Spartans’ quarterback
brings special game

There's one sure-fire way for a freshman quarterback to earn his teammates' respect: volunteer to cover punts, and do some damage.

Unfortunately for Michigan State's Drew Stanton, some of that damage was to his own knee. But Stanton, now a sophomore and a starter at quarterback, said the special-teams duty was worth it. He led the punt-cover team last year with 13 tackles, and he bonded with his team.

"Especially as a quarterback, it helped from that standpoint," said Stanton, who arrived yesterday with the rest of the Spartans (5-6) for Saturday's game against Hawaii (6-5) at Aloha Stadium.

Stanton (6-foot-3, 225 pounds) played nine games this year, passing for 1,271 yards and rushing for 611 more.

When Stanton was a child in Oregon, Hawaii strength and conditioning coach Mel deLaura was one of his youth league coaches.

"He was great then," deLaura said. "In Pop Warner he was already reading defenses."

Fa'avi might play: Derek Fa'avi, who started 19 consecutive games at center for UH before being injured this season, might be able to play Saturday. Coach June Jones thought Fa'avi would be out for the season, but he practiced yesterday without any problems.

"He hasn't gone full-contact yet, where there's a lot of pressure and leverage involved, but we'll see," Jones said.

Fa'avi, a Campbell graduate, and linemate Uriah Moenoa, an Iolani graduate, have a friendly wager on the outcome of Saturday's Division II state title game between their schools.

"Derek's doing some chirping," Moenoa said.

Bass expected back: Second-year freshman cornerback Ray Bass is out for the rest of the season for a personal reason Jones could not disclose.

The coach did say Bass will likely be back, either in time for spring practice or next season.

"It's up to him," Jones said.

Bass quit the team last year when he was redshirting and thought about transferring, but he was reinstated.

He played in six games this year, starting one. Bass was in on eight tackles and he broke up a pass and forced a fumble.

Deadline today: The deadline for UH's "Pack The House" campaign special ticket deals is 4 p.m. tomorrow at the Stan Sheriff Center box office.

Discounts, including $10 off on a ticket for a toy donation to "Toys For Tots," as well as discounts for children and free tickets for UH students, are available.