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Monday, April 3, 2000

UH football
short on game
experience

Rainbow Warriors are deep
at running back, but there's significant
holes to fill elsewhere

By Paul Arnett
Star-Bulletin

The first seven practices of spring football have tried the enthusiasm of even the staunchest University of Hawaii fan.

For one, only those with the most flexible of hours could attend these dawn sessions at Cooke Field.

Perhaps that's part of the plan.

For another, second-year head coach June Jones has spent a lot of time nurturing the underlings of his Rainbow program in search of diamonds in the rough.

Last year, Jones rarely varied from his starting lineup, especially on offense, something he felt was necessary for the Rainbows to be successful.

And while that approach worked well for Hawaii during its completion of the most successful turnaround in NCAA history, it has left the Rainbows short on Division I experience.

Only Manly Kanoa has seen any real action in the offensive front and he has shifted from one guard to the other.

The Rainbows are also inexperienced at quarterback. Sophomore Mike Harrison took just a few snaps as Dan Robinson's back-up last year.

But that's it, leaving Jones with something of a dilemma. Granted, he has enough quarterbacks on the team to march two at a time into the Pacific Ocean and never run out, but it's difficult to say who will emerge as the starter against Portland State.

The news is better at running back and wideout. Those are two areas where the Rainbows have talented players returning in the fall.

Senior running back Avion Weaver and junior Afatia Thompson combined for 1,070 rushing yards and seven touchdowns last season.

But neither has seen much action in the first seven spring practices.

Jones took a hard look at Robert Grant, James Fenderson and Thero Mitchell in order to find someone to back up his two-headed monster.

Mitchell and Fenderson have managed good moments through the first seven spring workouts.

Wideout is another area where the Rainbows appear strong.

Granted, replacing Dwight Carter will be difficult, but Jones is counting on Ashley Lelie to fill Carter's shoes.

Channon Harris and Craig Stutzmann also will start, but who the fourth wideout will be remains to be seen.

Return specialist Jamal Garland, Justin Colbert and Clifton Herbert are seeing plenty of snaps this spring.

So are Sean Butts, Ricky Lumford and Scott Sims.

Since he didn't play much last year, the loss of Attrice Brooks doesn't look like much on paper. But his departure leaves the Rainbows without a true breakaway threat.

Defensively, the Rainbows have significant holes to fill.

New defensive coordinator Kevin Lempa is trying to replace four of Hawaii's five leading tacklers from a year ago, including linebackers Jeff Ulbrich and Yaphet Warren, who had 273 stops between them.

Like Jones, Lempa spent the first seven practices looking for difference-makers. He believes he has some young players coming up who will challenge for spots on the depth chart.

"We will spend more time in these next eight practices working with the top two units," Lempa said.

"I like what I see out there."

Jones is particularly pleased with cornerback Feiamma Armstrong.

Called "Flex" by his teammates, this senior has the dubious distinction of replacing Quincy LeJay, who had seven interceptions last year, including three returned for touchdowns.

The rest of the secondary remains intact with Shawndel Tucker starting at the other corner, and Nate Jackson and Dee Miller playing safety.

While the front seven is equally talented, naming the starters will be a challenge.

The front four will likely be Nevada-Las Vegas transfer Laanui Correa and senior Joe Correia at end, and Lui Fuga and Doug Sims at tackle.

Miles Garner and Mike Iosua figure to see plenty of playing time.

Shaun Jackson and Kevin Jackson will be waiting in the wings.

Linebacker is another position a bit unsettled because of the level of competition.

Look for Pisa Tinoisamoa to factor in at middle linebacker should he return from academic purgatory in the fall.

As well as Ulbrich played last season, had Tinoisamoa been cleared for duty, Ulbrich would have been shifted from the middle to the outside.

One man who benefited from Ulbrich staying in the middle was senior Robert Kemfort.

Kemfort has seen limited practice time this spring, but he and Anthony Smith will be on the field as outside linebackers.

Look for freshman Keani Alapa and Bo Espinoza to be in the formula as well as Rinda Brooks.

This morning signaled the second phase of spring for Jones, who will cram eight practices over the next two weeks.

Spring practice culminates with a controlled scrimmage on the afternoon of April 15 at Cooke Field.

"We'll pretty much stick to what we've been doing," Jones said.

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UH Athletics
Ka Leo O Hawaii