Posted on: Monday, November 8, 2004

Chang now sets sights on Fresno

By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Columnist

Tim Chang, you have just set the NCAA career passing yardage record. What are you going to do now?

"I'm going to Fresno!"

OK, in the interest of complete disclosure, Chang did not really say that.

But, had it crossed his mind, you could understand it because playing Fresno State has been like, well, a day at Disneyland for this University of Hawai'i quarterback.

Two games against Fresno State, two memorable, career-enhancing victories and loads of fun. An average of 407 passing yards per game, 62.8 pass completion percentage and seven touchdowns against just one interception for the only UH quarterback to win at Bulldog Stadium.

Something about Fresno State, it seems, has brought out the best in Chang. Respect? Rivalry? Two years ago, he rallied the Warriors to a 22-point fourth quarter and a milestone victory at Fresno that was his finest hour as a Warrior. Last year, he torched the Bulldogs for 353 yards and five touchdowns. A performance that moved Pat Hill, the Bulldogs' coach, to say, "my hat's off to him."

Maybe, given that the two Western Athletic Conference teams he's been most successful against have been Fresno State and Louisiana Tech, Chang just has a thing about Bulldogs.

Good thing, too, because to get to a winning season necessary to earn a Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl invitation, it looks like the Warriors need to complete their Bulldog double play, again.

It is easy to see Friday's ESPN game at Fresno shaping up as something of an elimination game for those auditioning for the Christmas Eve afternoon game. The winner keeps its hopes alive and the loser likely misses out on an all expenses-paid (except for UH coaching staff bonuses, apparently), trip.

If UH wins, it is 5-4 and with Idaho, Northwestern and Michigan State remaining, two wins away from its third consecutive bowl bid. But a loss means the Warriors have no more margin for error and would have to win out to be 7-5 and bowl-eligible.

For Fresno State at 5-3, a win over the Warriors not only gets the Bulldogs bowl eligible since they play 11 games, but could help punch a ticket to the Hawai'i Bowl. A loss, however, would appear to enhance the opportunity for Texas-El Paso, which, at 6-2, is already bowl-eligible.

The Hawai'i Bowl would be no small holiday reward for the Bulldogs.

Of the three bowls with WAC ties — Hawai'i, Silicon Valley Bowl in San Jose, Calif., where the Bulldogs have been the past four seasons, or Humanitarian Bowl in Boise, Idaho, average daily December temperature 31.7 degrees — which do you think Fresno State would choose?

But, first, the Bulldogs would have to get past Chang & Co.

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