[UH FOOTBALL]
STAR-BULLETIN / 2001
Chad Owens, who scored three times against BYU on Dec. 8, may not return kicks, despite being named preseason All-America by a national magazine.
With no defenders near him, a backup slotback dove into the end zone to conclude a 33-yard touchdown run near the end of Hawaii's 66-7 romp over Texas-El Paso last year, much to the pleasure of the hometown fans. Hawaii’s Owens may
have made the leapUH ponders whether the sophomore
is too valuable at slotback to return kicksBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comBut not the officials. They slapped UH with a penalty for excessive celebration.
Warriors coach June Jones said he wasn't bothered by the bit of showboating from the redshirt freshman and the 15-yard penalty that came with it. When the lead is that big and that secure, celebrating is OK with Jones.
The Chad Owens Rule was born.
When Owens flew into the end zone in that Oct. 13 rout of the Miners, he ascended into the hearts of Warriors fans. But that was just the beginning. He really took off in the second half of the season, as a kickoff and punt returner.
The 5-foot-8, 175-pound Roosevelt High School graduate returned two kicks and a punt for scores, including a punt and a kick in the season-ending 72-45 demolition of Brigham Young. He broke or tied three NCAA records in that game, and finished second in the nation in kickoff return yardage. Owens was named a freshman All-American by the Football Writer's Association of America, and a national magazine tabbed him a preseason All-America choice at kick returner this summer.
"There sure has been a lot of hype about it," Owens said.
So now, Jones has to deal with the Chad Owens Dilemma.
Owens is projected as an All-American at a position that he might not play very often this year.
Chad Owen's 2001 statistics: A SPECIAL SEASON
Kickoff returns: 24 for 807 yards and 2 TDs. Second individually in return average in nation and 1st in WAC (33.6). UH was first in nation as a team (30.3).
Punt returns: 18 for 216 yards and 1 TD. 23rd in nation individually and third in WAC (12.0).
Rushing: 3 carries for 51 yards and 1 TD.
Receiving: 5 catches for 57 yards and 1 TD.
He is slated to start at left slot and the Warrior coaches feel there are other players capable of making big run-backs on special teams. Now that he is a starter, they don't want to wear Owens down or expose him to injury in the wild melees that are special teams play.
"We have to think about what will work best for the overall team concept," Jones said.
Owens respects the fact that his role has changed in the coaches' eyes, but he wants to keep getting his kicks.
"It's not my call, it's all the coaches' calls. I really do understand their thinking on it," he said. "All I can do is show them I worked hard in the offseason and will be in the best shape of my life when camp starts. I will make that a hard decision for them."
Clifton Herbert, Nate Ilaoa and John West are among the candidates to replace Owens.
"We have a lot of guys who can take it to the house," receivers coach Ron Lee said.
Starting wide receiver Justin Colbert began last season as the kickoff returner. But he was knocked out of the Nevada game by a strong hit while trying to field a high kick, and did not return a kick again all season. Backup wide receiver Mark Tate took over for five games before Owens assumed the job. (Tate is out for at least two more months after offseason ACL surgery.)
Herbert began the season as the punt returner, but was also replaced by Owens.
"He's a valuable guy to us at slot now and we don't want to risk injury to him," special teams coordinator Tyson Helton said. "Maybe we'll use him there in the bigger games."
There's nothing Warrior fans would like better than a re-run of Owens' exploits against BYU, at Provo on Sept. 6.
"I know the coaches expect a lot from me at receiver, especially because we don't rotate very much," Owens said. "But I want to return kicks and punts. That made me last year, and I know the fans want to see me do it again."
... in 1975, Hawaii went 6-5 as Alex Kaloi (right) led the Rainbows in passing and total offense for the second consecutive season. A crowd of 32,247 watched Texas A&I beat UH 43-9 in the first game at brand new Aloha Stadium. One of the season's highlights was a 30-20 victory over San Jose State that knocked the Spartans out of the Top 20 and guaranteed a school-record ninth consecutive winning season for UH.
Today, Kaloi is a dentist in Waianae.
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