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News Nuggets, 12.25.04
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Chang, Hawaii spoil UAB's bowl debut in shootout

HONOLULU — Timmy Chang capped his record-setting career in style.

Chang became the first college quarterback to pass for 17,000 yards, throwing for four touchdowns and running for another to lead Hawaii over Alabama-Birmingham 59-40 in the Hawaii Bowl on Friday night.

The senior went 31-of-46 for 405 yards with no interceptions, spoiling the Blazers' first trip to a bowl game. Chad Owens caught eight passes for 114 yards and two TDs for Hawaii (8-5), which made its third straight appearance in the 3-year-old bowl.

Owens also scored on a 59-yard punt return in the decisive third quarter, and teammate Jason Rivers added 11 receptions for 148 yards and a TD.

Clinging to a two-point lead, Hawaii scored 17 straight points in the third to take a 45-26 lead. UAB (7-5) never recovered.

On Owens' spectacular return, he caught the ball at the Hawaii 41, broke a tackle at midfield and streaked down the left sideline for a touchdown. It was his fifth punt return for a score this season and his third TD of the game.

The senior also made an over-the-shoulder catch on a 15-yard pass from Chang, pushing Hawaii's lead to 35-26. With that pass, Chang became the first college quarterback to break the 17,000-yard mark for his career.

Chang's 4-yard TD run in the fourth sealed the victory. He came out to a standing ovation with 5:40 left.

Chang owns NCAA marks for yards passing (17,072), attempts (2,436), completions (1,388), interceptions (80) and total offense (16,910).

With 117 TD passes, he overtook Danny Wuerffel (114) and Tim Rattay (115) and is second to Ty Detmer (121).

Chang threw for 4,258 yards this season, with a career-best 38 TDs. He was 19-of-27 for 308 yards and three TDs in the first half of this one.

UAB was led by quarterback Darrell Hackney, who finished 31-of-54 for 417 yards and two touchdowns. He also had a rushing TD.

Roddy White, the second-leading receiver in the nation, had six receptions for 113 yards.

A 10-yard TD run by Norris Drinkard and a 36-yard field goal by Nick Hayes cut Hawaii's lead to 28-26 at halftime.

The first half featured 699 yards of offense.

Both high-powered offenses got off to a quick start on a 75-degree Christmas Eve, scoring five touchdowns in the first 10 minutes of the game.

The teams traded leads until a 4-yard touchdown run by West Keliikipi and a 29-yard scoring pass from Chang to Gerald Welch put Hawaii up 21-13.

Hackney threw a dart to his favorite target, White, on a slant play that went 67 yards for a touchdown on UAB's opening series.

On the next play, Hawaii took a 7-6 lead on a 74-yard pass from Chang to Rivers, who waltzed along the sideline before breaking across the field.

It was the Warriors' eighth straight victory at Aloha Stadium, though they were designated the visiting team for this game.

Memphis bumps West up to $800K per year

MEMPHIS — Memphis coach Tommy West agreed to a one-year contract extension after leading the Tigers to back-to-back bowl games for the first time in the program's history.

West received the extension Monday while in Mobile, Ala., where the Tigers (8-4) lost to Bowling Green 52-35 in the GMAC Bowl on Wednesday.

``I've made it very clear that this is what I wanted to happen,'' West said. ``I'm really enthused and excited it's going to work out the way we wanted it to work out.''

West's new contract runs through 2009 and raises his income to $800,000 a year. The $200,000 raise comes primarily from pay for radio and TV shows featuring the Tigers' coach.

Under West, who came to Memphis in 2001, the Tigers went 9-4 last year and played in the postseason for the first time in 32 years, beating North Texas in the New Orleans Bowl.

It's the first time in 40 years Memphis has won eight or more games two seasons in a row.

Athletic director R.C. Johnson said West's base pay of about $146,000 will remain unchanged.

News Nuggets are compiled periodically based on material supplied by staff members; data published by ECU, Conference USA and its member schools; and reports from Associated Press and other sources. Copyright 2004 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Page Updated: 02/23/2007 12:07 PM