ASSOCIATED PRESS
Hawaii's West Keliikipi is making a name for himself, which has fans trying to come up with a nickname for him.
Hawaii’s running game
enjoying the best of WestUH's walk-on bruiser has become
a fan favorite and has added another
dimension to the offense
Hawaii's running game appears headed in the right direction with John West and West Keliikipi.
Hawaii at LaTech
When: Saturday, 9 a.m., Hawaii time
Where: Joe Aillet Stadium, Ruston, La.
TV: Live on KFVE (Ch. 5)
Radio: Live on KKEA-1420
Line: Pick 'em
Warriors fans are already familiar with the first West, a Leilehua High School graduate who leads UH with 175 yards on 26 carries heading into this Saturday's game at Louisiana Tech. He paced the Warriors with 451 rushing yards last season.
Keliikipi, though, is a relative newcomer who is quickly becoming a fan favorite because of his bruising running and blocking style and soft pass-catching hands. Although he'd already been getting some playing time, he exploded on the scene against Fresno State defenders last Saturday as the Warriors pounded the Bulldogs 55-28.
The 6-foot-1, 266-pound junior from Waianae High School rushed seven times for 67 yards and a touchdown and caught five passes for 34 yards.
Hawaii coach June Jones said Keliikipi provides a dimension that has been mostly missing from his run-and-shoot offense -- that of a power back.
"A couple of their guys got banged up trying to tackle him. He brings a little something different. ... Rather than make them miss, just run over 'em," Jones said. "It excites his teammates, it excites everyone and gets a certain electricity going. That's football. Hitting and hitting hard. He gives us that kind of feeling when you get in the I formation and the guy runs over three guys. He gives us that same feeling with short passes and draws.
"He doesn't have a scholarship yet, but he will as soon as I have one available," Jones added.
Fresno State coach Pat Hill said Keliikipi's power helped open up UH's passing game Saturday.
"We were playing the pass so we were vulnerable. But they can run the ball with him," Hill said.
Keliikipi worked with his father as a welder for several years after high school graduation in 1999 and fell out of football-playing shape. He got up to 320 pounds before deciding to start working out, so he could go to college and play football.
Few other than those who follow Hawaii high school football closely knew who he was until this season.
As his popularity grows and the story of his background spreads, Keliikipi proudly represents and hopes to inspire several groups of underdogs: working-class folks, dieters with a dream and youngsters from the Leeward side of the island -- many of whom don't have a lot.
"I like it that the little kids look up to me," he said. "I enjoy being a role model for them. It feels good. Kids were asking me for my autograph, even asking for my wet towel. It's fun."
Callers to the Bobby Curran Show on the radio yesterday morning spent two hours trying to come up with a nickname for Keliikipi.
"I guess it's down to 'Bulldozer' or 'Tank', whatever," he said. "I kind of like 'Tank.' "
He will always be "Wessie" to his family, no matter how many linebackers he bowls over.
"It doesn't really match a football player, but they still call me that," he said. "I don't mind."
The Warriors' newest star said one of his biggest goals is to maintain his humility amid all the attention. One way he reminds himself is through a symbolic pregame gesture he started doing in high school.
"I try to come out the last player from the locker room. I'm putting my team before me. That means a lot to me. In order to get respect, I have to respect them to expect respect from them. They come first," Keliikipi said. "I want to keep that. I grew up like that. I learned to put my team first at Waianae."
