It wouldn't be a bowl game without some feisty words and a pregame staredown or two. UH notices that
Interception ace eyes Chang
Tulane’s ‘talking crazy’By Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comHawaii linebacker Chris Brown took umbrage at comments made by Tulane quarterback J.P. Losman before the Green Wave even arrived for Wednesday's ConAgra Foods Hawaii Bowl -- something Losman said about "punching them in the mouth" as the way to beat UH.
"I heard what he said, and I don't really dig that at all," said Brown, who unsuccessfully looked for Losman at Saturday's dinner aboard the USS Missouri. "If you're a good quarterback, you're humble. Especially playing us at home, you don't do that. Maybe if we're playing at your house."
Brown said most of the Tulane players he has met have been cordial.
"But some was kind of confrontational," he said. "I made eyes at a few guys, too, that's how it usually goes."
Tulane (7-5) is a 12 1/2-point underdog against Hawaii (10-3).
"They don't get enough pub, enough respect," UH linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa said. "Maybe that's why they're talking so crazy. They've got something to prove. We like that. That's how we were a couple years ago, with that mediocre (3-9 in 2000) record, but we still had the fight in us."
Still in limbo: UH's All-WAC safety Hyrum Peters finds out today if he will be able to play Wednesday. He missed the San Diego State game two weeks ago with a strained knee.
"I have no idea yet. It's getting better, but I don't know where I stand right now," Peters said.
Leonard Peters will start again for Hyrum Peters, but coach June Jones hopes Hyrum Peters will at least be able to play a few downs.
Starting left tackle Wayne Hunter practiced yesterday, but it is still not a certainty he will start Wednesday, because of lower back pain. If Hunter is out, Uriah Moenoa will start at left tackle and Ryan Santos gets the nod at right tackle.
Inside receiver Nate Ilaoa (hamstring) and defensive end Travis LaBoy (abdominal strain) returned to practice.
Turning the tassel: Quarterback Shawn Withy-Allen found time between bowl activities and practice to march with the other UH fall semester graduates yesterday.
Withy-Allen, who recently received his fourth UH scholar-athlete award, graduated with a 3.85 average in business.
Former UH players Craig Stutzmann, Viliami Taufa, Kalae Lee and John Kirby also graduated yesterday.
Hospital visit: Tulane players Mewelde Moore, Adrian Mitchell, Jeff Sanchez, Brandon Rottmayer and Marlon Tickles joined a Hawaii contingent in visiting the Shriners Hospital for Children yesterday.
Hawaii center Lui Fuata, who is out with a torn knee ligament, said the ill children put his injury in perspective.
"They inspired me," Fuata said. "I enjoy working with kids anyway. Seeing them smile was worth it, bringing a little holiday cheer to them since they can't be at home."
Short yardage: Hawaii defensive back Matt Manuma and receiver Gerald Welch were reinstated to the Hawaii Bowl roster. They were originally held out for academic reasons, but were cleared by the Western Athletic Conference after fall semester grades were posted. ... Tulane freshman defensive back Jeremy Foreman (sprained right ankle) and sophomore linebacker Brandon Spincer (forearm contusion) were injured in practice. Neither Foreman, who is redshirting, nor Spincer, who has battled injuries throughout the season, was expected to play Wednesday.