Chad Owens named WAC player of week
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
University of Hawai'i football player Chad Owens today was named the Western Athletic Conference's Special Teams Player of the Week.
Owens, a 5-foot-8, 175-pound freshman from Roosevelt High, scored on a 100-yard kickoff return in the Warriors' 52-30 victory over Air Force Saturday night.
It was credited as the second-longest kickoff return in the program's history, although it equaled the distance of Thomas Kaulukukui's 103-yard return in 1935. The rules have changed since then, and any kickoff return fielded in the end zone is credited as a 100-yard return. Owens' kickoff return started 3 yards deep in the end zone.
"It's a great honor, but I thank God for the blocks and for my teammates," Owens said. In particular, Owens said, a block from Tui Ala provided a running lane along the sideline.
"He's an offensive Nate Jackson," UH coach June Jones said, comparing Owens to the Warriors' gritty starting free safety. "He has tremendous vision and great toughness."
Owens, a backup at left slotback, was one of the last players added to the travel roster for the Warriors' first road game. As a kick returner, he said, "I was like third or fourth on the depth chart."
But Rich Miano, who coaches the return team, was impressed with Owens' work in practice. Miano encouraged Jones to allow Owens to return kicks. Owens earned his chance against Fresno State, and has kept the job ever since.
"To be a great kickoff return guy you have to be fearless, and he's fearless," Miano said.
Owens, who also returns punts, rarely calls for fair catches — and he rarely goes down without a fight.
He credits his legs, which were strengthened from weight training, playing soccer and his hip-hop dance moves. "None of this ballet-type stuff," Owens said. "I can dance."
He said he hopes his returns lead to a bigger return — a football scholarship. Owens pays his way to school.
"If I keep working hard, hopefully the coaches will notice and give me my shot," he said.
