[ UH FOOTBALL ]
Diminutive Jackson
no small-time playerAppalachian State's
5-foot-6 speedster proves
little guys can make a difference
Even Appalachian State football coach Jerry Moore is amused and amazed by his diminutive running back, Sean Jackson.
Jackson, the smallest player in the Southern Conference, is officially listed at 5-foot-6 and 155 pounds. But he was also recently measured at 5-4 and 150. He finally met some people he could see eye-to-eye with a couple of weeks ago.
"I went with him to an elementary school to talk to the kids and I started laughing. He looked like he was one of them," Moore said.
Moore brings Jackson and the rest of the Mountaineers here to play Hawaii on Saturday at Aloha Stadium in the season-opener for both teams.
"When those big WAC players see him, they'll laugh, too," Moore said in a phone interview yesterday from Boone, N.C.
But they might lose their sense of humor when they try to catch the elusive sprinter. Jackson rushed for 588 yards in 111 carries last season as a backup. He's also a track standout, and is a member of the Appalachian State 400-meter relay team that ran 39.1 seconds.
Jackson was recruited more for track than football out of high school, but he did get a feeler from North Carolina State for football.
"That didn't last long," Jackson said. "But, in a way, things really worked out better. I'm glad I'm here."
Just because he's a small guy from a small school, Jackson warns opponents not to mistake him for small-time.
"That's something everybody thinks. But what guys like me like to do is prove small guys can make a big difference," Jackson said. "We figure we can compete with anyone if we set our minds to it."
Jackson said he realizes Hawaii will be heavily favored over Appalachian State, and he said the Warriors look impressive on tape.
"I know they've got some big guys, 315, 320 pounds," he said. "I gotta stay away from them."
Moore said Jackson arrived as a partial qualifier because of a low SAT score, but because he is scheduled to graduate within four years, Jackson will have another season of eligibility next year.
"He's a good example of a kid who worked hard in the classroom and on the field to become a success," Moore said.
Redshirt for Rivers?: Hawaii coach June Jones said he wants to redshirt true freshman wide receiver Jason Rivers, but doesn't think he will be able to go the season without putting Rivers in a game.
"I would like to redshirt him if I can," Jones said last night on his first "Call the Coach" radio show of the season. "But I think the probability of that is not good. Of the freshman receivers I've had here he's the most capable of playing D-I off the bat. He has to develop his want-to to a little bit higher level, but I think he has it. I think the probability of him redshirting is not high."
Junior Britton Komine, UH's top returning pass catcher, will start ahead of Rivers at left wide receiver Saturday.
Mountaineers defender out: Appalachian State will be without one of its best players, as senior safety Nygel Rogers is out for the season with an ACL injury in his right knee, requiring surgery.
Rogers was in on 109 tackles last year and broke up seven passes.
"It's a shame," Moore said. "Especially since he had the same injury to his other knee before. We'll apply for a medical hardship. You never know, sometimes they'll give them to you."
Elimimian still sidelined, Fuga practices: UH junior starting cornerback Abraham Elimimian missed his third practice in a row with a calf strain yesterday.
Although he's listed as probable, senior backup Gary Wright could still get the start if Elimimian is not back to close to 100 percent by Saturday.
Senior defensive tackle Lui Fuga has returned to practice, and he looked nimble making a spin move on the scout defense. But Fuga said he won't be ready to play Saturday. He's shooting for the USC game Sept. 11.
Starting right guard Uriah Moenoa did not practice. He's resting the bruised Achilles' tendon on his right foot. Moenoa is listed as probable for Saturday.
"Hopefully he'll be back to practice tomorrow," Jones said.
Bussing it: As of yesterday, Roberts Hawaii planned to run its same round-trip bus shuttle service to UH games as last year. Call 832-4886 for information and reservations.
Also, several sports bars are running shuttles, and Aloha Stadium parking supervisor Engel Garcia is looking at options to alleviate possible problems stemming from the public bus strike.
Short yardage: Jones has agreed to be interviewed each week on ESPN radio's "All Night with Todd Wright." ... Jones told his "Call the Coach" radio audience he believes UH athletic director Herman Frazier plans to change the artificial surface at Cooke Field to FieldTurf within the next 15 to 18 months. ... UH sophomore receiver Nate Ilaoa and ASU freshman receiver Josh Baldwin both went to North Stafford High School in Stafford, Va.
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Hawaii vs. Appalachian State
When: Saturday, 6:05 p.m.Where: Aloha Stadium
Tickets: $19 sideline, $17 south end zone, $10 north end zone (adult), $9 north end zone (students/ seniors, age 4-high school), free for UH students free (super rooter only). Available at Aloha Stadium, except for student tickets at Stan Sheriff Center. Also at Ticket Plus outlets or by calling (808) 526-4400.
TV: KFVE (Channel 5), delay at 10 p.m., with rebroadcast Sunday at 9 a.m. Also available live on Pay-Per-View. Call 625-8100 on Oahu or (866) 566-7784 on neighbor islands to subscribe.
Radio: 1420-AM.
Parking: Gates open at 2:30 p.m. Parking is $5. Alternate parking at Leeward Community College, Kam Drive-Inn and Radford High School.
Traffic advisory: 1420-AM is the official traffic advisory station and provides updates before each home game.
