Monday, October 22, 2001
[ UH WARRIOR FOOTBALL ]
Hawaii junior outside linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa and freshman kicker Justin Ayat were named the Western Athletic Conference defensive and special teams players of the week today. Hawaii’s Tinoisamoa and
Ayat win WAC honorsBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comTinoisamoa, who leads the conference in tackles, was in on 14 stops and forced a fumble as UH won at Tulsa, 36-15, on Saturday.
Tinoisamoa now leads the WAC in tackles with 10.5 a game.
This is his second player of the week award; he also received the honor after a career-high 15-tackle performance against Southern Methodist last season.
Ayat made a 55-yarder among his two field goals and also kicked four extra points Saturday against Tulsa.
The redshirt freshman's 55-yard kick, which could have cleared over 60 yards, is the longest UH field goal since Jason Elam's 56-yarder against Brigham Young in 1992. That stands as Hawaii's school record.
Elam also kicked a 55-yarder, against Wyoming in 1991.
Ayat is third in the WAC in scoring with 8.3 points per game. The Waipahu resident and former Kamehameha standout has made 8 of 14 field goals.
Rice's Robbie Beck was named the offensive player of the week after rushing for a career-high 156 yards and three touchdowns in Rice's 33-30 overtime victory against Nevada.
Hawaii's Nick Rolovich, who passed for three touchdowns Saturday, was among the other offensive nominees. The others were quarterback Ryan Dinwiddie, Boise State; quarterback David Carr, Fresno State; wide receiver Delwyn Daigre, Louisiana Tech; quarterback David Neill, Nevada; and quarterback Clint Carlson, San Jose State.
On defensive, the other nominees were free safety Quintin Mikell, Boise State; rover Bobby Gray, Louisiana Tech; free safety Ronnie Hardiman, Nevada; free safety Jason Hebert, Rice; and defensive end Drew McLaughlin, Tulsa.
For special teams, they were kicker Josh Scobee, Louisiana Tech; kicker Damon Fine, Nevada; and kick returner Clint Hatfield, Rice.
UH Athletics
Ka Leo O Hawaii
