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TODAY'S WARRIORS
NOTEBOOK

Manuwai not
upset at snub

You won't find Vince Manuwai throwing his helmet off the fence or bench pressing offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh to prove he's a man.

Despite being overlooked by the Western Athletic Conference voters yesterday, the University of Hawaii offensive lineman looks at it as a proving ground.

Yes, he received enough votes to be named honorable mention. And yes, the coaches around the league did recognize teammate Kynan Forney by voting him first team. But what Manuwai wants to show is he belonged right beside the senior from East Texas. And he has two more years to prove it.

"It doesn't matter to me because I don't really care about it," Manuwai said. "It's all right if you win. But I've got two more years.

"When you're a young pup like me you're just trying to help the seniors go out strong. I've got two more years to show them what I've got. I'm coming back faster and stronger next year to prove to the coaches that I could have been one of those guys last year to make the team."

Cavanaugh was a little stronger in his opinion of the selections. He looked at the list and kept saying as he went by most of the names, "Vince is better than him and him and him. Not to pick him for first team is a joke."

Hawaii head coach June Jones linked it to winning. If you're a good player on a struggling team it's going to be tough to beat out a good player on a great team. When it's too close to call, you give the nod to a squad like Texas Christian over one like Hawaii.

"We think Vince is going to be a great player in the NFL some day," Jones said. "And I think some of the coaches around the league see that. But most of the time you have to win as a team to get the individual awards."

Put it this way: Jones was named coach of the year in 1999 for finishing 9-4. He's still the same coach he was last season, only this time around, he's 3-8 and not on anyone's list.

"You could say Jacob Espiau and Nate Jackson should have made first team, too," Jones said of the two juniors who were named to the second team. "They had great years, too, you know? Hopefully, they'll come back next year and make first team."

Espiau was pleased to be recognized by his peers. So was Jackson. Their main goal is to win football games and let the individual honors take care of themselves.

"You like being recognized, but not satisfied," Espiau said. "I'm not satisfied by the way we played this year. Neither is Nate. We both want to go out strong this year and come back ready for our seniors seasons next fall."

Espiau and Jackson have a little competition going on between them each week. Jackson leads in interceptions with six, but Espiau is top in tackles with 123.

"Ever since we've been roommates, we've got this competition going on," Jackson said. "It's not a big thing. But we know we can come back and play even better next year."

Injury update

Forney returned to practice this week after missing two games with an ankle sprain. He is not at full speed, but is expected to play in this Saturday's final matchup of the season against Nevada-Las Vegas at Aloha Stadium.

Defensive lineman Mike Iosua is still battling back from an ankle sprain he suffered six weeks ago. His last appearance was in the San Jose State game.

Running back Afatia Thompson is also available. He has been out nearly half the season with a bad ankle that he reinjured against San Jose State.

As for fellow running back Avion Weaver, he underwent reconstructive knee surgery last Friday and was unable to attend the game with Wisconsin. He should be back on the sidelines this Saturday night, although Jones is reluctant to have injured players in the bench area because they can't move out of the way fast enough.

Weaver's surgery last Friday for a torn knee ligament he suffered in the Texas Christian game was successful. He will petition for another season, but it's unlikely he will get it because he played in one game over the NCAA limit. Weaver does have a redshirt year available, which may help in his appeal.

Farewell seniors

Thompson, who is hopeful to get a year back if he graduates in May, and Weaver will be among the 23 seniors who will take their walk around Aloha Stadium following the finale with the Rebels.

Neither is a fifth-year man. That honor rests on the shoulder pads of Ricky Lumford, Robert Kemfort, Eric Hannum, Joaquin Avila, Davey deLaura and Anthony Smith. All were part of the first recruiting class of Fred vonAppen.

"We want to help those guys go out winners because they deserve it," Jackson said. "I know their last year wasn't the way they wanted it, but if we beat UNLV, they can go out feeling good."

Smith and Hannum played in the most games among the five-year guys. Weaver and Miles Garner are the only two four-year men on the team. They came on board in 1997.

"We're going to miss those guys," Jones said. "They went through a lot of adversity, just like last year's seniors, so you give them credit for sticking around through the good and bad times."

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Paul Arnett, Star-Bulletin