Chang, a fifth-year senior, is poised to break the NCAA record for career passing yards. Chang needs 241 yards to surpass Ty Detmer's 15,031 yards — a milestone that could be achieved in Friday night's nationally televised road game against Boise State.

Since the summer of 2003, when the athletic department distributed promotional DVDs to reporters across the nation, UH coach June Jones has trumpeted Chang's pursuit of the record. But at yesterday's news conference, Jones danced around the subject, in the way baseball teammates avoid mentioning a pitcher's no-hit attempt for fear of jinxing it.

"You don't talk about it," Jones said. "You just go and play."

Unfortunately for Jones, it is too late to put the genie back in the bottle. Several newspapers, including the Los Angeles Times, yesterday mentioned Chang's pursuit of the record. The Western Athletic Conference's weekly teleconference opened with the announcement of the mark.

Chang acknowledged the record, if he breaks it, will "bring the school national attention. It's a good thing for the school, a good thing for the state, a good thing for our team."

Still, Chang said: "At this point, I don't really think about the record. I think about winning games. I'm trying to put the team in position to win. The record is close, but I don't put it into my thought process. I think about getting the ball to Chad (Owens), getting the ball to Jason (Rivers), getting the ball to Gerald (Welch), and letting them do their thing.

"I know the record isn't an individual record. Even though it seems like it's about the quarterback, it takes the linemen to do their assignments, the receivers to do the right thing at the right moment. It's not just me. It's such a team effort, and not just this team. It's for all of the guys who have blocked or caught passes in the past."

If Chang were to break the record, "it's going to feel awesome. But I'm not going to talk about it now. In the future, when it's all over and I'm done playing football, then I'll think about it."

Warriors will take injured players on trip

Jones is prepared to risk being short-handed for Friday's game.

WAC rules and the school's budget limit the Warriors' travel roster to 60 players. With the availability of ailing players not known until Friday, the Warriors, who leave tomorrow, will bring along some who might not be able to compete. As the home team, Boise State has no restrictions on its active roster.

"We'll play short," Jones said.

Jones said weakside linebacker Tanuvasa Moe, who suffered a hamstring injury in Saturday's victory over San Jose State, "won't go" to Boise. Moe, who did not practice yesterday, said he is hopeful of a fast recovery. "I want to play (on Friday)," he said.

Boise Stadium's infamous blue field has been a tourist attraction, according to athletic director Gene Bleymaier.

Two starters who did not play against San Jose State — cornerback Kenny Patton (pulled left hamstring) and middle linebacker Ikaika Curnan (sprained right ankle) — are expected to play this week. Patton was on the field during walk-through drills yesterday. He wore sweat pants to keep his left hamstring from tightening.

Matt Manuma, who replaced injured safety Lono Manners (fractured right ankle), said he was diagnosed with a "slight rotator cuff strain" in his left shoulder. He suffered the injury during a goal-line stand.

"The next day, (the shoulder) felt a little stiff," he said. "It won't keep me out. I'll be ready to go for the game."

Manuma, a fifth-year senior who joined UH as a quarterback in August 2000, is expected to start at right safety.

"It's good to get a shot, but it sucks it happened this way, with Lono going down," Manuma said.

Manuma and Manners are members of Maohi Nui, a dance troupe that has performed in Guam, American Samoa, Japan, Okinawa and South Korea.

The ailing defensive secondary — cornerback Abraham Elimimian also has a pulled right hamstring and sprained right ankle — is forcing the Warriors to scramble for replacements. Freshman George Perry, who was expected to redshirt this season, will receive extended playing time. Rich Miano, who coordinates the pass defense, said Guyton Galdeira, a walk-on from Kamehameha Schools, was activated last week.

"We put an ad in Ka Leo (UH's student newspaper) to see if any players want to give it a go," Miano said. "We're like the National Guard. We're activating the troops. Some guys are dentists and teachers and then, all of a sudden, they're summoned for duty."

On offense, the Warriors auditioned several replacements for slotback Se'e Poumele, whose college career ended because of a fractured left forearm. Starting right wideout Britton Komine, who has played each of the four receiving positions, worked out at right slotback yesterday.

"In case anything happens, they're re-introducing me to the whole scheme of things," Komine said. "It's like riding a bike. A couple of the plays have changed a little, but I'll be OK."

Gerald Welch, a fifth-year senior, is listed as Poumele's immediate successor.