Wednesday, August 19, 1998

Secondary a
primary concern
for ’Bows

The University of Hawaii football
team is more athletic in its
defensive backfield but there's
not very much experience

By Paul Arnett
Star-Bulletin

The last line of defense isn't interested in finishing last.

Coming into fall camp, the biggest question mark concerning the University of Hawaii defense was a secondary that had fewer whiskers on its chin than a new-born baby. Cornerback Donnell Williams started eight games this past season and free safety Daniel Ho-Ching started one three years ago.

It's all downhill after that.

"With much respect to (former safeties and current UH student-assistant coaches) Chris Shinnick and Eddie Klaneski, we're probably more talented in the secondary in terms of athleticism and speed," UH defensive coordinator Tom Williams said.

"What we lack is game experience. But the guys who we brought in, the junior college guys, James Polk, Quincy LeJay and Phil Austin, have come in and made a huge impression.

"We have upgraded ourselves in terms of athleticism and one good thing about that, they can cover up a lot of mistakes. You can't teach quickness and recovery speed. These guys can break on the ball in a hurry and make big plays. And another good thing is, they're pushing the veterans and creating competition."

That hasn't always been the case, something Ho-Ching and Donnell Williams can attest to since they've been a part of the team.

"What I've noticed right away with the new guys is we have a lot of talent out here," Williams, a senior from Palisades, Calif., said. "We're coming together practice by practice, but injuries have definitely been a problem."

Williams missed most of the spring with a hamstring injury. It still bothers him, but it hasn't kept him off the field.

The same can't be said for Polk and Austin. Their playing time in fall camp has been limited by nagging leg injuries.

"We've got some good players back there, it's just a matter of getting them on the field," UH secondary coach Greg Pruitt said. "A lot of them are banged up, which keeps us from getting a rhythm with some of the guys.

"All three of those young guys, (LeJay, Austin and Polk) are going to get playing time this year. It's a matter of how they fit into the system because those young guys are pushing the veterans for their starting jobs."

If the Rainbows were playing the Wildcats of Arizona today, the corners would probably be Williams and Celnell Bobbitt. The safeties would be Ho-Ching and Anthony Smith.

Polk and LeJay are competing at the corners. Austin is capable of playing strong or free safety.

"Having those guys right behind us keeps the veterans sharp," said Ho-Ching, who is also battling a pulled hamstring. "I like helping those young guys. That's our job to talk to them and teach them.

"What I like most is they listen to us. They know we've been here before. It's like a family. We pull for them. They pull for us."

First-year coordinator Tom Williams just hopes they pull together and soon.

"We've just got to get these young guys on the field in a game situation so they can adjust to Division I football," Williams said. "And that's always a big adjustment, especially for the freshmen.

"We've still got two weeks to work on some things. It helps a lot when the front seven is so established. They help the secondary guys by putting pressure on the quarterback and running backs."

The veterans in the secondary are also putting pressure on themselves.

"I kind of look at myself as one of the leaders back there because of my experience from last year," Donnell Williams said. "If we don't do well, I kind of take the blame for it.

"Even if we do well, I'm never satisfied. We know Arizona is going to be a tough football team. They have great quarterbacks and receivers. They're going to put some pressure on us."

Not that that bothers any of the Rainbows. Quite the contrary.

"We welcome that kind of challenge," said Ho-Ching, who played in four games in 1997 after winning a two-year battle with cancer. "Playing last year was kind of scary because I wasn't ready mentally. But now, I'm glad I played because it has helped me prepare myself and the other guys back there with me for this season."