UH win would be second to upset in 1973

By Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.com

ATLANTA » Stan Berry, who played for Hawaii in its biggest football road upset win, hopes to see another huge one tomorrow at Bryant-Denny Stadium when the Warriors take on 17-point-favorite Alabama.

Berry was a freshman special teams player on the UH team that upended Washington 10-7 at Seattle in 1973. Berry, now an executive with Delta Airlines, lives in Atlanta and attended UH's practice yesterday at Georgia Tech. He will make the drive to Tuscaloosa for tomorrow's game.

"Tough, tough, tough defense and some hard running," Berry said, in describing the recipe for the 1973 upset. "We made crucial first downs. Levi Stanley recovered a fumble, and that kind of decided the game. That was the shot heard around the world."

Warriors outside linebackers coach George Lumpkin was a young assistant working with the UH defensive backs in 1973. He and Berry have stayed in touch over the years.

If Hawaii beats Alabama tomorrow, Lumpkin said it would rank behind the victory over Washington as UH's biggest road triumph.

"At that time, no one gave us a chance. They talked about it being the scrimmage before the real game," Lumpkin said.

"With Alabama, we beat them the last time and the time before we came very close. It would be a big road win, but I'm not sure it would be bigger than the Washington game."

Hold on loosely:

Things will change as game time gets closer, but the Warriors were relaxed last night as they went through their paces for the final time before busing to Birmingham today and a walk-through at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa.

This team didn't seem worried about heading into the heart of football tradition and the lair of a team that has lost only one season opener at home since 1990.

A few players -- like Amani Purcell (leg) and John Estes (groin) -- continued to struggle with tight muscles, but things were loose otherwise.

Sophomore receiver Davone Bess playfully teased reporters for their big bellies, defensive lineman Fale Laeli joined the quarterbacks in trying to throw passes -- complete with roll-out -- through targets in a screen, and running back Nate Ilaoa jokingly complained about not being on the "hands" kickoff return team.

"Who do I need to talk to about this? I've been on this team five years," Ilaoa asked a grinning Lumpkin, who has been affiliated with UH nearly five decades.

Coach June Jones said he has the Warriors right where he wants them emotionally.

"We're trying to keep them that way (loose). We do things a little different, as you can tell," he said. "But they do focus when they need to."

Jones was pleased with the practice effort and efficiency for the second straight day. Quarterback Colt Brennan and the receivers set the tone with accurate passing and no drops.

"Very, very sharp, Hopefully he'll throw that way Saturday," Jones said.

Worth a shot:

Jonathan Dwyer, one of the most highly regarded high school running backs in the nation, visited UH's practice, along with some of his Kell High School teammates. Warriors freshman safety Spencer Smith is also from Kell.

Jones and defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville had recruited Dwyer, who rushed for 1,898 yards and 24 touchdowns last year.

Dwyer decided to stay close to home and announced yesterday that he picked Georgia Tech over Florida, Georgia, LSU and Auburn.

"I considered Hawaii a lot. Coach Jones and Coach (Jerry) Glanville are great people. They recruited me very hard," Dwyer said.

"I could see myself playing there, but it seems like Georgia Tech is the place for me. I like the academics."

Short yardage:

Senior Ian Sample presented his fellow receivers with headbands inscribed with their names and numbers. ... Five former UH players: Vince Manuwai, Wayne Hunter and Chad Owens of the Jaguars and Kynan Forney and Ashley Lelie of the Falcons suited up for the Jacksonville-Atlanta preseason game at the Georgia Dome, a couple of miles away from UH practice.