Short-term memories help UH to refocus

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

HOUSTON — After every play in practice and in games, University of Hawai'i football defensive players yell out, "Reload!"— live-action football's version of the "Reset" button.

Owens

Both messages are the same: What's done is done. Get over it and move on.

Adhering to that anthem, the Warriors enter today's game against host Rice with selective amnesia of the season-opening loss to Florida Atlantic.

"What loss?" UH slotback Chad Owens said. "We're past that game. We're not thinking about that game. That game doesn't matter right now. This week is this week."

UH safety Lamar Broadway said he learned how to forget the hard way. After being outraced to the end zone on FAU's game-tying touchdown pass, Broadway admitted to being miserable for nearly three days.

"I soaked it all in, watched the film (of the play) over and over, and got over it," he said. "As of right now, it's out of my head. It's 'one snap and clear.' I can't dwell on the past. If I do, I'm going to act like I'm in the past. The only way to get better is to prove yourself the next day. Once you start holding on to the past — even the good stuff — it mess-es you up. You don't want to hold your head up too high or drop it too low."

Even with last week's bye, the Warriors have kept busy, implementing a new defensive scheme to counter Rice's triple-option attack and working to improve their own run-and-shoot offense. In 76 snaps against Florida Atlantic, the Warriors managed two offensive plays of more than 20 yards. Their yards-after-catch (YAC) average was 3.42 yards. Excluding shovel passes, which basically are running plays, the YAC average dropped to 2.87.

"If they don't make plays, that's what's going to happen," said Ron Lee, who coaches the receivers. "They didn't make a single play. That's disappointing. I'm very concerned about the dropped balls and the lack of concentration. It was the first game — maybe it was a little bit of that, a little complacency."

That shouldn't be a problem for today's Western Athletic Conference opener. The Warriors, who have set a goal of winning the school's first outright WAC football title, admit to watching the around-the-league scoreboard.

"You want to play one game at a time, but of course you know (WAC rivals) Fresno State and Boise State are winning their games," UH cornerback Abraham Elimimian said. "Those teams are for real, but we want to show people we're for real, too. I'm tired of people saying it's between Boise State and Fresno State. Hawai'i is in the picture. We're going to make a run for the title."

For Rice, winning the WAC title is its only option to earning a berth in a postseason bowl. While the Warriors need only a winning regular season to earn a spot in the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl, Rice has no such opportunity. The Owls have neither a large enrollment (2,700) nor alumni base (45,000) to make them an at-large attraction to bowl committees. The Owls' last bowl appearance was in 1961, a drought that has outlasted the life span of the Astrodome.

"It's frustrating," quarterback Greg Henderson said. "We were 8-4 (in 2001), and we didn't get looks from bowl committees. Teams that were 7-5 or 6-5 were getting invitations, and we were stuck at home over the Christmas break. We know we have to win the conference to go to a bowl."

At least the Owls can enjoy the Bayou Bucket, the prize for defeating University Avenue-rival Houston in the non-conference opener. The bucket will be retired because Rice is seceding from the WAC next June and joining Houston in Conference USA.

"I saw those (Houston) guys in the grocery store this week," Rice defensive back Terry Holley said. "All they could do was drop their heads."

Polynesian halftime show by the MOB

The MOB — Marching Owl Band — plans a Polynesian-themed performance for tonight's halftime show. The MOB is open to all Rice students, regardless of musical ability. The MOB includes electric guitars, a cello, keyboards and violins, and performs what is known as scatter-band style. One performance last year featured only Russian string music.

The aunt of violinist Laura Gibson is head of Houston's Polynesian Cultural Association. The organization is providing Polynesian wear for the MOB.

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8051.

UH SCHEDULE

Oct. 2—Tulsa*

Oct. 9—Nevada*

Oct 16—at UTEP*

Oct. 23—San Jose State

Oct. 29—at Boise State*

Nov. 6— Louisiana Tech*

Nov. 12—at Fresno State*

Nov. 20—Idaho

Nov. 27—Northwestern

Dec. 4—Michigan State

*WAC game