UNLV coach helped Hawaii blocker

UH lineman Dane Uperesa's uncle works for the Rebels

When NFL scouts call UNLV offensive line coach Keith Uperesa for his opinion on the pro-tential of his players, they also ask about one not on his team, but whom he's known since the kid was a baby: his nephew, Hawaii right tackle Dane Uperesa.

"I get a lot of inquiries," said Keith Uperesa, who arrives with the rest of the Rebels today for Saturday's game against UH. "They always ask about his demeanor, they always want to know if he has another switch."

UNLV AT HAWAII When: Saturday, 6:05 p.m. Where: Aloha Stadium TV: Oceanic PPV 255; Sunday rebroadcast, 10 a.m., KFVE (Ch. 5) Radio: KKEA, 1420-AM Tickets: $5-$38

It's what they call a mean streak, and it's hard to detect if one exists when conversing with the polite and articulate Warriors senior -- or even by watching him play, since successful blocking in UH's run-and-shoot offense is more about finesse and timing than unbridled aggression.

Maybe confidence is a better barometer. Dane Uperesa got a good dose of that when he visited his uncle five years ago, at USC's summer football camp, when Keith was a Trojans assistant.

"I remember that well," Keith said. "It was a great experience for him, to get out there and see what a Division I program looks like, and also the difficult challenges, and what he'd be compared to.

"Physically he measured up to the high-profile kids. It was, 'You know what, maybe I can play with them.'"

Dane said the camp, before his senior year at Punahou, was where he really began to focus on technique.

"It was very good, because I started to learn it wasn't just about being bigger or stronger than the player across from you," he said.

Uperesa started his first game as a redshirt freshman in 2003, but wasn't quite ready. Injuries slowed him, too, but he worked hard in the weight room and blossomed last season when he cemented his starting spot.

"By the end of last year he developed a lot of confidence," offensive line coach Wes Suan said of the 6-4, 310-pound Uperesa. "He's a great football player and he's just going to keep getting better."

If he didn't know he can still improve, he was reminded of it in the season opener Sept. 2 against Alabama. Uperesa was flagged twice for moving before the snap.

"Once was because of all the noise there, but no excuse. You just have to learn from it and move on," he said.

Keith Uperesa spearheads UNLV's considerable recruiting efforts in Hawaii, and the Rebels already have six players from here, plus former Kahuku star running back Malosi Te'o, who is serving a church mission before he enrolls in school.

He is battling UH on the field and in the recruiting wars. But Keith, a former Punahou standout like his nephew and Dane's father Kevin, admits to a soft spot for the Warriors right tackle.

"I'm going to be on the opposing sideline, but I'm getting excited about seeing Dane play. I'm proud of him, especially since he's doing it in the classroom, too. For me, I want to see him reach his maximum potential," Keith said.

Dane said despite family ties it will be all business for 60 minutes Saturday.

"He has a job to do over there with his offensive line, I have a job to do against their defensive line," he said. "I'm sure my family's excited about it. I don't see him that often because he's been on the mainland, but we are very close."

Elimimian out:

Inside linebacker Solomon Elimimian, who played in all 12 games and started 10 as a true freshman last year, is out Saturday, Hawaii coach June Jones said.

Elimimian sprained a knee in the Alabama game. He will be replaced by Brad Kalilimoku and Blaze Soares.

Adam Leonard, the other starting inside linebacker, will take over Elimimian's duties of relaying the defensive signals.

"He's smart," inside linebackers coach Cal Lee said. "He knows what to do."

Smallest crowd since 1976 is a possibility As of yesterday, around 21,500 tickets had been distributed for the Hawaii home-season-opening football game against UNLV on Saturday at Aloha Stadium, a stadium spokesman said. The smallest crowd for a UH home-season opener at Aloha Stadium was the 22,708 that saw Texas A&I beat Hawaii 56-21 on Sept. 18, 1976, the second year UH played at the Halawa facility. If the crowd does not reach 25,000, it will be the smallest home attendance at Aloha Stadium for a UH football game since Nov. 27, 1976, when 16,594 saw Oregon State beat Hawaii 59-0. Dave Reardon, Star-Bulletin