Linebacker will get extra year of eligibility
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
The NCAA has awarded University of Hawai'i football player Joe Correia an extra year of eligibility.
"I'm very relieved and thankful," said Correia, who moved to outside linebacker this spring.
Correia, who is a 1994 graduate of St. Louis School, played two years of professional baseball in the Minnesota Twins' farm system before suffering a career-ending shoulder injury. He worked for a year, then attended Saddleback Community College in Mission Viejo, Calif., as a part-time student for a semester. He transferred to UH in 1997, but did not play immediately.
Last fall was to be his senior season, but he suffered a broken bone in his right foot and appeared in only two games. The Western Athletic Conference and then the NCAA approved his appeal for a medical hardship.
"I'm happy to be here," said Correia, who is 23 and a father. "And I'm not the oldest person in the league."
• Trading places: In an attempt to walk in another person's cleats, the coaches asked the offensive linemen and defensive linemen to trade sides during a one-on-one drill yesterday.
Offensive tackle Uriah Moenoa made the easy transition, powering his way past a blocker during a pass rush.
The defensive linemen "thought they were hot because they made a block or two," said Moenoa, who prefers to remain on the offensive line. "But they're still scrubs, in my book."
Mike Cavanaugh, who coaches the blockers, said, "We're having a little fun out there. It gives you a really good insight into what other people do. It gives somebody a chance to see how difficult it is to block one-on-one."
Cavanaugh said there were several defensive linemen who could become effective offensive linemen. "(Defensive end) Laanui (Correa) has good feet and posture, and Joe Correia is a good blocker," Cavanaugh said. "The guy who could be a gem of a left tackle is Wayne Hunter. But he gets nervous when he comes around me. I always bug him about that."
Offensive tackle Lui Fuata said Correa has the skills necessary to be an offensive lineman. "He has good size and he knows how to hold," Fuata said.
SPRING FLING: About 1,500 tickets remain for Sunday's Spring Challenge at the UH's Cooke Field.
In addition to the annual intrasquad game, there will be quarterback challenges, an obstacle race between the defensive backs and the running backs, a tug-o-war between the defensive linemen and the offensive linemen and a kicking contest.
Former UH players Jesse Sapolu, Kaulana Noa, Garrett Gabriel and Michael Carter also will participate.
The first 1,000 fans through the gates will receive T-shirts, and fans also will be eligible for trips to Reno and Las Vegas, a free cellular telephone and a football autographed by UH coach June Jones.
Pre-sale tickets are priced at $7 (adults), $6 (Na Koa members) and $5 (ages 4 through high school). There is no admission charge for UH students with a current school ID or children 3 and younger. Tickets are sold at the Stan Sheriff Center box office.
