Hawaii and Houston
players on same teamThe Kai teammates want
to put the Hawaii Bowl
brawl behind them
WAILUKU >> Call it irony or coincidence, but one Houston and two Hawaii football players are Kai teammates this week at the Hula Bowl Maui.
Hula Bowl Maui
When: Saturday, 3 p.m.
Where: War Memorial Stadium, Maui
Tickets and information: (808) 874-9500 or www.hulabowlmaui.com
TV: Live, ESPN
Cougars center Rex Hadnot and Warriors defensive tackle Lance Samuseva worked against each other in drills yesterday at practice on Maui three weeks after their teams fought following Hawaii's 54-48 victory in the Hawaii Bowl at Aloha Stadium.
"We didn't really talk yet, but I shook his hand, let him know, 'Hey, it's over with. Whatever happened, happened. Let's just move on,' " Samuseva said. "Now we're on the same team; we just want to win this Hula Bowl game together."
Hadnot said he has no hard feelings against Hawaii.
"It was a great game, an emotional game, and things just got out of hand at the end. It's sad that it came to that. It's good to see that disciplinary action is being taken, and I'm sure we will on the University of Houston's part," Hadnot said. "You never know who you're going to be playing with (as a teammate) at anytime, so grudges are not to be held. I just enjoy being able to play with those guys in this kind of environment."
Hawaii wide receiver Jeremiah Cockheran said he spent some time with Hadnot on Tuesday.
"We talked. He didn't do anything. He was like me, away from the fight. We both said it was stupid and it ruined a great game. We're cool, we're friends. Look, he's right there and he's not jumping on me," Cockheran said, laughing.
Samuseva said he doesn't think his former teammates should have been suspended, but also said the brawl was embarrassing and dangerous and players need to be able to control themselves.
"We won the game. I don't think we had a reason to start anything because we won the game. If we lost, then maybe there's reason to think we started it and you can suspend some of our guys," Samuseva said. "You know, it happens. Guys have to know how to overcome it. If they get in your face, you just have to walk away. It was pride. Nobody wanted to be taunted. I hope nothing like this ever happens again because it can cause some serious injury."
Breezin': Both teams practiced yesterday in wind gusting at close to 50 mph at times. It was actually good for the scouts, since they got to see what the players could do under less-than-ideal conditions.
But they probably won't hold against Northern Illinois kicker Steve Azar a field-goal try that hung a U-turn before it got close to the goal post.
So much wind on a relatively warm day was a first for Ohio State coach Jim Tressel of the Aina.
"If the wind was like this in Columbus it would be cold. So I'm thankful. But I've never seen anything like this," he said. "The one-on-one throwing and catching was affected, and fortunately we did most of our special teams yesterday.
"It blew my toupee off," Tressel later joked with a young fan.
Short yardage: Former Hawaii offensive lineman Kaulana Noa, now a member of the Detroit Lions, attended yesterday's practice.
"He was my roommate," Noa said of Samuseva. "When I was a senior at fall camp, Lance was a freshman. Coach (June) Jones mixed us all up, offense with defense, seniors with freshmen."
