Wednesday, December 1, 1999

Rainbows’ LeJay invited
to Hula Bowl

By Paul Arnett
Star-Bulletin

The American Football Coaches Association selection committee has extended an invitation to cornerback Quincy LeJay to play in the Rivals.com Hula Bowl on Maui, Bowl Games Hawaii chief executive director Lenny Klompus confirmed yesterday.

Later today, the AFCA will release its regional coach of the year winners and June Jones won't be on the list. The West regional winner was Stanford head coach Tyrone Willingham, who is leading the Cardinal back to the Rose Bowl for the first time in nearly three decades.

Associated Press
Quincy LeJay returned three interceptions
for touchdowns this year.

Klompus also said that Rainbows linebacker Yaphet Warren and wideout Dwight Carter could be added to the game should someone else drop out. He said he had 70 players confirmed, including likely Heisman Trophy winner Ron Dayne, the NCAA's all-time leading rusher.

"We would love to have Carter be here because he had a great year, but we're loaded up with receivers right now," Klompus said. "The same for Warren at linebacker, but we're hopeful things will open up."

The AFCA selection committee was reportedly upset with Hawaii when offensive linemen Kaulana Noa and Adrian Klemm, and middle linebacker Jeff Ulbrich chose to go to the Senior Bowl instead of the Hula Bowl.

Despite that fact, Klompus felt LeJay was deserving, so he was added to the list. LeJay, who was named to the All-WAC team yesterday, led the league in interceptions with seven. He returned three of those for touchdowns, a school record.

"Quincy had a great year for us," UH defensive coordinator Greg McMackin said. "He worked hard to learn what we were trying to do on defense and then went out and performed well on the field. He is part of the reason our defense tied a school record for touchdowns (with five)."

LeJay also finished with 80 tackles and said it was "a season worth remembering."

"What this team accomplished from last year to this year shows you what belief and hard work can do," LeJay said. "It was a special season all the way around."

The Tarnished Twenty:

FindLaw's Tarnished Twenty, which ranks teams based on "criminal, civil and other violations by schools or associated individuals" rates Florida State No. 1 going into the bowl season.

FindLaw, Inc., a Web site focused on law and government, began its Tarnished Twenty this season. FindLaw Sports (http://www.sports.findlaw.com) offers daily news on legal issues on sports.

Rounding out the top 10 are LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Washington, Missouri, Kansas, UCLA, Arizona and Central Florida.

SHORT KICKS:

It's official: Idaho joins the Sun Belt Conference in 2001 ... Anyone who thinks Notre Dame is ready to rebound from a 5-7 season in 2000, might want to reconsider. The Irish open next season with home games against Texas A&M, Nebraska and Purdue, and then play at Michigan State.