Hawaii seniors put it all on line
POSTED: Saturday, December 05, 2009
The traditional tributes will come after the game.
The stakes Hawaii will play for prior to the annual senior walk may be the greater testament to the impact of the Warriors' senior class.
After two wins to open the season, a confluence of injuries and inexperience contributed to a six-game losing streak—including two blowout losses at home—that left the Warriors' season close to crumbling.
The streak could have shredded the team, but the Warriors' seniors kept it grinding into November. One win turned into four and suddenly UH hit December with a fourth straight postseason berth within sight.
“;Right there they showed a lot of leadership, and that's probably what brought us back and kept us together,”; sophomore quarterback Bryant Moniz said. “;We could have just folded and ended up a 2-10 team, but we stuck together and kept fighting and now we're on a roll.”;
The last time the Warriors missed bowl season was in 2005, when this year's fifth-year seniors were fresh out of high school. And for the first time since 2004, Hawaii enters the regular-season finale with its postseason eligibility unsettled.
The Warriors had secured Sheraton Hawaii Bowl berths prior to senior night in 2006 and 2008. In 2007, the $4 million question was whether they'd earn a spot in the BCS.
This time, the Warriors (6-6) must defeat Wisconsin (8-3) to earn a spot opposite SMU in the Hawaii Bowl or the season is over.
“;They've worked themselves into a place where they have an opportunity to play for everything,”; UH head coach Greg McMackin said. “;They've worked hard to get there and everything's on the line.”;
Hawaii's group of 24 seniors will be honored after the game with the biggest crowd of the season expected in house.
The class includes 10 starters—six on offense and four on defense—and 11 who are finishing their fifth year in the program. Most were along for the ride in the Warriors' Sugar Bowl run of 2007.
“;Too fast,”; offensive tackle Aaron Kia said of his run since 2005. “;You hear it every year from the seniors and you think 'I've got a whole other year coming up.' Next thing you know you're being asked questions about your five years.”;
John Estes has started since the opener of his freshman year and yesterday was named among the finalists for the Rimington Award, presented annually to the nation's top center.
Some had to wait quite a bit longer for their turns to break into the two-deep and embraced roles on special teams, while still others made contributions in practice as scout team players helping to prepare the starters for game days.
“;All this hard work, now it comes down to this last game,”; said linebacker and tri-captain R.J. Kiesel-Kauhane, another of the 2005 signees. “;It does add to the emotion.”;
The Warriors will try to ride that emotion into the physical challenge awaiting them when they take the field against an imposing Wisconsin team that finished fourth in the Big Ten and has had two weeks to prepare for the Warriors.
Although the season comes down to one game, it's a scenario they've grown accustomed to since falling to 2-6 on Halloween, forcing them to win out to become bowl eligible.
“;We've played with our backs against the wall, we've played with pressure for these past four weeks, so I think we're used to the atmosphere,”; Moniz said.
In 2004, the senior combination of Tim Chang and Chad Owens led UH to a win over Michigan State to make the Hawaii Bowl. This year's senior class again figures to set the tone with the Warriors' season on the line.
“;We want to get them to a bowl game and show how grateful we are for their leadership this year and keeping us together,”; junior slotback Greg Salas said.
More on the Rimington
Joining Estes among the Rimington finalists are Chris Hall (Texas), Jake Kirkpatrick (TCU), Maurkice Pouncey (Florida), Matthew Tennant (Boston College) and J.D. Walton (Baylor).
The Rimington Award committee uses four All-America teams—the American Football Coaches Association, Walter Camp Foundation, The Sporting News and Football Writers Association of America—to determine the winner, to be announced during the ESPNU/Home Depot College Football Awards show on Thursday.
Funaki picked for academy
Senior Inoke Funaki is among 30 student-athletes who will participate in the NCAA Football Coaches Academy set for Jan. 10-12 in Orlando, Fla.
“;Coaching is one of my career ambitions and I'm excited to be able to learn from the best in the collegiate coaching profession,”; Funaki said in a release.
