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Tuesday, April 25, 2000
UH’s Phillips signs with
By Paul Arnett
San Diego Chargers
Star-BulletinAndy Phillips was all set to go to Arizona State when a coaching change five years ago left him out in the cold.
Trying to find a new home, Phillips contacted then Rainbows recruiting coordinator Jim Cochran to see if he had an opening. The current scout for the New York Jets did, and the rest is history.
"I didn't really know what kind of offense Hawaii ran," Phillips said. "I knew they passed a little, but I had no idea it was an option offense. The first time I tried to throw a cut block as a redshirt freshman, I wondered what I'd gotten myself into."
You see, the Casa Grande, Ariz., resident ran a version of June Jones' run-and-shoot offense in high school under the direction of former NFL star Stump Mitchell.
"I liked that offense because I thought it would help me make it to the NFL," Phillips said. "I thought last year at spring football that I had come full circle in five years. I was back with the same offense where I started in high school."
Fortunately for Phillips, it won't come to an end just yet. Yesterday morning, he learned the San Diego Chargers were interested in signing him to a free-agent contract; could he make it by tomorrow for the first mini-camp?
"I told them it would be no problem," said Phillips, who became the fifth Rainbow football player to sign a free-agent contract and eighth overall to be selected from this senior class. "I was getting a little nervous there for a while, because I had heard so many different things. When I got the call, I felt relieved."
Phillips is the fourth offensive linemen from former head coach Bob Wagner's last recruiting class to either be drafted or sign as a free agent. Tackle Adrian Klemm was selected in the second round by the New England Patriots. Tackle Kaulana Noa was picked in the fourth round by the St. Louis Rams, and center Dustin Owen signed a free-agent contract with the San Francisco 49ers. Joining Owen in San Francisco will be linebacker Jeff Ulbrich, who was drafted in the third round, and wideout Dwight Carter who signed a free-agent deal as well. Quarterback Dan Robinson inked a free-agent contract with the Baltimore Ravens and linebacker Yaphet Warren signed a similar deal with the Seattle Seahawks.
"It just goes to show that we had a great senior class," Phillips said. "But give the credit to coach June Jones and his staff. If it weren't for them, I'm not sure how many of us would have made it.
"For me, this is a dream come true. I just wanted a chance to show that I could play at the next level. Now, I got that opportunity, and it feels great."
UH Athletics
Ka Leo O Hawaii
