RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM
UHdefensive end Travis LaBoy had his best game of the year last week against Southern Methodist, making seven tackles.
Travis LaBoy just went out and played last year -- and it worked, to a point.
The junior defensive end has
decided to do it the coaches' wayBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comDespite missing three games due to injury, Hawaii's fast and athletic 6-foot-5, 253-pound defensive end played well enough to make second-team all-Western Athletic Conference. He was spectacular at times, like when he took out the quarterback and the pitch-man on an option play. LaBoy finished with 52 tackles (including 11 for loss and four sacks).
Right now, though, as the Warriors get ready to play at Boise State on Saturday, LaBoy isn't even a starter.
Injuries, a one-game suspension and the emergence of teammate Houston Ala have limited LaBoy's playing time this fall. But in last week's 42-10 victory over Southern Methodist, the junior -- whose father, Cliff, was one of UH's all-time best players -- displayed the brilliance of last season with seven tackles, including three for loss on three consecutive plays.
This time he's doing it the coaches' way.
"He finally settled down and did things the way they're supposed to be done," defensive coordinator Kevin Lempa said. "He showed his athletic ability and started making some plays."
At UH, even talented defensive ends aren't allowed to freelance or just charge the passer on every play. The Warriors' defensive success relies on everyone knowing where they're supposed to be on every play; sometimes defensive ends and even tackles fall back into pass coverage.
LaBoy is gradually coming to grips with the reality that there aren't too many exceptions.
DEAN SENSUI / DSENSUI@STARBULLETIN.COM
LaBoy, in green, has continued to work hard despite his demotion from the starting lineup and has impressed Hawaii coaches.
"Last year I played pretty good. I learned I could get by doing things my way," the Utah State transfer said.
"But I know I can get better if I pay attention to the coaches. I consider (defensive line) Coach (Vantz) Singletary another father, off the field, too. He teaches me a lot about why things happen and he's helped me understand why I'm not playing as much as I did in the past. He really helps. I was all-conference last year doing it the wrong way. I can do it that way, but I can be a lot better going through the system, and that's what I'm trying to do now."
No one wants to talk about why LaBoy was suspended for the season-opening game against Eastern Illinois. LaBoy will only say, "It's history," and Singletary says, "It's water under the bridge."
What's known is that LaBoy has had to work his way back into the staff's good graces. The coaches say he's well on his way.
"Travis' work ethic is picking up. He's stopping by to see me more to talk about football. He's working on his technique," Singletary said. "I tell him I see him all day and all night, because he reminds me of one of my own kids. Their personalities are identical. I'm going to have to introduce them to each other. My wife feels the same way, she cracks up with it."
Some view LaBoy's position on UH's second-team defense as a demotion. LaBoy said he isn't bothered by it, that he is happy for his friend who is playing ahead of him.
"I came into this year with big expectations, so it was a letdown at first," LaBoy said. "But what happened was rightfully so. I went in a little rusty against BYU (his first game). I haven't been playing really good, but I'm not upset because I know I'm coming out of it. And this is helping us get some depth at the position. Houston is playing great."
"I think we've got some good competition going there with Houston and Travis," Singletary said. "They're really supporting one another. He's handling it well. Most guys would go into the tank."
Many would have given up with all the injuries LaBoy has had to endure, too. He has been slowed by hamstring, shoulder, wrist and toe ailments. After a serious motorcycle accident kept him out last spring, LaBoy reported to fall camp in great shape, only to be sidelined when a teammate stepped on his toe before the preseason scrimmage -- then he figuratively stepped on the coaching staff's toe.
"At the first of the season he was kind of doing what he wanted to do," coach June Jones said. "Basically he's got a chance to be a really good player. He did his assignments last week and he let his physical tools help him. He has a chance to be a great player. He just has to decide that's what he wants to do."
Travis LaBoy said he has decided to buy in. He can only hope the injuries were bad luck and not a career-long trend. He knows one good game is just the first step.
"You could say I've been in a slump," he said. "Everyone can have slumps. I'm like a basketball player. They shoot themselves into slumps, and now I'm trying to shoot myself out of a slump."
Who: Hawaii (3-1, 2-0 WAC) at Boise State (3-1, 0-0) Warriors vs. Broncos
When: Saturday, 2:05 p.m., Hawaii time
TV: ESPN Plus (on Channel 5)
Radio: KKEA 1420-AM
UH Athletics