HAWAII PROBABLE STARTERS
| OFFENSE | ||||
| Z | 7 | Jovonte Taylor | 5-9 | 170 |
| Y | 2 | Jon Medeiros | 5-9 | 185 |
| LT | 77 | Aaron Kia | 6-5 | 290 |
| LG | 64 | Ray Hisatake | 6-3 | 315 |
| C | 55 | John Estes | 6-3 | 300 |
| RG | 74 | Raphael Ieru | 6-2 | 315 |
| RT | 51 | Austin Hansen | 6-4 | 285 |
| H | 1 | Greg Salas | 6-2 | 200 |
| X | 21 | Kealoha Pilares | 5-11 | 200 |
| QB | 17 | Bryant Moniz | 6-0 | 190 |
| RB | 23 | Leon Wright-Jackson | 6-1 | 215 |
| DEFENSE | ||||
| DE | 90 | Elliott Purcell | 6-3 | 255 |
| DT | 49 | Tuika Tufaga | 6-2 | 285 |
| DT | 95 | Vaughn Meatoga | 6-2 | 290 |
| DE | 58 | Fetaiagogo Fonoti | 6-2 | 255 |
| SLB | 59 | R.J. Kiesel-Kauhane | 5-11 | 225 |
| MLB | 5 | Jake Heun | 6-2 | 240 |
| BLB | 53 | Blaze Soares | 6-1 | 245 |
| CB | 2 | Lametrius Davis | 6-0 | 190 |
| SAM | 9 | Spencer Smith | 5-11 | 205 |
| FS | 43 | Mana Silva | 6-1 | 220 |
| CB | 18 | Jeramy Bryant | 5-10 | 180 |
| SPECIALISTS | ||||
| PK | 20 | Scott Enos | 5-9 | 180 |
| P | 31 | Alex Dunnachie | 6-3 | 235 |
| Snap | 45 | Luke Ingram | 6-5 | 210 |
| Hold | 11 | Inoke Funaki | 5-11 | 205 |
| KR | 7 | Jovonte Taylor | 5-9 | 170 |
| PR | 88 | Ryan Henry | 5-9 | 170 |
WISCONSIN PROBABLE STARTERS
| OFFENSE | |||||
| WR | 1 | Nick Toon | 6-3 | 212 | |
| TE | 89 | Garrett Graham | 6-3 | 250 | |
| LT | 68 | Gabe Carimi | 6-7 | 325 | |
| LG | 74 | John Moffitt | 6-5 | 320 | |
| C | 66 | Peter Konz | 6-5 | 315 | |
| RG | 70 | Kevin Zeitler | 6-4 | 317 | |
| RT | 78 | Jake Bscherer | 6-7 | 310 | |
| TE | 84 | Lance Kendricks | 6-4 | 236 | |
| RB | 32 | John Clay | 6-1 | 248 | |
| QB | 16 | Scott Tolzien | 6-3 | 205 | |
| WR | 6 | Isaac Anderson | 5-10 | 177 | |
| DEFENSE | |||||
| DE | 50 | O'Brien Schofield | 6-3 | 248 | |
| DT | 45 | Dan Moore | 6-2 | 283 | |
| DT | 79 | Jeff Stehle | 6-6 | 310 | |
| DE | 99 | J.J. Watt | 6-6 | 287 | |
| WLB | 47 | Jaevrey McFadden | 6-2 | 230 | |
| MLB | 15 | Culmer St. Jean | 6-0 | 233 | |
| SLB | 44 | Chris Borland | 5-11 | 235 | |
| CB | 29 | Niles Brinkley | 5-10 | 188 | |
| SS | 2 | Jay Valai | 5-9 | 201 | |
| FS | 21 | Chris Maragos | 6-0 | 198 | |
| CB | 10 | Devin Smith | 5-11 | 188 | |
| SPECIALISTS | |||||
| PK | 18 | Philip Welch | 6-3 | 200 | |
| Punt | 98 | Brad Nortman | 6-3 | 209 | |
| LS | 62 | Kyle Wojta | 6-2 | 231 | |
| Hold | 21 | Chris Maragos | 6-0 | 198 | |
| PR | 85 | David Gilreath | 5-11 | 170 | |
| KR | 6 | Isaac Anderson | 5-10 | 177 |
HAWAII CLASS OF 2009
(Number, player, year joined team, hometown)
Quarterback
12, Greg Alexander, 2008, Santa Rosa, Calif.
RUNNING BACK
11, Inoke Funaki, 2005, Laie
22, Jayson Rego, 2005, Wailuku
23, Leon Wright-Jackson, 2007, Pasco, Wash.
35, Kimo Alo, 2009, Hauula
RECEIVER
2, Jon Medeiros, 2007, Kapolei
24, Craig Bell, 2008, Compton, Calif.
OFFENSIVE LINE
55, John Estes, 2005, Stockton, Calif.
58, Joey Lipp, 2006, Chino, Calif.
64, Ray Hisatake, 2007, San Francisco, Calif.
74, Raphael Ieru, 2005, Honolulu
77, Aaron Kia, 2005, Mililani
79, Daniel Johnson, 2005, Issaquah, Wash.
DEFENSIVE LINE
36, Viliami Nauahi, 2007, Laie
46, Victor Clore, 2006, Kaneohe
49, Tuika Tufaga, 2008, Laie
54, Bo Montgomery, 2008, Kailua-Kona
58, Fetaiagogo Fonoti, 2005, Honolulu
80, Antwan Mahaley, 2005, Carson, Calif.
91, Chris Leatigaga, 2007, San Jose, Calif.
92, Rocky Savaiigaea, 2005, Ewa Beach
LINEBACKERS
47, Joshua Rice, 2005, Las Vegas, Nev.
53, Blaze Soares, 2006, Kaneohe
59, R.J. Kiesel-Kauhane, 2005, Aiea
