Staff Wishes Chang Luck, Just Not This Week

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Maybe not the perfect situation, but probably the perfect fit.

To those who know Timmy Chang well, probably the ideal solution.

After spending five years as part of Jay Norvell's staff at Nevada, Chang made the switch to Colorado State for about a month, until Hawaii called and offered him their job after a month of turmoil and the eventual firing of Todd Graham.

"It's kind of funny, because about three years ago I was telling Timmy, golly, Hawaii just needs to rip the Band-Aid off and hire you," CSU quarterbacks coach Matt Mumme said. "Who cares how young you are. You are Hawaii. You are the island, and you are the culture, and you understand how those people are and what your island is like and what life is like to be there. He is. He's Hawaii, and so I think it was a natural fit. I'm just surprised it took that long for them to get to it."

Chang is a legend in his home state. He attended St. Louis High School in Honolulu, then led the Rainbow Warriors during one of the program's best runs in history. From 2000-04, he started 50 of 53 games, completed 1,388 passes for 17,072 yards -- both of which stood as NCAA records at the time. He still holds the FBS records for total plays, pass attempts and interceptions and ranks second in total offensive yards.

Chang was in Fort Collins long enough to help sign the first class, but when the fallout from players departing the program started to lean toward a change at the top, Norvell picked up the phone.

"I just think Timmy had such an amazing college career there, he grew up there. There's nobody who understands that program and the island like Timmy does," Norvell said. "I just thought it was a no-brainer. I picked up the phone and called the AD myself and said there's only one guy he needed to hire for that job. I think Timmy is such a great leader, a very bright guy and I'm so happy he got his opportunity; a lot of guys don't. There's a lot of good coaches out there for one reason or another, they don't get that opportunity. I really give Hawaii a lot of credit, their athletic director and their leadership for having faith in Timmy. You can already see how he's getting those kids and banding them together and really modeling them in the image that he wants."

Hawaii struggled early, as expected, but is coming off a win against Nevada as Chang and his team visit Fort Collins this Saturday. His team, like Norvell's, is showing signs of life in some areas, still displaying the fact there is work to be done in others.

Mumme and Chang still talk about once a month. Mumme said the last conversation came a few weeks ago as they both discussed the struggles they were having on offense. Those talks used to center around the two concepts they grew up with, Mumme the Air Raid, Chang the run-and-shoot he quarterbacked for June Jones. He loved those chats, almost as much as the families enjoyed spending time with each other off the field.

The person is special, which is why they all are happy for him.

"I was probably more excited than him," CSU wideout Tory Horton said. "They called and told me he got the job and they thought I'd be down, but you know what? That's a coach's dream, especially going back to his hometown. I have nothing but love for him, and when he got the call, all I could say is he deserved it. I called him and told him I was happy for him, and he deserved everything coming his way. He worked very hard for that job.

"I'm always going to have to tell him they aren't winning this game Saturday. As far as going on in the season, I just wish that he has the best success of his head coaching career and I know he will. Come Saturday, it ain't going to be easy, so I hope he knows that, but just know I have much respect and much love for him. I'm going to look forward to seeing him."

When Norvell hired Chang, he said he did so with the idea he would eventually become a head coach. It was a lesson he said he learned from Hayden Fry in Iowa. The reason, Norvell recalled, was that guys who aspire to be head coaches will always work harder and will constantly be in the office trying to improve.

Chang was that way, and he's now Norvell's first assistant to get a head job.

For them, if there's one person who can re-energize the program, it's the motor who helped rev it up in the first place.

"Some guys in this profession, you know them from when they were players. Timmy was an amazing player. I remember watching the late night games of Hawaii and all the numbers he put up," Norvell said. "When we'd go to Hawaii at Nevada, you'd walk in the stadium and see his picture all over the place and the posters. He's just such a beloved player there. People remember the exciting days when he was splaying and throwing the ball all over the place and how he led those teams

"He's a native. He's from there, played at St. Louis High school and he's kind of legend. I think that really excites the people there and you can see them rallying around the program."

They all wish him the best in turning around the program. They want him to succeed and have a wonderful career. Just not this week.

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