[ UH FOOTBALL ]
Warriors freshman
Bass plans to transferThe players’ father says brother
Mike Bass’ decreased playing time
is a contributing factor
Hawaii true freshman defensive back Ray Bass plans to transfer to either San Diego State or Colorado State, his father, Rickey Bass, said yesterday.
"That's correct, he's leaving," the father said by telephone from the family home in Corona, Calif. "He's going to finish the semester. If everything goes well, he will leave in December."
UH at Nevada
When: Saturday, 10:05 a.m., Hawaii timeWhere: Mackay Stadium, Reno, Nev.
TV: Live on KFVE (Ch. 5)
Radio: Live, KKEA 1420-AM
Line: Hawaii favored by 3
Rickey Bass (no relation to former UH baseball player Rick Bass) said his other son, junior running back Mike Bass, plans to remain with the Warriors. But he added that Mike Bass' decreased playing time contributed to Ray Bass' transferring.
"Things are not working out well for my other son," Rickey Bass said. "I want to make sure he has a better opportunity than Mike had."
The father said the decision was made after he talked with his sons.
Ray Bass, who was redshirting this season and had not played in any games, has not attended practice the past two weeks.
"Evidently he wasn't happy here," said UH coach June Jones, who said he met with Ray Bass three weeks ago about the situation.
"If he doesn't want to be here, we don't want him to be here," Jones said. "But we wish him well."
Jones said Ray Bass did not indicate at their meeting that Mike Bass' situation had anything to do with his wanting to leave.
Rickey Bass said he would like Mike Bass to transfer, too, but thinks it is too late for him to have a productive conclusion to his college football and academic career somewhere else.
"It's unfortunate he has (just one more) year (of eligibility). I wish he was in the same position as Ray," the father said.
Junior cornerback Abraham Elimimian said Ray Bass had no personality conflicts or other problems on the team of which he was aware.
"He seemed fine, and the defensive backs are a pretty close group," Elimimian said.
Ray Bass (5-feet-10, 174 pounds) was also recruited by California, Arizona, Colorado State and Fresno State, among others. He had the highest vertical jump (40.4 inches) and fastest 40-yard dash time (4.31 seconds) at a Nike combine in Los Angeles last year. He was All-CIF and the most outstanding athlete at Centennial High School.
"He definitely could have helped us next year. We have a lot of guys graduating in the secondary and he's versatile," Elimimian said. "I wish the best for him."
Defensive backs coach Rich Miano was excited about Bass' potential, but said his moving on is probably best for all concerned.
"Obviously we wouldn't have recruited him if we didn't think he could play," Miano said. "To succeed you have to be happy where you are."
Mike Bass (5-7, 174) led the Warriors with 558 rushing yards on 108 carries as a true freshman in 2001, when he started nine games and played in all 12. Last year, slowed by a knee injury, he ran for 311 yards on 52 carries in 10 games with two starts.
Bass' role was further diminished this fall; he is fourth in rushing (173 yards on 30 carries) behind West Keli'ikipi, John West and Michael Brewster. He has played in six of UH's nine games, and carried the ball twice in the last four.
Ray and Mike Bass were not available for comment yesterday.
