepped up with poise and patience, something we haven't always seen of late.

"Those plays were large," June Jones, the UH head coach would say afterward.

"He made the critical passes, which is what he had to do for us to win," said Dan Morrison, the Warriors' quarterback coach.

"I know for sure he can probably care less about the record ... Well, that's a pretty nice record and I'm not really saying he could care less, but he's more concerned with getting that drive in the fourth quarter to put his team up," Bicknell said. "The records are nice and they come, but I'm sure that's what he's really happy about, too."

It was somewhat fitting that the NCAA passing record would come against Louisiana Tech since the Bulldogs have played such a prominent place in Chang's statistics. He's unbeaten in three starts against Tech and 1,210 of his 15,303 yards and 11 of his touchdowns have come against the Bulldogs.

"We were here (in Aloha Stadium) in 2000 and the sucker was here so, I mean, it has been like he's been here forever," Bicknell said.

Last night the Bulldogs could be forgiven for thinking so.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.