Linebackers
are strength of
Rainbows’ defense

Hawaii's transition to a 3-4 alignment
is a telling testimony to the
unit's talent and depth

By Paul Arnett
Star-Bulletin

Applications to play linebacker for the University of Hawaii will no longer be accepted because eight is enough.

The Rainbows are truly two-deep at all four linebacker spots, giving assistant coach Tom Williams the luxury to mix and match myriad combinations without fear of major falloff.

If Hawaii's season opener with the University of Minnesota were tomorrow, Williams would start seniors Brian Chapman, Stephen Gonzales, Doug Rosevold and Rufus Ayeni, and never have to look up from his clipboard.

This fab foursome can run, stick and move with any of the Rainbows' past linebacker corps, including the Holiday Bowl group of Al Aliipule, Stewart Williams, Walter Santiago and Lou Randall.

The scary thing is, defensive coordinator Don Lindsey also can ask Williams to replace that foursome with veterans Kekoa Kilcoyne, Kamuela Cobb-Adams and Matt Paul, and newcomers Rinda Brooks and Mark Mollner, and be confident the opposition's offense might meet its maker.

"Our strength on defense is at linebacker, especially inside," Williams said after yesterday's practice. "We've got four or five seniors, who are good enough to all start. We're very deep at that inside position.

"Outside, we have some great players, too. One of our strengths should be the ability to play different guys. We should be able to go long and hard with more guys.

"Last year, we didn't have much depth. So when we put a second or third guy in, the drop off in experience showed. But this year, we should be able to rotate freely, because both guys in the depth chart are essentially starters."

One of the major moves in the off-season was shifting from a 4-3 defensive look to a 3-4. Lindsey knew he didn't have the same numbers up front as he had at linebacker. So he spent hours viewing videotape of the Pittsburgh Steelers' 3-4 alignment, then implemented it in the spring.

Part of the plan called for Chapman and Kilcoyne to bid a fond farewell to the defensive front, something both said they welcomed. It also meant recruiting a wide body like freshman Miles Garner to plug up the middle.

"We feel good about the linebacker position because it is our most fortified group," Lindsey said. "We don't feel like we have anybody there who can't contribute.

"I don't think any one front or any one scheme is any better. It's just how you use your talent. We just made this move because we had more linebackers than linemen."

Chapman is certainly excited about the switch. He has spent an injury-plagued career as an undersized lineman. Now, the Oceanside, Calif., resident is free to roam as the strike backer.

"Coach Lindsey changed linebacker to make it the strength of our defense," Chapman said. "He saw what we had last year and figured we had more linebacker skills. It's more of a speed defense.

"I worked hard this summer to make sure I trimmed down for the position. It's better for me because I wasn't big enough to play line. There's a lot more freedom to be involved in the running and passing game. There's more chance to make plays out there."

Like Chapman, Rosevold had to make a switch as well. Last year, the junior college transfer from Sacramento, Calif., played outside backer where he relied mostly on his quickness.

This year, Lindsey moved him inside to the bandit position, forcing Rosevold to bulk up to a solid 229 pounds. He's still learning his reads of the guards, but the senior enjoys being where the action is, both in the running game and the different blitz packages.

"We ran a cross blitz today and it resulted in a sack for me," Rosevold said. "I'm still learning, but it's exciting playing a position that is the strength of our team.

"We have a lot of seniors with game experience. Coach Lindsey is a genius. He has figured out the best way to show our skills. The front seven is way better than last year. I can't wait for the season to begin so we can show our fans just how far we've come."

---

Mane out at least
6 weeks with torn ACL

By Paul Arnett
Star-Bulletin

A routine pass play turned disastrous for University of Hawaii wide receiver Jason Mane during yesterday evening's fall camp workout at Barbers Point.

The fifth-year senior tore his anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and is lost for at least six weeks, physician Darryl Kan said.

"We're going to take an MRI exam (today) to see how much damage there is," Kan said last night. "He may be back this season, but a conservative estimate would be about six weeks.

"What I told Jason, if it is indeed a complete tear of the ACL, he doesn't have the luxury of another year, so surgery right now isn't an option.

"We would brace it, rehab it to get the muscles surrounding the joint as strong as possible, and see how he does. We would try to let him play. There are cases around the country where guys have played as much as eight to 10 games with torn ACLs."

Mane was penciled in as a starting receiver for the Rainbows. The Hawaii Baptist Academy graduate caught 17 passes last year for 175 yards and two touchdowns.

"Injuries are chance occurrences that you don't ever want to happen," UH head coach Fred vonAppen said. "We got a couple of bodies tangled up, and it doesn't look very good.

"He's a valuable guy. He's one of our top receivers, and certainly one of the most experienced. He's a tough guy and has a leadership role, which makes us very concerned at this point."

Starting free safety Eddie Klaneski saw what happened. He said when Mane went to make a cut, his shoe stuck in the grass, causing his knee to twist.

"I knew he was in trouble when I heard him cry out," Klaneski said. "It's tough losing a guy like Jay."

Mane called his folks last night to tell them the news. Kan said he hopes that the tear is off the bone, and not where the ligament is torn in half. If it is the latter, then the prognosis for Mane playing this season is much poorer, he said.