Sports Notebook
Star-Bulletin staff
|
WARRIOR FOOTBALL
Road game feels like home for UH’s Rice
HOUSTON » Joshua Rice has enjoyed his time at "his" stadium, and is ready to head for his hometown.
Rice, a reserve linebacker for Hawaii, and the rest of the Warriors were scheduled today for their final of four practices at Rice Stadium this week. Tomorrow the No. 24 Warriors (2-0) go to Las Vegas and complete their 12-day, two-game road trip with a game at UNLV (1-1) on Saturday.
Someone pointed out the big "Rice" sign in the end zone.
"That's pretty nice. I like it," Rice said. "I should've brought a camera so I could take pictures of it."
There wouldn't have been much to photograph of Rice last Saturday at Louisiana Tech, as he didn't play at all. He's hoping to get into the game at Sam Boyd Stadium, especially since "tons of high school friends" and family will be at the UH-UNLV contest.
"I pretty much know every special team, and I played kickoff and kickoff return in the first game. Hopefully I'll get into this one," he said.
Even if he doesn't play, Rice will have been a valuable scout team member on the trip.
A visit to Las Vegas doesn't mean nearly the same thing to tourists as it does to Rice. He gets to see his parents, brother and friends.
"It's like anywhere else, if you're from there you don't do the tourist stuff," Rice said. "We almost never go to the Strip. It's like Waikiki -- nobody goes unless they have guests."
Kajiyama nominated
UH graduate assistant
Brian Kajiyama is the first nominee for the FedEx Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award to be announced at the end of the 2007 season.
Kajiyama, who was born with cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair and speaks though a text-to-speech device, graduated with honors from Hawaii in 2003. He recently received his masters of education in guidance and counseling and is pursuing a PhD.
After several years as a regular attendee at practices, Kajiyama became a volunteer assistant. In 2006 he began handling the tedious duty of editing opponents' game film, making "cut-ups" for Hawaii's coaches. He was named a graduate assistant last spring.
As a graduate assistant, Kajiyama works with the defense, including preparing scouting reports and breaking down game film.
For the second straight year, the Football Writers Association of America and the FedEx Orange Bowl will announce a weekly nominee each Wednesday during the season. A panel will determine the winner from all of the nominees. The winner of the FedEx Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award will be announced in December and be presented with a trophy.
Short yardage
Dan Kelly was good on five of six field goals from 40 yards, then hit a 52-yarder to end practice. ... Four Warriors did not make it to the team bus in time for practice yesterday morning, visibly irritating coach
June Jones. By the end of practice, Jones wasn't angry. "They'll run, but it's not as serious as breaking curfew. They know what they're doing and some other guys got some reps because they were late."