[ WARRIOR FOOTBALL ]
Hawaii’s LaBoy, Sopoaga
to sign with same agency
Hawaii defensive tackle Isaac Sopoaga signed a contract for professional representation with Priority Sports & Entertainment yesterday, Kenny Zuckerman of Priority said.
Also, Warriors defensive end Travis LaBoy and Priority have "mutually agreed to work with each other," and LaBoy is expected to sign with the sports agency in the next few days, Zuckerman added.
Both athletes, considered prospects for the NFL Draft's first day of three rounds, will work out at the Athletes Performance Institute in Tempe, Ariz., in preparation for next month's Senior Bowl and the NFL Combine.
Priority also represents local products Olin Kreutz (Chicago Bears center), Dominic Raiola (Detroit Lions center), Kimo von Oelhoffen (Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end) and Wayne Hunter (Seattle Seahawks offensive tackle).
"I think they're both great kids. Isaac has a chance to be a top run stuffer and Travis has the upside to be one of the top edge rushers in this draft," Zuckerman said.
Zuckerman said he doesn't expect LaBoy missing Thursday's Hawaii Bowl for academic reasons to lower his draft status.
"I think Travis would have loved to play in the game and this kind of thing happens often," Zuckerman said. "Wayne Hunter didn't play (in last year's Hawaii Bowl) due to suspension and still got picked high in the third round. The league is very forgiving, especially when they're trying to find pass rushers. He's not a bad kid. He just put a lot of emphasis into football this year."
LaBoy (6-foot-4, 254 pounds) was the Western Athletic Conference's defensive player of the year and UH's most valuable player. He had 13 sacks among 22 tackles for loss in 13 games. LaBoy also forced a fumble, recovered two and intercepted two passes.
Sopoaga (6-3, 336) played in Thursday's game with the flu and was in on six tackles. Sopoaga missed three games with a knee injury but still managed 57 tackles, including nine for loss and four sacks, and made first-team All-WAC.
LaBoy was unavailable for comment and Sopoaga was on a flight to his home in American Samoa yesterday.
"I think both will be fine pro players," said UH defensive line coach Vantz Singletary, who has worked as an apprentice coach for several NFL teams. "They certainly have a chance to start next fall. They just need to continue to establish themselves and their talents."
Where's the crowd?: Hawaii coach June Jones said there are ways to improve on the Hawaii Bowl attendance, which was announced at 25,551 in the stadium on Thursday.
"There's no reason this game can't be blacked out (on television) locally," Jones said. "We're looking at a lot of different options. The time slot is unique. It's the second year ESPN's had this deal and the first year for Sheraton. As we go through it, it will get better and better. ESPN's in it for the long run and I'm sure Sheraton enjoyed it."
Ernest Nishizaki, one of the owners of the four Sheraton hotels in Waikiki, said he believes that to be the case -- especially since the game provides good brand exposure as one of the few sports events televised on Christmas.
"At least from our standpoint we intend to continue (sponsorship)," he said.
Peters principle: Hawaii senior safety and defensive captain Hyrum Peters, a two-time All-WAC performer, said he couldn't have been happier with the outcome of his final college football game. Including the postgame brawl? He offered no apologies. That's football, in his estimation.
"It was the most craziest game ever. And it ended off with a big fight. It reminded me of the other game, Cincinnati. I was ready for it, I was prepared. That's how it is," Peters said. "You try to be friends with them. You're having dinner with them, riding on the same bus with them (to bowl week events). But it came game-time, and we're not friends anymore.
"I'm happy it ended like this. To experience something like this. ... I'm happy for everyone."
Peters said he was proud of junior quarterback Tim Chang's five-touchdown effort off the bench.
"It was the vice versa of Alabama. When you gotta go in, you gotta suck it up and be a hero. And that's what he did," Peters said.