I wish I could hear Bob Wagner's high C voice ringing through the headsets the moment the University of Hawaii lines up in the wishbone in next month's season opener at Aloha Stadium. 'Bows weighing their
options on offenseThose who know the former head coach for the Rainbows know Wagner always had a hard time completing a sentence whenever his dander was up.
"What the hell . . . ? They told me the option was the reason . . . FILL THE GAP . . . That Hugh . . . I can't believe it . . . Tell the free safety to key the quarterback, NOW! . . . Wait until I get my hands . . . "
Wagner's words on that first Thursday night in September might not roll off his tongue exactly that way, but it will be close enough for the linebackers coach at the University of Arizona.
A form of the offense the Rainbows left for dead in 1995 will make a return engagement at the stadium near some of you.
No, it won't be Paul Johnson's spread option, which helped Wagner become the most successful coach in Rainbows' history. It will be the traditional wishbone.
"We're going to be multiple on offense, but we will run the wishbone some," UH running backs coach Don Dillon said. "One of our main goals on offense is to establish a running game. We want to create some toughness and this is a formation that can do it."
IT also allows three running backs to be on the field at the same time, something Dillon said will help the Rainbows in short-yardage situations.
In the wishbone, Charles Tharp can be protected by two blocking backs like Anthony DiIeso and Calvin Mims. Tharp is quick between the tackles, making him a tough inside runner.
The coaches can also make it a "quick bone" by adding Avion Weaver to the mix. A sturdy man at 5-foot-10, 209 pounds, the sophomore can block for Tharp on one play and turn the corner himself on the next.
"One thing I wanted to do in the spring was make the offense more tough-minded," said UH offensive coordinator Don Lindsey, who ran the Nebraska veer option last spring. "To be physical on offense you must be able to run effectively. We're going to try some things to see if we can make it happen."
Granted, this is a long way from the West Coast offense UH fans were promised in the opening days of the Fred vonAppen regime. But quite frankly, the Rainbows didn't do it justice. And Lindsey didn't like it.
To his way of thinking, the Rainbows have to gain more than 90.4 yards a game on the ground, which is what they averaged last season. They also must score more than the 15.8 points they averaged last year.
"If you can't run or stop the run, then you aren't going to win very many games, I don't care what offense you use," Lindsey said. "I don't want to pass on third-and-three and hope I make it. I want to know I can make it by running the football right at you."
WAGNER certainly wouldn't argue those basic concepts of the game. Neither would Arizona head coach Dick Tomey, who runs a modern-day offense, but with a conservative hand.
The wishbone is well-suited for third-year quarterback Josh Skinner, who ran the option in high school. Not so for Dan Robinson.
When the Rainbows need somebody to drop back and throw it deep, Robinson will be the more likely choice. Lindsey is not afraid to have two quarterbacks ready at any given time. He also plans to give the newcomers a quick but hard look during fall camp.
"We'll open with five guys competing for the spot," Lindsey said. "I believe you can play with two guys back there. It gives you some versatility and it also keeps the defense guessing."
Keeping them guessing might be the only way the Rainbows succeed on offense, especially in the early going. The line will need time to develop and gain confidence.
Hence, the wishbone. It's not complicated, but run correctly, it can be demoralizing to a defense. And that's a bone Lindsey would pick any day of the week.
Paul Arnett has been covering sports
for the Star-Bulletin since 1990.