Volleyball’s Thomas
decides to tackle footballThe sophomore All-American
joins the growing number
of UH dual-sport athletes
Two days after earning his first first-team All-American award, sophomore Delano Thomas can put another tag in front of his name -- dual-sport athlete.
The volleyball All-American will forego playing with the U.S. World University Games squad to work out with the Warriors' football team.
Thomas had practiced a few times with the football team in the spring but was undecided about his plans during the volleyball season. The 6-foot-7 middle blocker said that he will stay in Hawaii to attend summer school and practice with the football team. He will play both sports this fall.
"I love trying new sports. I did pretty well before (at volleyball) and excelled," said Thomas, who is being looked at as a wide receiver.
Thomas was a three-sport athlete in high school (basketball, volleyball, soccer), but football was not among those sports. The last time he played organized football was during his Pop Warner days.
Thomas is one of several UH athletes playing football. Nkeruwem "Tony" Akpan and Ikaika Alama-Francis of the Rainbows' basketball team have also been practicing with the football team in the spring. Volleyball walk-on Shaun Frederick will also join the football team as a defensive end.
"(Delano) has a right to make decisions like that," Hawaii coach Mike Wilton said. "That's one of the neat things about life in a free society. He gets a chance to try football. I don't have a problem with that. I'm going to use that spot to find another player."
Men's volleyball is allowed 4.5 scholarships to be divided among 12 players. Thomas' scholarship would probably come from the football team under the NCAA's dominant sport clause. In the case of multi-sport athletes, the dominant sport picks up the athlete's scholarship.
Wilton has spoken with Warriors football coach June Jones about Thomas' situation. Wilton said that the chances of Thomas being injured in football would be kept to a minimum.
"I've had conversations with June on the subject. I appreciated the opportunity to talk with him," Wilton said. "June wants to use him as a 10-yards-out kind of guy and keep him out of harm's way as much as possible.
"He would need the guy on Fridays and Delano would be with the volleyball team the rest of the time. As long as he has enough time to keep up the (volleyball) skills, that's fine."
Sopoaga on list: Hawaii defensive tackle Isaac Sopoaga is among 36 players named to the 2003 watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, awarded annually to the nation's top defensive college football player.
Sopoaga, a 6-foot-3, 315-pound senior from Pago Pago, American Samoa, was in on 72 tackles in 14 games. Seven of the tackles were for loss. He also had six quarterback hurries, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a pass breakup.
"He's certainly deserving," UH defensive line coach Vantz Singletary said. "He's a great guy as well as a great athlete. He's like (departed senior offensive lineman) Vince Manuwai in his humbleness, his demeanor and work habits.
"We're expecting a huge year from him because he knows our system better than last year and he's worked very hard."
Last year's Nagurski Trophy winner was Arizona State defensive end Terrell Suggs.
New ticket system: The Hawaii athletic department is automating its ticketing system through a new contract with Pacilion.
Pacilion is a California-based company that represents entities that distribute 25 percent of all live event tickets sold throughout the United States.
Among other improvements, UH will now be able to sell tickets 24 hours a day via the Internet.
"This places the university and the athletic department in a position to better service our customers," UH athletic director Herman Frazier said in a news release.
Next Friday is the deadline for season-ticket holders to renew their seats. Season-ticket holders from 2002 who did not receive renewal packets are asked to call 956-4482.
Student/faculty/staff sales begin at the UH ticket office on Saturday, May 10.
The ticket distribution system is expected to be down from May 19 until early June while the Pacilion upgrade is installed. Re-allocations of season-ticket holders is tentatively scheduled for June 9-20.
New season-ticket sales are slated to begin June 23, and individual game tickets go on sale Aug. 11.
The season begins Aug. 30 at Aloha Stadium against Appalachian State.
Star-Bulletin reporter Dave Reardon contributed to this report.
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