RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM
UH defensive coordinator George Lumpkin says the Warriors just need to iron out communication problems.
Coach calls for
communicationLumpkin says the Warriors'
defense needs to build on its
season-opening performance
Hawaii defensive coordinator George Lumpkin liked what he saw from the Warriors defense in Saturday's season-opening win over Appalachian State. Now he wants to hear a bit more from his players.
Lumpkin said he was pleased with the overall performance of the defense except for a few breakdowns in communication in the Warriors' 40-17 victory over Appalachian State.
"For the first week it was all right," Lumpkin said yesterday after practice. "We had a lot of communication problems, but they played hard and were responsible. They just have get their communication right so we can have everybody on the same page."
The first-year coordinator said the communication lapses are easily correctable and added that the Appalachian State game gave the Warriors a solid base to build on as they prepare to face the fourth-ranked Southern California Trojans at the Los Angeles Coliseum on Sept. 13.
"It feels good to get a game under our belt," he said. "It's one thing to practice and another thing to play in games. You get one game under your belt and you can fine-tune everything a little more, make things more precise."
The Warriors held Appalachian State to 259 yards in total offense and forced the Mountaineers to punt 12 times. They registered nine tackles for loss, including four sacks.
RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM
Hyrum Peters led Hawaii against Appalachian State with nine tackles and recorded the team's first interception of the season.
Safety Hyrum Peters led the team with nine tackles and recorded the team's first interception of the season. Defensive end Travis LaBoy had eight stops, including two for loss, totaling 12 yards.
"They all played well, they all played hard," Lumpkin said. "They all played responsible and were in the right gaps. We just want to make sure we have the communication. ... We as a defense just have to continuously work to be one. That's what our goal is, to play as one big unit and believe in each other."
The Hawaii defense will be tested by a USC team that rolled up 315 yards in total offense in a 23-0 win over then-No. 6 Auburn last week. Junior quarterback Matt Leinart completed 17 of 30 passes for 192 yards. All-America candidate Mike Williams caught eight passes for 104 yards and a touchdown and sophomore Hershel Dennis rushed for 85 yards and a score in his first start.
Bonus coming?: Athletic director Herman Frazier said Jones has not received money for incentive bonuses in his contract for academic achievement by his players in the past, but he might for the 2002-03 school year.
RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM
Travis LaBoy (left) had eight tackles, including two for loss, for UH against Appalachian State on Saturday.
Jones said he submitted paperwork three months ago indicating his first-year players achieved a cumulative grade point average of 2.7 or better.
"It's still being verified," Frazier said. "We have staff working on it."
Jones said if he does receive the $10,000 bonus it will be divided among his assistant coaches.
Frazier also reacted to criticism of the football team's academics. The team's overall grade point average last spring was 2.7, and has risen from 2.46 before Jones came to UH in 1999.
"It's the highest it's been in a long time, and I suspect it might be the highest ever here," Frazier said. "Compared to the public schools in the other conferences I've dealt with, the Pac-10 and Conference USA, it is pretty good here. It's not Notre Dame, but it's pretty good."
In fall 2000, Notre Dame's football team had its best semester in school history with a grade point average of 2.67, earning an academic achievement award from the American Football Coaches Association.
The little things: Statistically speaking, Warrior receiver Britton Komine didn't have his most productive game Saturday. While teammate Jeremiah Cockheran racked up 154 receiving yards and three touchdowns en route to Western Athletic Conference offensive player of the week honors, Komine had a modest two catches for 10 yards.
But the junior wideout's effort without the ball drew praise from Jones.
"He blocked real well and his assignments were almost perfect," Jones said.
Komine's longest catch went for 6 yards, but he did it in spectacular fashion, diving to make a fingertip catch of a pass from Jason Whieldon in the fourth quarter.
Komine entered the season as the Warriors' leading returning receiver after catching 58 passes for 886 yards and 10 touchdowns last year as a slot receiver.
There is a possibility Komine could move back to slot, since Nate Ilaoa might be out with an ACL tear. But as of yesterday, senior Clifton Herbert and junior Gerald Welch took the repetitions at Ilaoa's spot.
Injury update: UH cornerback Abraham Elimimian hasn't practiced since he strained his left shoulder Saturday. He hurt the shoulder in the third quarter and had an MRI done Tuesday. He said he expects to get the results of the test today.
Also, true freshman linebacker Daniel Tautofi will likely redshirt this season after left ankle surgery last week. He aggravated an injury from the summer during fall camp.
Chad Owens (ankle) and Isaac Sopoaga (back) also sat out yesterday to rest nagging injuries. Owens hurt his right ankle during fall camp, but played last week and caught five passes for 77 yards. Sopoaga missed part of camp with a sore back and had six tackles against Appalachian State.
