Keli‘ikipi ready to
rumble against Rice
Coach June Jones says the senior
running back should be ready
to play against the Owls
Hawaii senior running back West Keli'ikipi expects to be ready to play in the Warriors' next game, Sept. 18 at Rice.
"We should be getting him back," UH coach June Jones said in yesterday's first in-season weekly news conference.
Starter Michael Brewster played well with two touchdowns on Saturday. But Keli'ikipi would be a welcome addition to a running game that generated 27 yards in the 35-28 overtime loss to Florida Atlantic.
Keli'ikipi suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee in a game last year. He underwent two surgeries and arrived at preseason camp weighing 287 pounds. He said yesterday he is down to 262.
"There's no pain or swelling at all," Keli'ikipi said. "I'll probably ease back in and make sure I'm ready for the game."
Keli'ikipi said he expects to participate fully in practice beginning next week.
The immediate future for senior slotback Se'e Poumele is much cloudier. Although Poumele was walking yesterday, Jones said he has a pulled hamstring, as well as possible damage to a "stretched nerve."
"We'll see in a couple of days," receivers coach Ron Lee said. "He took a nasty hit and we hope it's not that serious. But he looks like he might be ready to play (a week from this Saturday). It looked encouraging today."
Senior Gerald Welch and freshman Jason Ferguson will play if Poumele is unavailable, Jones said. Junior Nate Ilaoa, expected to be the starter out of spring camp, is out indefinitely with knee and shoulder problems.
Akpan may miss Rice game: It's the natural choice, but Jones doesn't have to make it yet, so he won't.
Junior defensive end Nkeruwem "Tony" Akpan has to sit out one game this season for fighting after the Hawaii Bowl last December. Since Akpan is inexperienced against the run and primarily a pass rusher at this stage, the game against wishbone-running Rice is probably the best time to sit him.
"We haven't decided it, but that's my initial thought," Jones said. "We'll see how everyone is this week."
One factor could be the readiness of sophomore defensive end Ikaika Alama-Francis. Alama-Francis might be ready following successful rehab after a back injury.
"I think he'll practice this week," Jones said.
Special adjustments: Special teams coordinator Mouse Davis said the kickoff coverage team could have a few personnel changes at Rice, and not only because Florida Atlantic averaged 35.25 yards per return, not including a touchdown that was called back.
"Just the fact that we are traveling will mean some of the young ones might not be there," Davis said. "But more than changes, I've just got to do a better job of getting them in position. We have willing kids, (FAU) did a good job of hammering us and they had a blazer. I gotta do a better job of coaching them."
Davis and Jones said Justin Ayat remains the field-goal kicker, despite a lingering groin injury that prevented him from attempting a 43-yarder that could have been pivotal Saturday.
"We've got two weeks and hopefully that kid will be ready. He's pretty much what you're looking for if he's healthy," Davis said of the program's second-leading career scorer.
Also, Jones said UH had planned before Saturday's game to have Chad Owens return one kickoff with Ross Dickerson handling any additional ones. Dickerson averaged 38.5 yards on four returns, and Owens had one for 28.
Nominated: UH submitted cornerback Abraham Elimimian, quarterback Tim Chang and punter Kurt Milne for Western Athletic Conference Player of the Week honors.
