Mitchell’s
a weapon, too
The Hawaii back provides
some power to UH's finesse offenseBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.com"Hawaii's Thero Mitchell would put up big numbers if the Warriors ever bothered to run the ball."Forget your memories of Barry Sanders' long runs in the Detroit Lions "Silver Streak," or, closer to home, Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala rumbling for huge chunks of yardage out of the St. Louis School four-receiver set. In coach June Jones' version of the run-and-shoot, run doesn't mean running plays. It refers to pass routes. Lots and lots of pass routes.But even Jones is willing to bend a little at times. He did last year at Southern Methodist when he had to break in a new starting quarterback, Nick Rolovich, and gradually build his confidence. In that game, the Warriors turned to running back Thero Mitchell to eat up yards and the game clock. Mitchell responded with the best effort of his college career, breaking tackles for 116 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries. The Warriors won 38-31 in overtime, the first of five straight victories and eight of nine as Rolovich improved each game. Mitchell? He went back into the shadows.
The 5-foot-10, 210-pound senior might be asked to fill a similar role as UH opens its season Saturday at Aloha Stadium against Eastern Illinois. Like that SMU game last year, Hawaii could go in with a new starting quarterback (JC transfer Jason Whieldon this time). Or it might be with a fragile veteran (sophomore Tim Chang, who hasn't practiced in nearly two weeks with a broken bone in the fifth finger of his throwing hand).
Also consider the Warriors will have three new starting receivers, and three of the starting offensive linemen were not in their positions last year. If Chang doesn't play, only right guard Vince Manuwai, right tackle Uriah Moenoa and left outside receiver Justin Colbert return to the same positions they started in last year's opener.
When: Saturday, 6:05 p.m. Hawaii vs.
Eastern Illinois
Where: Aloha Stadium
Tickets: $19 sideline, $15 end zone, $11 students/seniors, UH students free (super rooter only). Available at Aloha Stadium, except for student tickets at Stan Sheriff Center. Also at Ticket Plus outlets or by calling (808) 526-4400.
TV: KFVE Channel 5, delay at 10 p.m., with rebroadcast Sunday at 9 a.m. Also available live on Pay-Per-View. Call 625-8100 on Oahu or (866) 556-7784 on neighbor islands to subscribe.
Radio: KKEA-AM 1420, live.
If that means a little more conservative offensive style, Mitchell said he's ready.
"As a running back, you always want to get the ball. But in this offense, blocking is the most important thing at our position," he said.
Other than the SMU game and some short-yardage situations, carries didn't come very often for Mitchell last year. He was backup to freshman Mike Bass in the one-back offense.
Bass led UH with 558 yards on 108 carries. Mitchell was second with 378 yards on 73 rushes; his nine touchdowns were second to Ashley Lelie's 19.
The roles are reversed now, as Mitchell came to camp in great shape and Bass spent last spring and summer rehabbing from hernia surgery. If there's ever been jealousy between the two, they are very good at hiding it -- their comments about competing with each other have been all positive since Bass' arrival at Manoa last fall.
Running backs coach Wes Suan called Mitchell, a former walk-on, "an ultimate team player."
"He's always had the work ethic," Suan said. "He's got great commitment and really bought into (strength and conditioning coach) Mel deLaura's speed and quickness workouts. His overall athleticism has really gotten good. He's always been a team guy, from not being on scholarship, to being a backup, to being a blocker."
Mitchell said he just did what deLaura told him each day.
"Nothing customized, just worked real hard. I stayed out here all summer except for one week when I went home (Bothell, Wash.) to see my family," he said. "It really worked out for me."
Mitchell said he still wants to improve his speed. He was timed at 4.59 in the 40 last February.
"He's really performing. It's no surprise that he got to the point where he could be very successful in our schemes. He's an intelligent guy, on the field and academically," Suan said of Mitchell, who had all A's in the spring semester and aspires to go to law school.
Jones also appreciates Mitchell, one of a handful of players left whom the fourth-year coach didn't recruit.
"He reported in great shape, really improved," Jones said. "He's still big and strong, too, and we need that from him. We're mostly a finesse offense, so his power is important for us."
Jones stopped short of saying he would change his attack a la the SMU game last year and build the game plan around Mitchell running the ball. This is still the offense that passes to set up the run ... or another pass.
"We're all about throwing the ball. We accept that," Suan said. "But when you do run and you get a big gain, a lot of it is a reward for blocking hard and the passes succeeding, so the defense is on its heels and looking for the pass."
... In 1999, senior quarterback Dan Robinson led Hawaii's offense to record passing numbers as June Jones became coach and installed the run-and-shoot attack. The defense, led by linebacker Jeff Ulbrich, also improved drastically, and UH made the biggest turnaround in college football history by going 9-4 (5-2 for a first-place tie in the WAC), including an Oahu Bowl victory over Oregon State. Robinson broke and still holds school records for passing yards in a season (3,853) and career (6,038).
Today, Robinson attends dental school in Louisville, Ky.
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