Chang leaves no doubt who's No. 1
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
Kick the asterisk.
By all measures, University of Hawai'i quarterback Tim Chang is the NCAA record holder in career passing yards with 16,251 in 51 games.
Four weeks ago, the NCAA record-keepers recognized Chang as the most prolific passer in college football history when he surpassed Ty Detmer's 46-game total of 15,031 passing yards.
But during Detmer's collegiate career (1988 to 1991) at Brigham Young, the NCAA did not count statistics accumulated during postseason bowl games as part of career totals. In four bowl games, Detmer passed for an additional 1,175 yards, giving him a total of 16,206 career passing yards.
By throwing for 405 yards in the Warriors' 49-41 victory over Northwestern, Chang bettered Detmer's all-inclusive mark by 45 yards.
"That's pretty good," UH coach June Jones said.
Dan Morrison, who coaches the UH quarterbacks, said the first time Chang was honored "was really big. This time, it kind of completes everything."
Morrison said Chang, a fifth-year senior, is finishing his UH career with a flourish. In the previous week's 52-21 victory over Idaho, Chang passed for 376 yards and six touchdowns. That performance was one of the best of his career based on the coaching staff's rating system, which factors accuracy and decision-making.
In the first quarter against Northwestern, Chang was intercepted twice. But from the second quarter, when he passed for 210 yards, Chang's rating was nearly as high as it was against Idaho.
Morrison said the mechanics of Chang's best play — an 11-yard scoring pass to Chad Owens — was largely unnoticed.
Owens, who ran a post pattern from the left slot, actually was Chang's third option. Morrison said Chang looked to right wideout Jason Rivers and then to right slotback Gerald Welch. With both players covered closely, Chang spotted Owens.
"(Owens) wasn't open for a long time, that's for sure," Morrison said. "He had one defender in front, another on the side. That throw came out so quick and so fast, and it had to be so perfect. He had to throw it between people. He put it where he had to put it. It was an accurate throw, an unbelievable throw. He made a number of those throughout the course of the night."
Linebackers may shift to stay in lineup
Jones said he is considering realigning the linebackers to allow Ikaika Curnan, Tanuvasa Moe and Watson Ho'ohuli to play in the same lineup against Michigan State.
Curnan, who led the Warriors in tackles as a weakside linebacker last season, moved to the middle during spring practice. He was used as a reserve against Northwestern after missing five of the six previous games because of a high-ankle sprain. Moe also played for the first time after missing four games because of a strained hamstring. Ho'ohuli, who filled in for Curnan in the middle, is third on the team in tackles with 62.
"We're going to put the best three guys out there," Jones said.
Because Ho'ohuli only can play in the middle, Curnan and Moe will play on the outside.
Jones also is trying to figure out where to use offensive lineman Samson Satele if Uriah Moenoa, who is recovering from knee and hamstring injuries, is available to play.
Center Derek Fa'avi is expected to miss his fourth consecutive game because of a bone bruise in his right knee.
Moenoa, the starting right guard and top backup center, did not play in the past two games. Satele, usually the starting left guard, filled in as the snapper.
"Samson is pretty good at center," Jones said. "One of the reasons I like him is because the snaps are all good, let alone he plays pretty good in there. ... I think there are pluses on both guys playing. I think Uriah knows — sees — everything because he's been in there more, making the calls and everything. But Samson is a very, very gifted player."
If Satele and Moenoa are both in the lineup, it would bump either left guard Hercules Satele or right tackle Jeremy Inferrera as a starter.
Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8051.
