Rolovich to aid
Warriors this fall
The former UH QB is back with
the team as a student-assistant
Since Nick Rolovich left Hawaii after a magical 2001 season, football has taken him to NFL training camps and championship games in NFL Europe and the Arena Football League.
Now he's back at Manoa for the next four months to attend school and help the Hawaii football team for which he once starred.
Rolovich, who holds more than a dozen UH passing and total offense records, is re-joining the Warriors as a student-assistant this fall.
The Novato, Calif., resident is best known locally for replacing injured Tim Chang in 2001 and quarterbacking UH to eight wins in nine games, including a season-ending 72-45 victory over Brigham Young.
"He arrived a couple days ago and he's been in the office every day, feels like he never left," Warriors coach June Jones said.
Rolovich's duties as a student-assistant will include tracking offensive statistics, Jones said.
He tried out for the Denver Broncos as a free agent in 2002 and 2003, but was cut both times. In 2003, he played for the Rhein Fire of NFL Europe. He was a backup quarterback for the San Jose SaberCats, who beat Arizona in Arena Bowl XVIII in June.
"I hope to return to the SaberCats next year, but I want to finish my (psychology) degree," Rolovich said. "I'm looking forward to being around (UH) practice and maybe being a graduate assistant in the future. I'm real excited about trying to get a feel for being part of a team without actually being a player."
He will undoubtedly keep a special eye on one UH quarterback -- his brother, second-year freshman Jack Rolovich.
Now, about that knee ... : Now that suspended running back West Keli'ikipi has been reinstated, the next question is if his surgically-repaired left knee is ready to support his burly frame.
"The knee is doing good," the senior from Waianae said. "Lately I've been running a lot of hills, trying to strengthen it. I probably won't be 100 percent when camp starts (on Monday) but I'll be ready Sept. 4 (for the season opener against Florida Atlantic)."
Keli'ikipi suffered a meniscus tear in a game at Nevada in November, ending his season. He underwent surgery twice, keeping him out of spring practice.
Then Keli'ikipi was suspended in May when athletic director Herman Frazier determined an allegation of second-degree felony theft against Keli'ikipi constituted a major violation of the UH Student-Athlete Handbook.
Keli'ikipi pled not guilty at a May 7 circuit-court hearing to a charge of participating in a scam against Kaiser Foundation Health Inc. in which he and six others are accused of stealing a total of $162,000.
Yesterday, UH announced Keli'ikipi is reinstated. He must perform 40 hours of community service in addition to meeting other conditions set forth by UH. Also, he will change his plea to no contest and request a deferred acceptance of the plea, which could lead to dismissal of the charge.
Keli'ikipi said he does not know what form the community service will take.
"I've still got to talk to the guys at the university," he said.
In his first season at UH last fall, the 6-foot-1, 266-pound Keli'ikipi played in 10 games. He rushed 37 times for 247 yards and six touchdowns and caught 20 passes for 154 yards and another touchdown.
"We run kind of a finesse offense and he gives us a little toughness in blocking and running the ball and catching it and running over people," Jones said. "I'm still concerned about his leg. Hopefully he will rebound and be 100 percent."
Jones said Keli'ikipi is getting a second chance because he's been a model citizen since enrolling at UH last fall, and his legal problem originated before his association with the school and the program.
"I'm hoping this works out in a very positive way, not just football-wise. It's one of those deals that makes you, regardless what you do, learn from it," Jones said. "The only thing I know about West is the last year, and the last year's been great. He's nothing but what we look for as a person. I don't know what he was like before, but I know what he's like now."
VonAppen retires: Fred vonAppen retired from his job as assistant head coach at Montana, the school announced yesterday.
VonAppen was UH head coach from 1996 to 1998, compiling a record of 5-31.
The Rainbows lost 18 in a row with him at the helm, including an 0-12 campaign in 1998, after which he was fired and replaced by Jones.
UH lost its first game under Jones, but went 9-4 in 1999 for the biggest turnaround in college football history.
After UH, vonAppen was also a volunteer coach at the University of Washington, defensive line coach with the Minnesota Vikings and special teams assistant for the New York Giants.
uhathletics.hawaii.edu
