UH sports
WAC honors Hawai'i's Laboy

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Yesterday, it was Laboy's turn to be thrown for a loss when he learned he was named the Western Athletic Conference's Defensive Player of the Week.

"I don't really know what to say," Laboy said, "except I want to thank my teammates."

It has been a surprising ascent for Laboy, who missed spring practice in March because of a viral infection and preseason training camp because of a torn right hamstring.

"He was sick, he was hurt, he fell off his moped; it was all kinds of freaky things," UH defensive coordinator Kevin Lempa said. "He was frustrated. We knew he could run and we knew he was strong. But we didn't get to see him in a game situation."

Laboy said he resisted a desire to return before he was fully healed.

"It's better late than never, right?" Laboy said. "I didn't want to come back and not be able to do anything."

Laboy played sparingly in the second game against Nevada and started the following week against Rice.

Lempa turned Laboy loose against SMU, allowing him to storm the weak side.

"He had a hell of a game," Lempa said. "He's still raw, but he's got the potential to be a good football player. He has a good concept of what we're trying to do."

Laboy credited his teammates, as well as his father, Cliff Laboy, a former UH defensive lineman and coach June Jones' teammate. He said he transferred from Utah State last year to be closer to his father. Cliff Laboy lives in Mililani and works on Ward Avenue.

"He's like an extra coach," Laboy said. "Before the SMU game, we sat down and went over tapes together. He helps me out a lot."

Health report: Quarterback Tim Chang, who missed the SMU game because of a sprain on his throwing wrist, is scheduled to throw in this morning's two-hour practice.

If Chang can throw without pain, he will start in Saturday's game against Texas-El Paso, Jones said.

Jones said there is no deadline for Chang, and he is not worried about preparation time.

"Even if he doesn't take a snap until Saturday night, he'll be fine," Jones said.

Chang said the swelling in his right wrist has diminished. "We'll see what happens," he said.

Running back Mike Bass, who suffered a mild ankle sprain, said he is healthy enough to start against UTEP. "Everything is fine," Bass said yesterday morning.

Cornerback Hyrum Peters is recovering from a pulled hamstring. If Peters cannot play, Lempa said, Kelvin Millhouse and Abraham Elimimian will start at cornerback.

Sweet redemption: Following a loss to Nevada two weeks ago, the Warriors' run-and-shoot offense was criticized for not using enough time and for being ineffective in the red zone (between an opponent's 20 and end zone).

But this week's statistics show the Warriors lead the Western Athletic Conference in time of possession (33 minutes, 45 seconds per game) and are third in red zone offense (scoring on 80 percent of the opportunities ).

Wideout Ashley Lelie is No. 1 nationally in receiving yards, averaging 139.5 yards per game.

UTEP update: Chris Porter, the Miners' leading rusher, will not make the trip because of a dislocated elbow.

Wide receiver Lee Mays sprained an ankle on Saturday, but is expected to begin practicing tomorrow.

Former UH coach Bob Wagner, UTEP's defensive coordinator, said he was surprised to learn that defensive lineman Sione Tafuna was on the Warriors' roster. Wagner recruited Tafuna in 1995.

"That's been forever," Wagner said.

Tafuna went on a church mission for a couple of years.