Hawaii QB Chang rewriting the record books
HONOLULU — Hawaii football coach June Jones knew something special was in store four years ago when a lanky, baby-faced teenager stepped onto the practice field and completed eight straight passes.
Quarterback Timmy Chang has since thrown for 12,814 yards and 79 touchdowns and is closing in on becoming the most prolific passer in college history. The senior needs 2,218 yards to break the 13-year-old NCAA career passing mark of 15,031 set by BYU’s Ty Detmer, the 1990 Heisman Trophy winner.
“I’ve learned over the years, so many things can happen and nothing’s a guarantee,” Chang said. “What I’ve done is focused on the little things. The records and the success will come if you concentrate on the small things.”
Chang, who is 1,030 of 1,834, is also on pace to break the NCAA marks in career completions (1,231) and pass attempts (1,883), held by Texas Tech’s Kliff Kingsbury. And with 67 interceptions, Chang is on the verge of breaking Purdue quarterback Mark Herrmann’s record of 73.
Barring injury or any mental lapses that led to his benching last year, Chang — who averages 320.4 passing yards a game — could surpass Detmer’s record by midseason.
“I had envisioned this happening if he had stayed healthy,” Jones said. “The first time I saw him in our training camp, I knew he would play as a freshman. And anybody that lines up and plays 12 games a year in this offense is going to have a shot at the record.”
If he does break Detmer’s record, Chang said that would be a reflection on all his coaches and teammates — past and present.
“Football is the biggest team game,” he said. “You got 11 guys on the field that need to work together to accomplish one goal. It would be selfish to award myself, so I would never do that.”
Hawaii’s season opens Sept. 4 at home against Florida-Atlantic. Chang could have a big season, given that 10 offensive starters are returning from last year’s 9-5 squad that was second in the nation in passing.
He has already set or tied 36 school records and eight Western Athletic Conference marks. Not bad considering he didn’t play the sport until junior high school.
“Football wasn’t a part of my childhood experience other than on the streets,” Chang said. “I love basketball more than football, even now. But football was a tool for me to get ahead.”
The youngest of three children, Chang said he focused on football to ease his parents’ financial burden of paying for college.
Last year, Chang was booed at home and benched late in the season for ineffectiveness. However, he came off the bench and threw for 475 yards and five touchdowns in a 54-48 triple-overtime victory over Houston in the Hawaii Bowl. His most difficult time came he sustained a season-ending wrist injury three games into the 2001 season.
“That was my lowest point. It’s hard when you train so hard and all of a sudden you’re not able to play. I was hurt emotionally and physically,” said Chang, who was granted a medical hardship by the WAC.
“Going through adversity, being hurt, playing through injury, being booed, being disrespected by your own home fans … as they say, if it doesn’t kill you, it will only make you stronger.”