[ UH FOOTBALL ]
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Kamehameha alumnus Houston Ala is just one member of Hawaii's loaded defensive line, which may be UH's best ever.
Ala powers
Warriors’
D-lineThe defensive end with
the nonstop motor is
irreplacable, linemates say
Suddenly, Hawaii's defensive linemen are stars. Fans are becoming more and more familiar with the talented and colorful group that could be the deepest and best front in school history.
D-line has become cool.
There's tackle Isaac Sopoaga, a 6-foot-3, 336-pound behemoth with the agility of a gymnast. End Travis LaBoy is another athletically gifted young man who is also possibly headed to the NFL. Tackle Lance Samuseva has become celebrated for being uncelebrated; the Western Athletic Conference learned last year he is the glue that holds UH's front together. Basketball transplant and football neophyte Tony Akpan, a 6-7, 254-pound sophomore trying his hand at defensive end, is one of the most intriguing stories of the Warriors' fall camp. Senior end Kevin Jackson's added muscle makes him a force to deal with, too.
And if all that's not enough to draw you toward the big greenies at practice, line coach Vantz Singletary and graduate assistant Rinda Brooks instruct with style and zinging one-liners: "If I say mochiko chicken, then I bet you'll line your (butts) up," Brooks told the group yesterday.
Where does all this personality and talent leave Houston Ala?
The 6-foot-1, 250-pound senior is irreplacable, according to teammates and coaches. The defensive end is the engine that drives the Warriors D-line. And his motor never stops.
"It's a privilege to play with him," Samuseva said. "I never played with someone with so much energy and attitude on the field. He has that no-quit attitude, keep fighting. I think it's kind of rubbed off on me. He knows when you're tired you've got to push the most. When we're tired, I can hear him say, 'Come on guys, don't quit.'
A spirit like Ala's is especially important during fall camp, when the team's identity is molded and desire is tested by grueling three-hour practices -- with another hour and a half after lunch three days a week.
"He's the guy who makes us go," Singletary said.
Defensive coordinator George Lumpkin has known Ala since coaching him at Kamehameha five years ago. Lumpkin was also UH teammates with Ala's father, Tui.
"Great player. Great attitude. He only knows one speed, and that's full-speed. He's intelligent, responsible. He works hard in the classroom, over a 3.00, and with the weights," Lumpkin said of Houston Ala. "One of the hardest workers on the team, one of the strongest players. I don't know how he gets lost in the shuffle. But his productivity is outstanding."
Last year as a junior, Ala was in on 45 tackles, including 13 for loss and six sacks. He made one of the biggest plays of the year when he stuffed Rice quarterback Greg Henderson for a 4-yard loss on the last play of a 33-28 victory against Rice -- in the Texas city that shares his first name.
Ala shrugged in the locker room afterward.
"We all made plays," he said.
Ala is media shy, and often pedals away on his bicycle after practice before he can be interviewed. When he does talk, like yesterday, it is deliberate, and he deflects attention. When told those around him consider him a catalyst, Ala returned the favor.
"We as a team -- everybody -- contributes, feeds off of each other and feel that same energy together," he said.
His goals are simple and team-related.
"Eliminate our errors each game and each week, help the whole team win," Ala said.
Hawaii coach June Jones considers Ala a perfect example of what he wants from a UH football player.
"He and Lance are both guys who are unsung heroes. He's always worked hard, and he's always brought intensity. They're the right kind of kids for our program."
Said Ala: "I'm lucky to come from a good family background. It helped give me opportunities. It's also good to come from a place like this, where everyone supports each other."
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
UH defensive back Abraham Elimimian kept a close eye on wide receiver Ross Dickerson as Dickerson kept his eye on the ball during yesterday's practice.
Defense dominates: Except when starting quarterback Tim Chang was on the field, the defense pretty much had its way with the offense in team drills during yesterday's 3-hour, 15-minute practice.
Kelvin Millhouse and Kevin Jackson intercepted passes, and Keani Alapa wrested a completed pass away from Orlando Wong.
The offense's woes were punctuated by a play in which backup quarterback Ryan Stickler recovered a bad snap and handed off to Mike Bass, only for Bass to fumble. Gary Wright, who caused the fumble, recovered it. He ran a few yards before being stuck by Stickler.
Omega Hogan made the hit of the day when he cracked Bass after a 30-yard gain on a shovel pass from Chang. It was one of only two plays of more than 15 yards.
"It seems like the defense makes a few plays, but we're all just trying the best we can to learn what we're doing," Lumpkin said. "They're working hard. They're a veteran group, so they know what they're supposed to do. We just need to continue to fine-tune and work to be mentally tough as well as physically."
The veteran secondary -- corners Millhouse and Abraham Elimimian and safeties Hyrum Peters, Leonard Peters and David Gilmore -- shined.
"Everybody's playing well," Elimimian said. "Hyrum definitely changes things the offense does. He anticipated some things that made Timmy scramble and have to make terrific plays out of the pocket. And Leonard's got so much speed. If we miss a tackle we know he's going to make the play for us."
Jones said the offense will be fine.
"I feel like we've got a long way to go," he said. "But if we keep doing what we're supposed to do we'll be ready."
Herbert hurt: Senior inside receiver Clifton Herbert pulled a leg muscle yesterday. It is unknown how long he will be out.
Herbert caught 30 passes for 377 yards and three touchdowns last year, and also returned nine punts for an 8.0-yard average.
Catch of the day: Junior inside receiver Blake Harano caught a long pass from Jack Rolovich at the top of his leap for a 25-yard gain.
Chad Owens also made a sweet diving grab of a pass from Chang after Chang scrambled right, faked a pass, and then went back to his left, where he found Owens 10 yards beyond the line.
Short yardage: After further accounting, strength and conditioning coach Mel deLaura said 44 players passed their initial 10x200-yard conditioning test last week, 14 more than the coaches thought at first. ... Today's 8:30-11:30 a.m. and 3:30-5 p.m. practices are open to the public. ... Safeties Daniel Murray, Stephen Stagnaro and Tui Ava'ava and linebacker Zach Lee-Ho are among the players expected to walk on when school starts later this month. ... Linebackers coach Cal Lee arrived at practice in UH garb straight from the airport. He'd just returned from Tulsa, Okla., where the Hawaiian Islanders, the arenafootball2 team he coaches, lost a playoff game Saturday.
