The "pancake stack" continued to grow this season, high enough to feed even the ever-hungry Vince Manuwai. Manuwai earns
All-America statusBy Cindy Luis
cluis@starbulletin.comThe 6-foot-2, 309-pound offensive lineman known as "V-Man" recorded 60 "pancakes" when flattening those who dared come close to getting to a Hawaii quarterback.
This week, Manuwai made good on his preseason All-American hype by being named to CNN/Sports Illustrated's All-America first team. The All-Western Athletic Conference lineman is the Warriors' first first-team selection since place-kicker Jason Elam was picked by Kodak and Scripps Howard in 1992, and the fourth in the program's history.
"I'm just feeling a lot of happiness right now," Manuwai said. "I'm happy for my family, coaches and especially Coach Cav (offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh) because of all he's done for me. I've always been an All-American in his eyes and now I've got that recognition nationally.
"I am happy to make my family proud, the first one with the name to be All-American. It's good recognition for my team and my teammates, too."
Other past UH players so honored were defensive lineman Al Noga on the 1986 Associated Press team, and Tommy Kaulukukui on the All-American Board of Football team in 1935.
Manuwai, a Farrington High School product, allowed just one sack in 549 pass attempts this season. That helped the Warriors remain the top-ranked passing team in the country (387.9-yard average).
"He is the best offensive lineman I've coached here, and that includes the three who were drafted to the NFL," Cavanaugh said. "He has tremendous feet, explosive power, and quickness that complements his excellent balance. He is the total package."
Manuwai has accepted invitations to the Hula Bowl and the Senior Bowl, but has declined to play in the East-West Shrine Game.
"The East-West was too much," Manuwai said. "It would have been too much traveling while also trying to work out for the (NFL) combine. And I wanted to show my stuff at the bigger bowls. The Senior Bowl was the first invitation and I wanted to come back home to play in the Hula Bowl."
Said UH coach June Jones earlier this season: "He is easily the best player I've ever had at any level, pros or college. He's better than anyone we had when I was the head coach in Atlanta (1994-96). He deserves all of what he's getting."
Last week, Manuwai was named to CBS Sportsline.com's All-America first team. The Web site is not an officially recognized All-America team.
The NCAA recognizes seven such teams, include the Associated Press. That team will be announced Tuesday.
Jones mentioned: As of yesterday, there were nine head coaching vacancies in Division I football. Jones has been mentioned as possible candidates for at least two: UCLA and East Carolina.
Yesterday, Jones said he didn't even know that that East Carolina job was open and said he wouldn't comment on the UCLA opening.
Six to Hula Bowl: Three more Hawaii seniors have officially committed to the Feb. 1 Hula Bowl Maui, bringing the number of Warriors in the all-star game to six.
Committing yesterday were La'anui Correa, Manuwai and Pisa Tinoisamoa. Chris Brown, Sean Butts and Lui Fuata had previously accepted invitations to the game at War Memorial Stadium in Wailuku.
Tickets for the game can be purchased by calling 871-4141.
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