4 USC players at Hula
Bowl await pro careers

WAILUKU » Four players in tomorrow's Hula Bowl Maui are coming off the ultimate college football achievement -- a national championship ... or two national championships, if you count the Associated Press poll above the BCS.

Linebacker Matt Grootegoed, fullback Lee Webb, cornerback Kevin Arbet and tight end Alex Holmes of USC are preparing for the next phase, their pro careers.

"It's been a great couple of weeks (since the Trojans' victory over Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl for the BCS championship)," Grootegoed said. "There are going to be great memories for a lifetime, and we've been getting lots of congratulations. But now we have to do the best we can to show we can help NFL teams win, too."

Webb, a key blocker for Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Matt Leinart, said he admired Leinart's decision to remain at USC for his senior year, although he's not sure he would've done it himself.

"I think he made the best decision for him and his family. I would have stretched it out like he did," Webb said. "But my family's poor, so I might have gone to the NFL."

In the Navy: One Hula Bowl player is basically untouchable as a prospect, but he is the most respected in many ways.

Navy fullback Kyle Eckel had 13 100-yard rushing games in his Midshipman career, and two consecutive 1,000-yard seasons.

But instead of an NFL training camp, Eckel expects to be an ensign learning the rudiments of surface fleet warfare this summer.

"I have no complaints, because this is the path I chose," Eckel said. "I'm just glad to have this opportunity to play another game and represent my school and my country."

Eckel played under former UH offensive coordinator Paul Johnson at Navy.

Great White North: Not every scout here is from the NFL.

Former San Jose State star and NFL receiver Tim Kearse is the receivers coach for Saskatchewan of the CFL. He attended this week's Hula Bowl practices because of a chance encounter last week.

"I came to Maui on vacation, and someone at the Maui Prince told me about the Hula Bowl, so I extended my stay," said Kearse, who left yesterday for the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala.

Kearse -- who played in the CFL before his NFL stint -- said Canada is a good opportunity for many of the Hula Bowl prospects to develop themselves into NFL players.

"A lot of these guys get passed over by the NFL, but they just need the opportunity," he said. "Some of them can have great careers in Canada, and some will play in our league for a few years and then go down south."

Short yardage: Eight hundred general admission tickets remained available yesterday, so it was not yet determined if the ESPN2 blackout on Maui would be lifted. ... Hawaii receiver Chad Owens practiced yesterday despite aggravating sore ribs at the end of Tuesday's practice. He was still undecided about playing tomorrow.