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UH FOOTBALL

Four sign to play in
Hula Bowl all-star game

University of Hawaii football players Dee Miller, Robert Kemfort, Joe Correia and Doug Sims recently signed contracts to play in the Hula Bowl on Maui, defensive secondary coach Rich Miano confirmed after yesterday's rainy practice at Cooke Field.

But if either Miller or Kemfort receives invitations to play in the Senior Bowl, they reserve the right to compete in those games.

"I signed a contract with the Hula Bowl," Miller said. "But I can go play in the Senior Bowl if I'm asked.

"I'd rather play in the Senior Bowl only because it's close to my home in Mississippi."

Miano said Miller's Senior Bowl invitation is supposed to be in the mail and that Kemfort also has an outside shot of receiving one.

"It's a great honor for our guys to be a part of the Hula Bowl," Miano said. "We're hopeful we can get maybe another player or two in there. The Senior Bowl said the invitation for Miller is in the mail, but until we see it, you don't ever know for sure.

"We got Jeff Ulbrich an invitation late last year to the Senior Bowl because we convinced them he was one of the best linebackers in the nation. If Robert gets off to a good start, he might have the same opportunity."

In the past, the perception has been the Senior Bowl is a better college all-star game to attend because of the heavy involvement of the National Football League.

This year, Hula Bowl executive director Lenny Klompus has promised that the NFL will play a more extensive role in his college all-star game on Maui than in the past.

He believes it will afford an opportunity similar to that of the Senior Bowl.

"We said last year that there were going to be some changes this year," Klompus said.

"We feel like our plans to have the NFL involved more will make our game an even better experience for the players coming here."

Rainy days & Mondays

Yesterday morning's practice at Cooke Field was a wet one for the players, consequently the quarterbacks had problems throwing the football and the receivers catching it.

"In weather like this, you have to be able to focus on what you're doing," Hawaii head coach June Jones said. "Everybody is also getting a little antsy. We would have liked to played a game this week.

"We're just going to continue working on the little things that make a difference. It's a little harder to concentrate in weather like this, fumbling the ball, and the quarterbacks have trouble when you're not changing the balls out."

Jones said he will continue with the three quarterback rotation throughout the year, but would pick a starter next week.

The three leading candidates are Nick Rolovich, Timmy Chang and Mike Harrison.

"Not having a game this week is probably better for our quarterback situation," Jones said. "Because they get a little more time to work on things they need to work on."

Injury update

Many of the injured players returned to practice yesterday, but were careful not to reinjure themselves in the pouring rain.

Jones expects everyone to be ready to go by next Monday, including defensive tackle Lui Fuga (shoulder) and free safety Nate Jackson (sprained foot). Those two remain the biggest question marks right now.

"Nate tried to work out some," Jones said. "Lui remains the biggest question mark."

Fuga was out of his sling for the first time since injuring his shoulder during two-a-days nearly two weeks ago.

Correia and wideouts Craig Stutzmann (ankle), Mark Tate (ankle) and Jamal Garland (hamstring) were back on the field yesterday.

Cornerback Flex Armstrong was sidelined with a sore hamstring. He expects to be back in the lineup later this week.

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By Paul Arnett, Star-Bulletin