Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Hawaii QB Chang has records in cross hair

Timmy Chang's passing statistics

Year / G / Com / Att / Ints / Pct / Yds / Avg. / TDs

2000 10 245 469 19 52.2 3,041 304.1 19

2001 3 83 140 6 59.3 1,100 366.7 6

2002 14 349 624 22 55.9 4,474 319.6 25

2003 1 32 54 2 59.3 306 306.0 2

Total 28 731 1,265 49 57.7 8,921 318.6 52

Timmy Chang remembers the afternoon of Dec. 1, 1990, very well.

"I went to Aloha Stadium," Chang said. "Hawaii was playing BYU. It was the day that Ty Detmer won the Heisman Trophy. I remember what a thrill it was to be able to see him play. And I remember that Hawaii beat them pretty good."

The Warriors did indeed upset the Cougars, 59-28, that day. And little did people know at the time that the 9-year-old Chang would one day go on to be mentioned in the same breath as the former BYU great.

Chang, a 6-foot-2, 205-pound junior, will lead Hawaii (1-1) into Sam Boyd Stadium on Friday night to face UNLV (2-1). He is on pace to not only break Detmer's NCAA career passing mark of 15,031 yards but shatter it.

Chang, a junior from Honolulu, has already thrown for 8,921 yards and 52 touchdowns in the Warriors' pass-happy Run-'N'-Shoot offense. Assuming he stays healthy and plays his final 23 college games (not counting possible bowls), Chang would have to average about 266 passing yards per game to break the record. He has averaged 319 passing yards per game in his career.

"If Timmy stays healthy, he could very well win the Heisman Trophy and break the NCAA passing record by the time he graduates," Hawaii head coach June Jones said. "He has all the qualities the great ones have. I anticipate he will be one of the top offensive producers in the country this year and next."

Chang led the WAC and finished fourth in the nation last year as a sophomore in total offense with an average of 318.4 yards per game despite playing some games with a fractured pinky on his throwing hand and others with a sprained knee. He finished the year with 4,474 yards passing and 25 touchdowns.

"I think he's been a great quarterback," UNLV coach John Robinson said. "Obviously he's in a great system for him. It's one of the most prolific passing teams ever. He's got a nice rhythm and he's accurate. Most good quarterbacks, the number one thing you say about them is they're accurate and he's really got that."

Chang is already being promoted for the Heisman Trophy by Hawaii which put together a CD of highlights entitled, "TC For Heisman." He said he's flattered by all the attention he's beginning to receive nationally but that he's "trying to keep things simple.

"I don't think about (Detmer's record) much but it's a good accomplishment to have people mentioning me about it," Chang said. "But my main focus right now is just trying to help us win games. To be honest with you, getting the record would be good and everything, but I just want to be remembered as the quarterback who helped to build this program to where we want it to be. If the record comes, it comes."

This won't be Chang's first time playing against UNLV. As a freshman in 2000, he threw three touchdown passes in UNLV's Las Vegas Bowl-clinching 34-32 victory at Aloha Stadium. Chang underthrew slotback Craig Stutzmann on a two-point conversion try that would have sent the contest into overtime.

"That does seem like a long time ago," Chang, who redshirted in 2001 with a right wrist injury, said. "I remember us going for that two-point conversion and not getting it. I remember Jason Thomas being their quarterback and what a great offense they had. And I remember their defense had some real good pass rushers."

Chang also has played quarterback in a game at Sam Boyd Stadium before. As a junior with perennial prep power St. Louis High of Honolulu, Chang quarterbacked the Crusaders to a blowout win against Green Valley there.

"And I've been there a few times with my family to vacation," he said. "Any reason is a good reason to visit Vegas. I'm looking forward to getting back out there again this week."

And who knows. Maybe there will be a 9-year-old boy in the stands who might go on one day to break Timmy Chang's NCAA career passing mark.

Brimmer finished with a team-high 11 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions, one forced fumble and also had a 55-yard fumble return for a touchdown.

On Monday, Brimmer was selected MWC defensive player of the week.

"I told him he should get a copy of that tape so he can show his grandkids one day," UNLV coach John Robinson said. "Defensively, I don't know if you ever can have a better day than Jamaal Brimmer had. He just always seemed to be there."

Also on Monday, junior punter Gary Cook took home the special teams player of the week award after averaging 44.1 yards on eight punts in wet and windy conditions. Only two of his punts were returned and three were 50 yards or longer.

Starting tailback Larry Croom (thigh strain) sat out the workout although trainer Kyle Wilson said Croom has shown some improvement and is at about 90-percent. However, Robinson said at his weekly Rebel Football Foundation luncheon that he was getting "a little alarmed" over Croom's progress from the injury. Wilson listed Croom as questionable for the game against Hawaii.

One player who missed Monday's practice was tailback Alvin Marshall, who was consulting with team doctors about arch and ankle injuries. The injuries more than likely will force Marshall, a former JC All-American, to red-shirt this season.

Wilson listed starting defensive lineman Dietrich Canterberry and starting offensive tackle Zach Gorham as both questionable with knee sprains.

Robinson and Jones both said they'd like to see the two schools play on a yearly basis.

"I'd like to play them every year," Robinson said. "Las Vegas has a lot of people from the islands here. I just think it's a natural rivalry. I have great feelings about the University of Hawaii and would love to see that be an annual event."

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