Slimmed down Tinoisamoa comes up big for UH defense

•	Patchwork UH defense puts bear hug on Grizzlies
•	Maui gets to see Warriors win
•	Defense helps Warriors make it through the night
	Tell us what you thought about the game

By Timothy Hurley
Advertiser Staff Writer

WAILUKU, Maui — For linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa, last night's Montana game may finally mark the beginning of potential fulfilled.

UH's Pisa Tinoisamoa, who was 255 pounds last season, now packs 215 on his 6-foot frame. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

"I was just doing my job the best I could,'' he said. "The D-line did its job and allowed me to flow. And when I flow, that's when I do well.''

As the 1998 San Diego County Player of the Year, Tinoisamoa was one of coach June Jones' most highly regarded recruits in his first year at Hawai'i.

But in the fall of 1999, Tinoisamoa was declared ineligible to play as a college freshman after the NCAA ruled that one of his high school classes did not qualify as a "core subject." Since then, the NCAA has changed its guidelines, letting each high school determine core subjects. Under that interpretation, Tinoisamoa would have been allowed to play in 1999.

Last season, Tinoisamoa's weight ballooned to 255. The result was a loss of speed and quickness.

"I couldn't play at that weight,'' he said. "I thought I could. I thought it would give me more strength. But I lied to myself.''

Last night, Tinoisamoa used his speed and quickness to hound Montana quarterback John Edwards.

"I'm just trying to do what I can to show I can play at this level,'' he said. "Everything that has happened to me in the past helped prepare me for the future. God has a plan for me and, slowly, it's unfolding for me.''

With time running down in the fourth quarter and the Warrior defense backed up against its own goal, Tinoisamoa rushed Edwards, causing him to misfire. The animated linebacker waved to the crowd to make some noise — and they responded.

"It was exciting,'' he said. "It was great to get that winning feeling back into our system again. We didn't do much winning last year.''

Tinoisamoa said that while he had an outstanding game, he did miss some tackles and was out of position on occasion.

"I can do a lot better. I know I'll get better,'' he said.

After the game, Jones pointed to Tinoisamoa as one of the game's standouts.

"A lot of people were skeptical we could play so well. They underestimated us,'' Tinoisamoa said. "But we knew from practice that we could do this well.''