Saturday, November 28, 1998
Rainbows
relish shot at
Wolverines
Playing a team of Michigan's
By Paul Arnett
caliber has the UH football team
fired up for today's game
Star-BulletinThere's no truth to the rumor that Michigan will go straight from the beach to Aloha Stadium for this afternoon's game with Hawaii.
But even Wolverines head coach Lloyd Carr said it will be difficult for his 15th-ranked team to take this 12th game seriously.
Earlier in the week, UH head coach Fred vonAppen tried to use his unique brand of humor when asked how he would prepare winless Hawaii for mighty Michigan.
''I'm fresh out of ideas,'' vonAppen deadpanned. ''Have you got any suggestions?''
It is easier to joke about this afternoon's nationally televised game between the defending national champions and the cellar dwellers of one of the weakest conferences in America. But believe it or not, the Rainbows are taking this game quite seriously.
''When you're growing up and watching college football on television, you know all about Michigan and the tradition they bring to every game,'' UH offensive lineman Dustin Owens said. ''I'm looking forward to spending 60 minutes with those guys. If you don't feel that way, you might as well stay on the bench.''
Injured linebackers Stephen Gonzales and Jeff Ulbrich are so fired up about squaring off against quarterback Tom Brady, and running backs Clarence Williams and Anthony Thomas, they're willing to play hurt.
Ulbrich will have surgery next week to repair a knee, and will wear a heavy brace just to keep it locked in place.
''But all my life I've wanted to play Michigan,'' Ulbrich said. ''I've been in rehab for six weeks just waiting for this chance. I can't hurt my knee any worse, so what the heck.''
After surgery, Ulbrich hopes to be ready in time for spring football. Gonzales won't have that luxury. As a senior, this is his final game in a UH uniform. He has a burner in his shoulder that shouldn't be tested.
''But like Jeff, I want to play in a game like this one,'' Gonzales said. ''It's on national television against the defending national champions. Last year I had to watch us lose to Notre Dame in the final seconds. This year, I want to be on the field.''
That kind of dedication worries a coach like Carr. He knows there's little chance the Rainbows, 38-point underdogs, will beat his Wolverines. But just the same, this is a no-win situation. A win will surprise no one, while a loss will shock the college football world.
''They played much better in the first half of the year before all the injuries,'' Carr said. ''You can tell a big difference, especially on defense. This game scares me because we need it to secure ourselves the best bowl game we can.''
Michigan is coming off a three-game stretch against Big Ten powers Penn State, Wisconsin and Ohio State. The Wolverines aren't limping around Honolulu as Hawaii has of late, but they were involved in a very physical and emotional game with the rival Buckeyes.
''Right now we are really glad that the season is not over because we don't want to end it with a loss,'' talented offensive lineman Jon Jansen said. ''We're looking forward to going out to Hawaii and playing strong.''
Jansen is one reason tailbacks Thomas and Williams have combined to rush for 1,066 yards and eight touchdowns this season. He also protects Brady in the pocket. Brady has thrown for 2,285 yards and 12 touchdowns.
His primary targets are All-American Tai Streets and Marcus Knight. Streets has 55 receptions for 819 yards and nine touchdowns. Knight has 39 catches for 586 yards and one score.
''This is a very talented team on both sides of the football,'' vonAppen said. ''We'll have to be at our very best and they'll have to be off a bit just for us to keep it close.''
Hawaii has lost its last seven games by an average score of 38-13. Not one opponent in that losing streak compares to Michigan, which sends a shiver down the spines of UH coordinators Don Lindsey and Tom Williams.
Lindsey is worried the offense won't make a first down. Williams is concerned by how many first downs the Rainbows will allow.
''This is a talented team that's not that far removed from the one that won a national championship last year,'' Williams said ''They aren't that explosive offensively, but they have big-time talent at every position that could just wear us down.''
Lindsey took it a step further.
''We haven't faced anyone nearly as good as this team in my three years in Hawaii,'' Lindsey said. ''I look at what they do defensively and marvel at the kind of athletes on the field.
''We're going to do the best we can with what we have. I don't know if that will be good enough or not. You have to play the game and see what happens. But to say this is a challenge for us doesn't do justice for that word.''
Rainbow football
Today: Michigan (8-3) at Hawaii (0-11)
http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu
