[ DEFENSIVE LINE ]

Veteran Lui Fuga
keeps this line in line

By Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.com

Why he's good

This guy's stink-eye alone could kill. A great glare doesn't mean much in the trenches, though. It's Lui Fuga's six-year hunger for heavy metal and videotape that makes him proficient in the ways of mano a mano, line of scrimmage combat. Combine it all, and you've got a player-coach who knows how to take on a double team and the playbook. He has survived injuries to both shoulders, an ankle and a knee, and the NCAA gave him one more year to hold the point while he earns a master's degree.

Lui Fuga

>> Hawaii's co-Most Inspirational Player in 2000
>> Recovered three fumbles in 2003

RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM

X-factor

Weigh at least 250 pounds and got some eligibility left? Get in there, fill that breech. Defensive end Mel Purcell is the real deal, but besides him and Fuga, everybody else is unproven in this hodge-podge group of former basketball players and backup offensive linemen.

Hoops refugees Tony Akpan and Ikaika Alama-Francis are being counted on at defensive end, and former backup OTs Kahai LaCount and Larry Sauafea penetrated the two-deep in camp by necessity when Fuga sprained his knee. Freshmen Keala Watson and Fale Laeli could be called on very early in their careers.

Style file

Tattoos? Those are for wimps. Akpan has a brand on his upper right arm. That had to hurt.

"Yes, it did," Akpan said.

Hot metal was pressed against his arm for two hours.

"The symbol translates to my (Nigerian) name Nkeruwem, which means 'Life.' It also symbolizes that no one can stop me."

Ones to watch

The top players with the probable starter listed first:

Left End

NO.	PLAYER	HT.	WT.	CL.
98	Mel Purcell	6-4	266	Jr.
95	Darrell Tautofi	6-2	296	Sr.

Left Tackle

NO.	PLAYER	HT.	WT.	CL.
99	Lui Fuga	6-1	294	Sr.
68	Kahai LaCount	6-2	297	So.

Right Tackle

NO.	PLAYER	HT.	WT.	CL.
96	Matt Faga	6-2	324	Sr.
73	Larry Sauafea	6-2	289	Fr.

Right End

NO.	PLAYER	HT.	WT.	CL.
90	Tony Akpan	6-6	274	Jr.
30	Kila Kamakawiwo'ole	6-3	241	Jr.

Defensive Line coach

Vantz Singletary is in his fifth season. Two of his charges, Travis LaBoy and Isaac Sopoaga, were drafted by the NFL last spring.

UH Athletics
www.hawaiiathletics.com