Purcell steps into
starting role for UHThe sophomore defensive end
will take over Travis LaBoy's
spot in the Warriors' lineup
One person's misfortune often becomes another's opportunity.
That's often the case in sports, and it will be Thursday when Hawaii (8-5) meets Houston (7-5) at Aloha Stadium in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl.
Sophomore defensive end Mel Purcell replaces senior Travis LaBoy in the Warriors' starting lineup due to LaBoy's academic ineligibility.
LaBoy was the Western Athletic Conference defensive player of the year. Purcell can't match that accolade, but he was WAC player of the week after a career-high 12-tackle, two-sack performance against Texas-El Paso on Oct. 25.
It was the first college game that Purcell's father, Melila, saw him play in. Thursday's will be another.
"Everybody's here. My brother from Penn State, my sister and my older brother and my parents. It's good to spend Christmas with them," said Purcell, who is from Pago Pago, American Samoa.
His father and his brother, Amani (subject of an intense recruiting battle between Hawaii and Penn State last year), both watched Hawaii's practice yesterday.
Defensive line coach Vantz Singletary predicts big things from Purcell.
"Mel is a rising star. I really believe that. Mel has the chance to be better than Travis LaBoy," Singletary said. "I've seen a lot of good things. He has a great work ethic. Yes sir, no sir type of guy. Long, rangy, athletic. He has so much. He's developing a mean streak."
The 6-foot-5, 258-pound Purcell was in on 33 tackles, including five for loss, in 10 games this season. Although he relishes the opportunity to start in a bowl game on national TV, Purcell wishes it was under better circumstances.
"It's a sad story, because we need all the help we can get. With (LaBoy) not playing I've got to step up," he said. "I'm just still working hard, learning new defensive schemes. I'll try to finish what Travis started."
He'll have help. Senior Kevin Jackson will rotate in and former basketball forwards Tony Akpan and Ikaika Alama-Francis may see playing time, too.
Jackson is excited about the prospect of extended action in his final college football game. But he also wishes it wasn't coming at the expense of his good friend LaBoy.
"Stuff like this happens. It's part of life," Jackson said. "You just have to overcome it. The only thing I can do is prepare myself and be ready to step up and play."
Coach June Jones has always gone by the philosophy of backups being ready to shine.
"The next guys going in, Mel, KJ, they'll have unreal games," Jones said. "I'm disappointed he let his teammates down. But that's too bad. I always feel like when these type of things happen, the next guy will step up and be a star."
Owens, Sopoaga better: Jones said he is concerned about the health of his team, as all-WAC performers receiver Chad Owens and defensive tackle Isaac Sopoaga are battling the flu. So is receiver Jason Rivers, who didn't practice yesterday. Punter Kurt Milne also has the flu.
But Owens and Sopoaga returned to the field and will likely play Thursday.
Owens is also struggling with a chronically sore left foot, but he ran pass routes yesterday.
"I'm not 100 percent yet, but it feels good to be out here and break a sweat," he said.
Sopoaga participated, but had trouble breathing because of congestion.
SWA sighting: Former Hawaii quarterback Shawn Withy-Allen visited practice yesterday. He is on a break from seminary in Los Angeles.
Withy-Allen said he is trying out for several arena football teams, including the Hawaiian Islanders.
Bentley fine: Houston defensive tackle Matt Bentley will play in the Hawaii Bowl despite a 17-stitch cut on his head from a surfing accident on Saturday, Cougars associate athletic director Chris Burkhalter said.
Yesterday, Bentley participated in spirited drills at Aloha Stadium with his teammates.
The 6-foot-2, 280-pound sophomore played in 10 games this year but missed two because of a sprained knee. He's posted 38 tackles this season.
