[ UH FOOTBALL ]

Alama-Francis works out
with defensive linemen

---

By Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.com

Another University of Hawaii basketball player has joined the football team.

Freshman forward Ikaika Alama-Francis worked out in full gear with the Warriors defensive linemen this morning, suiting up for football for the first time since he played Pop Warner.

But that's still more gridiron background than Tony Akpan, another basketball player who came out for football last week.

"I love football, and I come from a football family, so I decided to give it a try," Alama-Francis said.

His father, Joe Francis, starred at Oregon State and played in the NFL for the Green Bay Packers.

Hawaii football coach June Jones said he offered Alama-Francis a scholarship out of high school, although Alama-Francis hadn't played football since eighth grade.

"Yes he did, but I didn't accept it because I didn't feel I was ready," Alama-Francis said after practice today. "I felt like I needed to prove myself in basketball first."

Jones, who lettered in football and baseball when he was at UH, encourages athletes to play more than one sport. He said Alama-Francis has the potential to eventually get some playing time.

"He's an athlete, he's got physical toughness and he likes the weightroom," Jones said.

---

UH Athletics