Hawai'i looks to go bowling

Editor's Note: This is the fourth in a series of nine articles previewing Western Athletic Conference football teams. Today, the Appeal looks at University of Hawi'i.

BY DARRELL MOODY

Appeal Sports Writer

Hawaii head coach June Jones pulled no punches. He's ready for practice to start right now.

The veteran head coach wants to wipe away the disappointment of last year's 5-7 record, 4-4 in the WAC. It's the first time in seven seasons that Jones' team didn't make a bowl or seriously contend for one.

"I'm excited about getting onto the field," Jones said at last week's WAC Media Day in Boise. "We have a lot of veteran players coming back and some new players that will be competing for roster spots to look at.

"The strength of our team is obviously the offense because of the players returning. We had two freshman receivers (Davone Bess and Ryan Grice-Mullen), the only two in the history of the game to go over 1,000 yards. That says a lot. Colt (Brennan) led the nation in yardage and has a chance to be one of the better quarterbacks I've had here. I'm anxious to see him take the next steps."

Bess (5-10, 187) caught 89 passes for 1,124 yards and 14 scores. Grice-Mullen (5-10, 174) snagged 85 balls for 12 scores and 1,228 yards. Ross Dickerson (5-10, 185), a senior caught 51 passes for 725 yards.

Chad Mock (5-11, 171) is the fourth starter in the four-wideout offense that the Rainbow Warriors employ. Mock caught 42 passes for 502 yards and a score. Ian Sample (5-10, 189) and Michael Washington (5-7, 155) are the top reserves.

"Davone had a super year," assistant coach Ron Lee said. "His greatest challenge is to be better this year. He can't be just as good, he has to be better."

Brennan led the nation in five categories last year - touchdown passes (35), passing yardage (4,301), passing average (358.4), total offense (371.3) and points responsible for (19.17) - in his first year as a Division I quarterback. Not bad for a guy who has yet to totally grasp Hawai'i's spread scheme.

"It wasn't until the Wisconsin and San Diego State games later in the season that he felt confidence in where to go (with the ball)," Jones said. "He struggled early getting through the progressions. You could see he got better in the spring."

Sophomore Tyler Graunke (5-11, 175) backs up Brennan. He's fighting off two freshmen - Inoke Funaki (5-11, 210) and William Brogan (6-1, 199).

Senior Nate Ilaoa (5-9, 248) is the starter in UH's one-back set. Ilaoa carried 85 times for 643 yards and six scores in 2005. He also caught 36 passes for 274 yards. Senior Reagan Mauia and sophomore David Farmer are the back-ups.

The offensive line is a veteran group, and the strength of the offense.

Senior Dane Uperesa (6-5, 331) and senior Tala Esera (6-4, 295) return at tackle, and senior Samson Satele (6-3, 311) moves from guard to center. The new starters are redshirt freshman John Estes (6-1, 294) at right guard and junior Hercules Satele (6-2, 302) at left guard. Senior Marques Kaonohi provides depth at center and guard, and Keith Ah-Soon and Rafael Ieru are backups at tackle.

"I feel good about this group of guys," line coach Wes Suan said in the season prospectus. "We have senior leadership combined with youth.

"We had a need at center, and Samson has the ability to play both center and guard. Him coming back for his senior season was a plus."

The defense was the team's achilles heel last season, surrendering 35.7 a contest which put immense pressure on the offense week in and week out. The 'Bows defensive coordinator is Jerry Glanville, a former head coach of the Houston Oilers and the Atlanta Falcons.

The unit got a boost when free safety Leonard Peters (6-1, 199) was granted an extra year of eligibility after injuring his knee in a season-opening loss to USC. Jones said that USC's Reggie Bush called Peters the best defensive player he went against last season.

Joining Peters in the secondary are junior strong safety Brad Kalilimoku (5-10, 204) and junior cornerbacks A.J. Martinez (5-10, 177) and C.J. Hawthorne (5-11, 165). Kalilmoku had 71 tackles and two fumble recoveries last year.

At defensive end, senior Melila Purcell (6-5, 280) and senior Ikaika Alama-Francis (6-5, 280) both return. Junior Michael Lafaele is the starter entering camp at nose tackle. Alama-Francis finished with 49 tackles and five sacks last year, and Purcell finished with 34 tackles. Lafaele had 23 stops, including five behind the line of scrimmage. Sophomore Fale Laeli, senior Lawrence Wilson and sophomore Keale Watson are the key reserves.

"Both Melila and Ikaika have tremendous physical talent," defensive line coach Jeff Reinebold said. "Both worked extremely hard in the off-season in order to get to this point. Both are NFL prospects.

"When he's healthy, Melila can take over a game. There are no limits to how good Ikaika can be."

Sophomore John Fonoti (6-3, 233), sophomore Solomon Elimimian (6-0, 224), sophomore Adam Leonard (6-0, 237) and sophomore C.J. Allen-Jones (6-2, 219) are the starting linebackers. Freshman Brashton Satele will battle for playing time in the middle. Elimimian had 83 tackles a year ago.

Senior Kurt Milne, who averaged 36 yards a kick, returns. Dan Kelly, who converted 10 of 15 field goal attempts and 42 of 45 PATs, also is back.

HAWAI'I

Mascot: Rainbow Warriors

Home field: Aloha Stadium (50,000)

Head coach: June Jones (8th year)

2005 record: 5-7

Returning lettermen: 50 (21 offense, 27 defense, 2)

Lettermen lost: 10 (2 offense, 8 defense)