Rainbows Notebook

Versatile Warren finds
home at linebacker

If you spent any time watching University of Hawaii football practices last fall, chances are, you noticed Yaphet Warren's opening act.

As a member of the scout team, the junior transfer from the University of Idaho was very good at pretending to be somebody else.

One week he'd be a receiver, the next a tailback. Whatever position he was asked to play, he played it well.

"Yaphet always did a great job of giving our defense a good look," UH offensive coordinator Don Lindsey said. "By that I mean he did a good job of pretending to be the star player for whatever opponent we played that week. He's an outstanding athlete."

Warren didn't mind playing offense last year, but he plans to make a name for himself on defense. The former Las Vegas resident will spend this spring mostly at weak outside linebacker, a position he became comfortable with at his old Big Sky school.

"I feel like I can play anywhere," said Warren, who moved from Las Vegas in 1991 to attend Hazen High School in Seattle. "I actually played receiver my first year at Idaho, but I was moved to outside linebacker in my last season.

"Last spring, I decided I needed a change. So I sent the Hawaii coaches a tape. They asked me to come here and I'm glad I did. This is a much better situation for me."

His arrival didn't hurt rookie assistant coach Troy Thomas' situation, either. All it took was one look to know the 6-foot-1, 191-pound Warren could play.

"We have him at outside linebacker on the weak side, but we kind of switch our players around so they can get comfortable at both outside linebacker positions," Thomas said. "Yaphet has demonstrated to us that he can play just about anywhere."

Lindsey jokingly said he might steal Warren from new defensive coordinator Tom Williams when he's not looking, but UH head coach Fred vonAppen said Warren is at a spot where he can help Hawaii the most.

"He's the kind of athlete we're trying to recruit," vonAppen said. "Yaphet has a chance to be as good as any player on the field. He's that talented."

And that suits Williams just fine. Warren is backing up fifth-year senior Kamuela Cobb-Adams, but as Warren gains experience, he'll see plenty of playing time.

"Yaphet fits perfectly into the kind of situational defense we plan to use," Williams said. "He has good speed coming off the edge, and that's something you can't have enough of against today's offenses."

WOOD GETS ATTORNEY: Senior strong safety Ron Wood got an attorney, who spent yesterday reviewing Wood's recent suspension by the NCAA.

"And I guess an appeal doesn't look good," vonAppen said after yesterday's practice. "Ron was with us (in street clothes) at today's practice, but I'd say his chances of regaining his final year aren't good."

Wood declined comment, saying he wanted vonAppen to handle any statement for him. The junior college transfer from Truckee, Calif., has diabetes. A red flag went up during a recent random NCAA drug test. A mix of medications led to a positive test, prompting the NCAA to suspend the hard-hitting player for his final season.

"He was quite a character around here and we're going to miss him," vonAppen said. "I'd like to think he could win an appeal, but the NCAA doesn't change its rulings very often."

VonAppen said Wood will remain on scholarship and serve as a student assistant.

COLLINS' WIFE IMPROVING: Former UH defensive end Sam Collins is finishing up his stay in Hawaii as a spring practice volunteer coach.

The former defensive end, whose wife, Donna, is still battling breast cancer, will move to Kansas after graduation, where he will be the defensive end coach for Independence (Kan.) Community College.

"Donna is getting ready to move back to Wichita (Kan.) in a couple of weeks," Collins said. "She's not out of the woods yet, but she is free of cancer right now."

Several local fund-raisers helped the Collins' cover the huge medical bills for her treatment. Donna Collins is down to 95 pounds, but her husband said she will make the trip home.

"I had chances to go to other schools after I graduated from junior college, but something told me to come here," Sam Collins said. "I didn't know back then, but now I know why.

"There aren't too many places that would have come to the aid of my family like the people of Hawaii did. They helped save my wife's life."

At last count, donations for Donna Collins had exceeded $65,000.

INJURY UPDATE: Defensive end Olen Rosehill and wide receiver Echo Charles suffered injuries in Monday's opening practice.

Charles pulled a hamstring and Rosehill injured his back in the weight room. Both are listed by UH trainers as day-to-day.

Senior offensive lineman Gary Krug is recovering from knee surgery and won't take part in spring drills.

This afternoon is the first day in pads. VonAppen said contact would be limited because the Rainbows can't afford to have anyone get hurt.

---

--By Paul Arnett