Warriors hope home cooking
works both ways in
WAC opener at Rice
Homecoming week has come a bit early for several members of the Hawaii football team.
For Houston-raised Warriors Michael Brewster, Brandon Eaton and Omega Hogan, Saturday's game against Rice not only marks the beginning of the Western Athletic Conference schedule, but represents a chance to get some home cooking.
"It's an away-game for us, but it's home to me," said Eaton.
The Warriors depart the UH campus at 4 p.m. today and aren't scheduled to arrive in Houston until close to 7 a.m. tomorrow morning Central time. But the lengthy trip is one the Texas-based Warriors have been eagerly anticipating.
"I look forward to going back home, eating some nice food and seeing some family," said Hogan, a reserve defensive back who grew up about 10 minutes from the Rice campus.
"I've been scrambling for tickets trying to fight with all the other guys from Houston, but I'll get enough."
Eaton, a junior offensive lineman, said this will be the first time his mother will get to see him play in college. He made the trip but didn't play when UH last visited Rice in 2002.
"It's going to really be a joy to have my mom and my family there," Eaton said.
It's also a homecoming of sorts for UH head coach June Jones, who was an assistant with the Houston Gamblers of the USFL in 1984 and with the NFL's Houston Oilers from 1987-88.
Warriors special teams coach Mouse Davis was also on the Gamblers' staff in 1984.
"I love the city of Houston. It's been one of my favorites," Jones said. "I have a lot of good memories there. We had a record-breaking year in the USFL, went to the playoffs twice with Warren Moon, a lot of memories there."
This will be UH's last trip to Houston for a conference game with Rice. The Owls are among four WAC schools set to join Conference USA next summer.
"I get to Houston a couple times a year even if we don't get down there (on a road trip)," Jones said. "This trip is all business anyway, so it's not like I can see a bunch of people or do things."
Having grown up in Houston, the UH players from the area are aware of the significance of Rice's 10-7 win over rival Houston on Sept. 5. Eaton said he sided with Houston as a youngster. Hogan, an option quarterback in high school, gravitated toward Rice before becoming a Warrior.
"I know it meant a lot for them," Hogan said. "They're an up-and-coming team right now and I hear they have a lot of fire, so it's going to be a great game."
Although the Warriors' Texans are looking forward to visiting with friends and relatives this week, it doesn't necessarily take a long flight for them to feel at home.
"Everybody out here is a big family," Brewster said, nodding toward players milling around the UH practice field. "I have family everywhere I go, so it's just another game."
Defensive options: UH safety Lono Manners is listed as a starting linebacker on the depth chart this week as the Warriors prepare to defend Rice's option attack.
The Warriors have put an extra defensive back closer to the line of scrimmage to help stop the run in past meetings with the Owls.
"We're trying to put more of a balanced look on the field," UH defensive backs coach Rich Miano said. "He's not a linebacker for the rest of the year, we just think he can help us at that position for this game."
Manners recorded 1 1/2 tackles against Florida Atlantic as a safety. Leonard Peters and Lamar Broadway are listed as the starting safeties for Saturday's game.
"In our 4-3 scheme, the Will (weakside) linebacker is a glorified strong safety. We need that guy to be fast, we need him to be able to cover, we need him to be able to blitz, we need him to do a lot of things," Miano said.
Short yardage: Saturday's game will be televised live on KFVE (Channel 5). The telecast will be produced by Sportswest with Trey Bender and Nate Griffin calling the action. It will also be broadcast live on radio on KKEA 1420-AM ... The team is scheduled to return to Honolulu at 12:45 p.m. on Sunday. ... Hawaii's actual homecoming game is Oct. 23 against San Jose State.
www.hawaiiathletics.com
