[ UH WARRIOR FOOTBALL ]
Hawaii junior guard Vince Manuwai was named to the 80-player Lombardi Award watch list yesterday. The Lombardi Award goes annually to the top offensive or defensive lineman or linebacker in the nation. Manuwai makes Lombardi list
By Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.com"He's certainly deserving," Warriors coach June Jones said. "I know this: He's the best offensive lineman I've had, college or pros."
Offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh said the nomination won't faze the low-key but intense Manuwai.
"I think it's well-deserved," Cavanaugh said. "Vince knows that the tape doesn't lie. He's got to come out and play every single game, every single snap and the best thing about Vince is that he's a humble guy and none of this will bother him. He knows it just remains business as usual."
This is the first time a UH player has made the award's watch list.
Manuwai is a 6-foot-2, 296-pound 1999 graduate of Farrington High School. Manuwai, who was an honorable mention all-Western Athletic Conference selection last year, is also being touted by UH for the Outland Trophy (which goes to the nation's top offensive lineman), as well as All-America honors.
Nebraska guard Toniu Fonoti, a Kahuku High School graduate, is also on the Lombardi watch list.
Internet users can log on to rotarylombardiaward.com for more information about the Lombardi Award.
Chang snubbed: Speaking of awards, two WAC quarterbacks are on the 30-player watch list for the Davey O'Brien Award, given annually to the nation's top college quarterback. They are Fresno State's David Carr and Nevada's David Neill.
UH's Tim Chang, last year's WAC Freshman of the Year, is not among them, despite comparable statistics from last season.
That's more like it: The Warriors practiced without pads yesterday afternoon. Jones said he was pleased after an uneven effort on Wednesday.
"We got some stuff done, it was a good practice," Jones said. "I feel like we're OK because just about everybody knows what's going on."
Short yardage: Freshman defensive back Lamar Broadway is a nephew of former UH quarterback Michael Carter. ... Starting safety Jacob Espiau missed some of the afternoon practice with a slightly sprained right ankle. ... The QB order remains Chang, Nick Rolovich and Jared Flint.
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