RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM Chad Owens celebrated after scoring on a punt return in the third quarter of UH's Oct. 23 win over San Jose State.

Fearless Warrior

Hawaii punt returner Chad Owens
has overcome the odds to be
a difference-maker

"There's no other feeling like it. When you return that kick you get that tingly feeling inside -- it's on your cheeks. For that one moment, you feel free. That's the feeling I feel. I feel free for a good split-second when I know it's going to be a touchdown."

Record-breaking Hawaii punt returner Chad Owens was born with the heart of a daredevil. So, of course, he was always a little fidgety.

"Everybody told me he was hyperactive, and in elementary school he was kind of distracted," said his mother, Charmaine Voss. "Later on he started playing sports, and school became important and he shaped up."

Now, Owens, who was an honor-roll student at Roosevelt High School, is just a few months away from a college degree. And he has that restless, antsy, adventurous side to thank for the scholarship that's helping him attain his diploma.

"He was always the energizer, always kind of jumpy, always running around. He was a great soccer player. I think that's where he gets some of those moves," said Chad Kapanui, his friend and teammate since their days together at Roosevelt.

Owens -- Hawaii's career leader in all-purpose yardage -- holds eight other school marks in receiving, returns and scoring. He and 25 other seniors will be honored at Aloha Stadium following Saturday's final regular-season game.

Owens has a school-record four TDs on punt returns this season, including a 76-yarder against Northwestern last Saturday that was played over and over on ESPN. It will likely be shown some more on ESPN2 this Saturday, since the station is televising UH's encounter with Michigan State.

"It's something you dream about, but I never really imagined myself on national TV like that," Owens said.

In effect, the play is the cover letter of his rˇsumˇ. The punt return is where Owens shines most, and it is what coach June Jones thinks can get Owens a spot on an NFL roster next year.

"I don't hear anything. The crowd's roaring, but it's like I'm in my own little world, for that split-second. It's amazing. You don't hear a thing."

CHAD OWENS DECIDED not to listen to those who told him to forget about playing football at the University of Hawaii.

Did people discourage him because of his size?

The 5-foot-7, 173-pound Owens answered with his own question.

"What do you think?

"Throughout high school I was told I'd have a slim chance at the next level. I was small, not real fast. Some people, and I won't mention names, told me I had no chance, and I might as well go play defensive back in junior college. I used it for motivation. Then again, there were those who encouraged me," he said.

One was Kapanui, his higher-profile Roosevelt classmate who received a scholarship to UH as a quarterback.

"All these touchdowns is nothing new to me," Kapanui said. "He did the same thing in high school. That's why he walks with a swagger. I was fortunate to play with him and see it first. It seemed like every game we played (at Roosevelt) he had a big return. He just didn't have the publicity in high school.

"I knew he'd get a scholarship if he came here. It turned out just right for him."

Owens' mother said the lack of opportunities after high school motivated him.

"I think it made him prove to everybody he can do it," she said. "He's the type, instead of grumbling about your problems, do something about your problems."

On Dec. 8, 2001, Owens returned a punt and a kickoff for a touchdown and tied or set three NCAA records as Hawaii beat Brigham Young 72-45.

In January 2002, Owens was put on scholarship.

"I've always wanted to skydive, bodyboard all that. I never did rush a big wave, like an 8-footer. But I've caught some pretty big waves down at Sandy Beach and stuff. I was out there on a 6- to 8-foot day. This was a while ago during high school. That was our giant rush, like kids. Not worried about anything, just having fun."

"WE DID OUR crazy stuff as kids, but nothing really bad. He's not super-crazy or anything, but he's crazy in football," Kapanui said. "He doesn't fair-catch, he doesn't know what that is."

UH special teams coach Mouse Davis said he thinks Owens has made one fair catch in his entire career.

He is fearless and peerless.

Owens does have a protegˇ, however, in freshman Jason Ferguson. Ferguson is even smaller than Owens, but his feet are just as happy.

Ferguson is in awe of Owens.

"His vision and his ability to make cuts while at full speed are incredible," said Ferguson, who returned kickoffs this year. "That man is a daredevil. I want to get all his attributes."

Another Owens trademark is strength. It is what allowed him to keep going when he was in the grasp of Northwestern's 6-foot-1, 225-pound punter Brian Huffman on his TD return Saturday.

Owens hasn't measured his weight-room prowess lately, but he said in high school he did 26 reps of 225 pounds, an incredible accomplishment for someone his size.

"I enjoyed it. It's always fun to see who can be the strongest," Owens said. "My junior year I was injured during track and basketball season, so I just lifted. I got real strong."

"Then you're back to this earth and you're feeling yourself again, you hear the roars and the cheers. It's pretty amazing when you think about it. You've got to actually be the one experiencing it."

DAVIS CAN RELATE to Owens. He returned punts, too, "about 103 years ago."

"I dropped one, and at that time they could pick it up and run with it. It only cost us the championship, no big thing," Davis said.

Davis agrees with Jones that games are often determined by punt returns. Twice now, Owens has returned punts for touchdowns at the outset of the second half to demoralize trailing opponents hoping for a fresh start after intermission.

"It can be such a big game-turner. You can drop it, and swing it that way, or you can return it for a score. Such a plus or negative for a team," Davis said. "You get a kid like Chad, it's almost always a plus. He really turned some tides for us."

Davis said the entire punt-return team shares in and is inspired by Owens' runs.

"You get a little success, and every kid starts working harder," he said. "Keao (Monteilh) made three blocks on that touchdown (Saturday), Ryan (Keomaka) made two and Ross Dickerson made two."

Kapanui, who came to UH with much more acclaim than his friend, said he is proud to have a role in his success.

"My most memorable moment was BYU. And I was part of it, punt return and kick return unit," he said. "It's a special thing for us to be together. From freshman year, not one touchdown return did he make that I wasn't part of it."

Earlier this week, Owens was named to the Western Athletic Conference first team as a receiver for the second time. He was also picked to the second team as a return specialist, behind Tulsa's Ashlan Davis, who has five TDs on kickoffs this year.

"It's an amazing feat, but he's an amazing player," Jones said.

With his combination of accomplishments and fresh highlight footage, Owens could be in line for All-America honors as an all-purpose player.

Not bad for a fidgety little guy with no speed who had to walk on.

Many Happy Returns

Hawaii is 6-0 in games in which Chad Owens has returned a kickoff or punt for a touchdown.(All games were at Aloha Stadium.)

Date	Opponent	Play	Final Score
Nov. 24, 2001	Air Force	100 yds., kick	52-30
Dec. 8, 2001	Brigham Young	100 yds., kick
		82 yds., punt	72-45
Oct. 2, 2004	Tulsa	66 yds., punt	44-16
Oct. 9, 2004	Nevada	75 yds., punt	48-26
Oct. 23, 2004	San Jose State	71 yds., punt	46-28
Nov. 27, 2004	Northwestern	76 yds., punt	49-41