UH due, but
don’t bet on it
The 'Bows will try to end
By Paul Arnett
their WAC road losing skid
tomorrow vs. SJSU
Star-BulletinSAN JOSE, Calif. -- Longtime gamblers in Las Vegas follow a creed that has been around as long as organized sports -- never bet against a streak. Novices talk about the law of averages and the "due theory," something veterans of sports books laugh about among themselves. They'll tell you those folks are the reason the lights shine so bright on the Vegas Strip.
The University of Hawaii football team will try to prove those veterans wrong in tomorrow's Western Athletic Conference game against San Jose State.
Granted, this matchup doesn't look like much in the grand scheme of college football. The game won't lead the ESPN SportsCenter broadcast or be front-page news in the Sunday morning paper.
But it holds some intrigue for the Rainbows' fifth-year seniors. This is their last chance to win a WAC road game. The current losing streak is at 19 games and stretches back 1,826 days to a November night at Jack Murphy Stadium. No current UH player or coach took part in that 1992 game, won by San Diego State. In fact, most of tomorrow's starters for the Rainbows couldn't legally drive a car then.
"I remember it because it was the year they won the Holiday Bowl," fifth-year senior Eddie Klaneski said of the Rainbows. The 52-28 loss to the Aztecs was the most-watched Rainbows' sports event in local television history. "It's hard to believe that was the first loss of the streak. It seems like a long time ago."
Fred vonAppen has been on the sidelines for only seven of the defeats, but the streak is an exercise in futility the second-year head coach wants to end.
History is not on his side. The Rainbows were shut out in three of those seven games, and have been outscored by a 281-33 total.
"I'm tired of talking about it and I know the players are tired of thinking about it," vonAppen said. "Thankfully, I haven't been around for all 19 of those games. But in the ones we've lost, we just haven't been that competitive.
"We had an opportunity to win two on the road this year at BYU and UNLV, but for a number of reasons we didn't get it done. Turnovers and penalties killed us in those two losses. We can't keep shooting ourselves in the foot and expect to win."
Hawaii committed two costly turnovers in the 25-15 loss at UNLV. In the 63-0 drubbing at Colorado State, the Rams returned two punts and one fumble for touchdowns. Hawaii also lost a fumble on its 1-yard line and was penalized seven times for 55 yards.
The flags also flew in the 17-3 loss at BYU as the Rainbows were penalized nine times for 65 yards. They allowed another punt return for a touchdown, too.
They can't afford the same mistakes this weekend.
"We've been our own worst enemy on the road," fifth-year senior Johnny Macon said. "It's been that way since I've been here. You have to play well to win on the road and we haven't been able to do that. I know I speak for all of the fellas when I say we hope that changes at San Jose State. For the seniors, this is our last chance. For the young guys, this is a chance for them to start a new streak."
Freshman running back Charles Tharp and sophomore quarterback Josh Skinner have to be at their optimum for that to happen.
Tharp, who hails from nearby Mountain View, Calif., leads the Rainbows in rushing with 546 yards and four touchdowns. He also is No. 1 in receptions with 31 and receiving yards with 346. He is more concerned with UH playing well enough to win than he is with the losing streak. Having 200 family members and friends on hand provides extra incentive.
"This is the first time most people I know will get to see me (play) in person," Tharp said. "I'd like to do well for them. But most of all, I want to do what I can to help us win. We want to finish strong so we can build on next year."
Skinner's role next season might be a bit fuzzy, but it's clear he has to have a good outing this weekend against a suspect San Jose State defense. The Spartans are yielding 393.8 yards and 36.1 points a game. Skinner threw for a career-high 331 yards in UH's 34-27 loss to Air Force the week prior to last week's bye.
"He keeps getting better and better every week," UH offensive coordinator Wally English said. "He's gaining confidence and learning to do the little things that make you a better quarterback."
Should he struggle in his sixth start this season, vonAppen said he wouldn't hesitate to call on senior Tim Carey. The transfer from Stanford was sidelined for eight weeks with a third-degree shoulder separation. Both quarterbacks could play in certain situations tomorrow.
San Jose State head coach Dave Baldwin has taken a similar approach this season with quarterbacks Dan O'Dell and Brian Vye, with negative results. The two have passed for 1,583 yards and nine touchdowns, but have thrown 16 interceptions.
"Like Hawaii, mistakes and injuries have killed us this year," Baldwin said. "I still look for this to be a really good game against two programs trying to turn things around. A win would be great for our seniors in their final home game and a good way for our young guys to take a positive step toward the future."
The facts
Records: Hawaii (3-6, 1-6) vs. San Jose State (2-7, 2-4)
STARTING LINEUPS
Hawaii Offense
No., Name, Pos.
28, Eleu Kane, WR
63, Adrian Klemm, LT
68, Andy Phillips, LG
65, Shane Oliveira, C
75, Gary Krug, RG
71, Kaulana Noa, RT
22, Lonn Kalama, TE
16, Josh Skinner, QB
25, Charles Tharp, TB
24, Calvin Mims, FB
12, Wesley Morris, WR
Hawaii Defense
No., Name, Pos.
79, Ben Bright, LT
92, Tony Tuioti, NG
83, Ellie Kapihe, RE
53, Brian Chapman, LB
34, Doug Rosevold, LB
19, Mark Jenkins, LB
51, Kamuela Cobb-Adams, LB
14, Robbie Robinson, DB
7, Chris Shinnick, DB
21, Eddie Klaneski, DB
23, Donnell Williams, DB
San Jose State Offense
No., Name, Pos.
4, Oliver Newell, WR
79, David Loverne, LT
61, Oscar Garza, LG
62, Harry Daniels, C
63, Richie Castro, RG
77, Curtice Macfarlane, RT
83, Brandon Knapp, TE
13, Dan O'Dell, QB
5, Donte Scarbrough, RB
6, Waking Bailey, WR
22, Gabe Payne, WR
San Jose State Defense
No., Name, Pos.
92, Abdul-Salam Noah, DT
97, Zach Michalski, NG
84, Shon Kendall, DT
56, Samson Sherrod, LB
80, James Ditch, LB
50, Alfonso Moran, LB
33, Eruc Coughran, LB
38, Travis Seaton, DB
1, Wardell Crutchfield, DB
7, K.J. Agu, DB
31, Lyle West, DB
Sports Notebook
UH Football Schedule
http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu
