Nine Warriors all-WAC

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

The Western Athletic Conference announced its annual football awards yesterday, although the nine honored University of Hawai'i players probably were more deserving of badges of honor.

Hawai'i's Ashley Lelie was one of three Warriors named to the All-WAC first team. Six made the second team. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

"They know what it takes to be winners," UH coach June Jones said. "They accomplished a lot through a lot of adversity."

Wide receiver Ashley Lelie, offensive lineman Manly Kanoa III and middle linebacker Chris Brown were selected to the first team.

Offensive lineman Vince Manuwai, defensive end Travis Laboy, outside linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa, safety Nate Jackson, punter Mat McBriar and return specialist Chad Owens were chosen for the second team.

The 10 WAC head coaches selected the teams. A head coach could not vote for his own players.

Lelie, Laboy, Jackson, McBriar and Owens joined the Warriors as non-scholarship players.

Lelie, a junior from Radford High, leads the WAC and is third nationally in receiving, averaging 131.9 yards per game.

"It's a cool honor to be picked," Lelie said. "That was one of my goals."

Radford did not win any games during Lelie's senior season in 1997. He did not receive any Division I scholarship offers, and decided to pay his own tuition at UH. The Warriors were winless in 1998, when Lelie redshirted. But in 1999, Jones' first year as UH head coach, Lelie was named the starting right wideout after gaining strength and quickness.

"He worked really hard," Jones said. "Believe it or not, his best football is ahead of him."

Two weeks ago, Lelie was named to the Football News' All-America third team. Sunday night, he was selected as the Warriors' most valuable player.

Chris Brown said he was inspired by a skinny teammate. Advertiser library photo

"We call it grinding — he pushed himself so hard," said Mike Cavanaugh, who coaches the UH linemen. "He's an intelligent player and he understands the system, but he really worked hard on his footwork."

"Running makes a difference," Kanoa said. "The strength program helped, too. I worked hard and we worked hard as a team. ... This is a huge honor. It's the gravy on the loco-moco."

Brown, a junior from Damien Memorial High, made the transition from defensive end last spring. "I knew it would be a challenge for me," said Brown, who can bench press 500 pounds.

Brown credits defensive tackles Mike Iosua and Lance Samuseva for absorbing blockers and clearing a path to the ballcarrier. "Half the time I'm free," Brown said.

Brown has ligament tears in his right shoulder and a deep contusion on his left forearm. But he said he draws inspiration from Jackson, a 165-pound safety who also has torn ligaments in his shoulders.

"If skinny little Nate can handle that, I can handle my pain," Brown said.

Said Jones: "Chris is tough. The other teams know what kind of player he is."

"It's the gravy on the loco-moco," said Manly Kanoa III about being picked. Advertiser library photo

"I was born with this," said Manuwai, who aspires to work with disabled and disadvantaged children. "I've been playing with this my whole life. I have no excuses. If I feel sorry for myself, I might as well not play this game."

Tinoisamoa, who was raised in San Diego, struggled academically last semester and nearly did not qualify to play this season. But he earned enough credits during summer school to retain his eligibility. He led the Warriors in tackles before suffering a stress fracture in his right fibula last month.

Laboy, the son of former UH player Cliff Laboy, transferred from Utah State last year. He has emerged as the Warriors' best pass rusher.

McBriar, who was raised in Australia, did not play football until the summer of 2000.

Owens, a redshirt freshman from Roosevelt High, was not named the team's returner until the seventh game, against Fresno State Oct. 26.

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