Monday, August 10, 1998
By Craig Kojima, Star-Bulletin
Linebackers Steve Dietschy, left, and Houdini Jackson
take instruction from linebackers coach Troy Thomas today
at Cooke Field. The Rainbows opened fall camp this morning.
Chance for
playing time
should fire up
‘new kids’
Rainbows opened fall camp
By Paul Arnett
today, expecting newcomers
to step in and play big roles
Star-BulletinUniversity of Hawaii head coach Fred vonAppen spent most of yesterday afternoon slouched behind his desk with a little reading lamp on top it, preparing a speech for the newest Rainbows.
It was the only light in a room that resembled the dark quarters of Colonel Kurtz of "Apocalypse Now," but vonAppen promised he wouldn't read any excerpts from T.S. Eliot's "The Hollow Men" so as not to frighten the troops.
There were several approaches he could have taken to rally the Rainbows as the 35 or so newcomers prepared for today's first practice of fall camp.
He decided not to give them the Balboa special where Mickey promises Rocky that he will be eating lightning and crapping thunder before he's through.
VonAppen has always had a flair for the dramatic. He could have placed a chalkboard in the middle of the meeting room. Walked in. Wrote down 14-0 in big, block numbers, then leave the room without making a sound.
Too Hollywood? VonAppen thought so as he stepped on steamy Cooke Field for the opening fall camp workout. In last night's speech to the newcomers, he opted for a more business-like approach. He figured there would be plenty of time for fire and brimstone later.
"There's enough Adrenaline flowing right now without me adding to it," vonAppen said this morning. "I went over all the things they need to know concerning academics, drugs, girls, what have you. I told them they could expect 10 things from us, but that we expected 10 things from then.
"I also said that several of these guys could be playi
ng for us right away. That if they worked hard and learned our systems, they would be afforded that opportunity."
By Craig Kojima, Star-Bulletin
In past years, UH head football coach Fred vonAppen
and UH athletic director Hugh Yoshida gathered at
Barbers Point for fall camp. But starting today, fall
practice will be held at Cooke Field at UH.
The leading candidates to be involved in the season opener against the University of Arizona are offensive linemen Dustin Owen and Douglas Gosling. Kynan Forney also will get a close look up front, but he has yet to complete summer school back in Texas.Owen could be the starting center by opening day, although he is listed third on the depth chart behind local talent Keith Tomomitsu and Chris Smith.
The 6-foot-2, 320-pound junior college transfer from Mt. San Antonio (Calif.) College was a first-team All-America last year, and could help the Rainbows generate a strong inside running game.
Gosling will do what he can at quick guard. The honorable mention All-America is listed third behind Jose Martinez and J.R. Directo. But don't be surprised if the 6-4, 302-pounder from Bakersfield (Calif.) College isn't near the top of the chart by the end of fall camp.
"We have a chance to be very strong up there, but we're going to need some time to develop," vonAppen said.
Quarterback Tom Racius of Los Angeles Valley College and freshman running back Robert Grant also could make immediate impacts. Racius threw for 2,685 yards and 20 touchdowns last season. Grant rushed for 1,100 yards and 10 touchdowns his senior year at Skyline High in Oakland, Calif.
"It's unfair to expect too much, too soon from the new guys," UH running backs coach Don Dillon said. "At first, they are a little bright-eyed, so you have to be careful how quickly you bring them along."
Jeff Ulbrich can be brought along a little more quickly. That's because he was the only newcomer to make it into school last midterm.
He took advantage of working with the Rainbows this past spring. The former Gavilan (Calif.) College standout is the No. 2 strong inside linebacker behind Matt Paul.
"We're also going to give a couple of the young guys a good look in the secondary," vonAppen said.
They include Phil Austin of Pasadena (Calif.) City College, freshman Keith Bhonapha of Skyline High School and Jimmy LeJay of Mt. San Antonio College.
"We also plan to give Houdini Jackson ample opportunity at outside linebacker," vonAppen said. "He's potentially a difference-maker, and we can't have enough of them."
Fall camp
Starting dates: today (newcomers) and Wednesday (veterans)
