[ WARRIOR FOOTBALL ]
CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Mel Purcell tried to get past a blocker during practice this week. The Samoa-born sophomore is a backup defensive end.
Hawaii’s Purcell
tapping potentialHis father played volleyball,
his brother plays at Penn State,
but young Mel seems at home
with Warriors
With the way University of Hawaii sports teams borrow players from each other, no one could blame volleyball coach Mike Wilton if he did a little "recruiting" at the football practice field.
After all, he coached sophomore defensive end Mel Purcell's father of the same name at Brigham Young-Hawaii in the 1970s.
Hawaii at San Jose State
When: Tomorrow, 10 a.m., Hawaii timeWhere: Spartan Stadium, San Jose, Calif.
TV: Live, KFVE (Ch. 5)
Radio: Live, KKEA 1420-AM
Line: UH favored by 12
"I kind of kid with him (about playing volleyball)," Wilton said. "When he first got here, I was kind of hoping he'd become a volleyball player. He looked like he'd be a fine middle blocker or opposite. He could probably (play both sports). But he worked so hard in the weight room, he's definitely a football player. Plus he's kind of new to the game, so he needs to spend his time with football."
Sometimes Purcell thinks wistfully about the days when he played the court sports. But he agrees with Wilton's assessment.
"I grew up playing volleyball and basketball. I still miss it," Purcell said. "Sometimes he gives me hints, but I got to concentrate on one sport at a time. Coach Wilton looks after me, checks up on me.
"I kind of disliked football when I started playing," said Purcell, who took up the game as a sophomore at Leone High School in Pago Pago, American Samoa. "I was playing receiver, it was too much running. I got better at it, started to love it."
Purcell barely weighed 200 pounds when he arrived in Manoa in 2002. But football coach June Jones hooked up Purcell with another Mel -- strength and conditioning coach Mel deLaura.
"I said, 'See that guy right there, Mel deLaura?' I said, 'You live with him for one year.' And he showed up in the spring at 255. And I anticipate before he's out of here he'll be 285. He'll end up, bar injury, he'll end up being a No. 1 draft pick," Jones said.
Jones has said that about many other players, but Purcell seems to be the real deal. His 6-foot-5 frame is augmented by speed and athleticism rare for such a big guy.
"The thing with Mel is when he first got here he was like 205," deLaura said. "He did everything he was supposed to do. He showed up for every weight period and never questioned anything we were doing. He went from 205 to 255. His playing weight now is about 245. Great kid. Plays hurt. He's a big-time guy and a great kid. Only got good stuff to say about that guy."
And he's only played football for four years, so his potential is unlimited.
The future made an early appearance Saturday, as Purcell came off the bench and notched 12 tackles, including two sacks, as UH beat Texas-El Paso 31-15. Purcell was all over the field, harassing quarterback Jordan Palmer and tracking down loose running backs. His precocious play earned him Western Athletic Conference Player of the Week honors -- but not a starting spot; he is behind seniors Travis LaBoy and Houston Ala on the depth chart.
"It doesn't bother me. The seniors are doing a great job. If they need a sub, I'm right there to back them up. So basically, whatever coach gives me, I'm cool with it. It don't matter to me, I can still make plays," Purcell said. "I've just got to work hard, I can't let that stuff (the award) work on my head. We have another game coming up. That week is over, time to start another week."
Purcell had seven tackles the previous week against Louisiana Tech, but before that his high for a game was three tackles -- and he missed three games with an elbow injury (two of which the Warriors lost).
"I didn't really think I made that many tackles," Purcell said. "I wasn't really thinking about it. I just wanted to go out there and do my job."
He picked the right game to have a great one. His father was in the stands watching for the first time in his college career.
"I didn't know he was there until after the game," Purcell said. "I'm coming off the field, and I see him waving at me. I was like, 'Thank you for telling me you're coming.' "
The younger Purcell was born in Samoa, but spent part of his childhood in Hauula. He was also recruited by Fresno State, Oregon, Utah and Brigham Young.
"Basically it was always Hawaii," he said.
The Warriors lost a close recruiting battle last February with Penn State for Purcell's brother Amani.
"I tried. I tried to put things in his mind, but he wants to do something on his own. He likes it there," Purcell said of his recruiting efforts.
Might Amani change his mind when it starts snowing back east?
"I'm hoping," Mel Purcell said.
