Elimimian out
of Hula Bowl

CORRECTION Sunday, January 16, 2005 » Solomon Elimimian, a senior football player at Crenshaw High School in Los Angeles being recruited by Hawaii, is 6 feet 1 inch tall, not 5 feet 11 inches, as was reported on Page B3 on Jan. 7. The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at corrections@starbulletin.com.

Abraham Elimimian made his first business decision, and it was a difficult one.

The former Hawaii cornerback pulled out of the Jan. 22 Hula Bowl Maui yesterday, on the advice of his agent, Michael Hoffman.

"I really wanted to play for the Hawaii fans one more time. I have a lot of friends and people who did a lot for me there," Elimimian said in a phone interview from his home in Los Angeles. "And I love my teammates, (Hula Bowl participants) Chad (Owens), Timmy (Chang), Lui (Fuga), Uriah (Moenoa). But it's the business I'm in now. Right now the biggest thing is to train for the combine in Indianapolis."

Elimimian said he "has enough game film" for scouts to look at, but will play in the Jan. 29 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., if he is invited. The Senior Bowl is considered the most prestigious college all-star game, and draws the most NFL scouts.

A Senior Bowl official said Wednesday that Elimimian is still being considered to play in the game.

"The rosters are pretty much set," media relations director Vic Knight said. "But we are still keeping an eye on the Hawaii cornerback."

Elimimian said he was told that he is the first alternate if a defensive back drops off of either Senior Bowl team.

"The Senior Bowl's the big catch. I'm hoping to get that call. (Hoffman) said the Hula Bowl's a good game, but with the type of year I had, I shouldn't play in it. It was a tough decision, but going back to Hawaii would get me distracted now," the first-team All-Western Athletic Conference performer said.

Hoffman, based in Los Angeles, also counts Carolina Panthers receiver Keary Colbert and USC coach Pete Carroll among his clients, as well as former UH cornerback Kelvin Millhouse.

"He helped Kelvin get some free-agent looks last year," Elimimian said.

Elimimian is training at Athletes Performance in Carson, Calif. Nomar Garciaparra and Mia Hamm are among the athletes who work out there.

"You get a really good workout, they help you with your form, maximize your speed," Elimimian said.

Elimimian also said his brother, Crenshaw High School senior Solomon, considers Hawaii one of his top college choices. Solomon Elimimian is a 5-foot-11, 225-pound linebacker who runs 40 yards in 4.6 seconds. Utah and Washington have also offered him scholarships, and "maybe Cal," Abraham Elimimian said.

Solomon is scheduled to begin a UH recruiting visit Jan. 21.

Quarterback Chang and receiver/kick returner Owens are both set to play in the East-West Shrine Game on Jan. 15 in San Francisco in addition to the Hula Bowl. Chang leaves for the mainland tomorrow. He will meet with potential agents, including Leigh Steinberg, before playing in the game.