Posted on: Thursday, September 20, 2001

Fourth-string safety may make Nevada trip

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

As the University of Hawai'i football team finalizes its 60-player travel roster for Saturday's game against Nevada, one of the last spots might go to a 172-pound, fourth-string safety.

Dan Berryman, who moved from wide receiver to defensive back in training camp, is valued for his ability to punt and place kick.

UH coach June Jones had not planned on taking a backup for place-kicker Justin Ayat and punter Mat McBriar.

But now Jones said Berryman is being considered, especially because of his improved play on special teams.

Last season, Berryman was the punter for the first two games before yielding the job to McBriar. Berryman also can kick off.

"He's on the border," said Jones, who will finalize the travel roster after this morning's practice. The Warriors are scheduled to leave on a charter flight at 10 a.m. today.

Jones said he has not determined whether defensive tackle Mike Iosua, who has a hyper-extended right knee, will make the trip. Iosua said he feels some pain in the knee, "like a pulled muscle," when he runs laterally.

"He'll probably be out," defensive coordinator Kevin Lempa said.

Said Iosua: "If they need me, I'm ready to go. If I'm hurting them, I don't want to play. But I think I can contribute."

If Iosua is unavailable, right end Houston Ala will start at left tackle, and Joe Correia, who started at strong-side linebacker against Montana, will open at right end.

Jones said the travel roster is two-deep at the four receiver positions. Left slotback Chad Owens will make this trip, but wide receiver Mark Tate will not. Tafiti Uso apparently has earned the top backup job to left wideout Justin Colbert.

Ten offensive linemen are on the travel roster. If tackle Ryan Santos cannot play because of a pulled hamstring, walk-on Charlie Dutra will make the trip.

• Counting pigskins: While in bed every night, left slotback Channon Harris will try to make 100 one-handed catches. He then will sleep with the football cradled in his arms.

"I want to catch passes in my dreams," said Harris, who had two drops in the season-opener against Montana.

Harris also struggled to hold on to passes last season. He said his problem is he tries to think ahead.

"If I'm open and I see the ball coming to me, I'm not thinking about catching it — I feel I'm going to catch it — I'm thinking about what I'm going to do after I catch it," he said.

He said he has improved his concentration in practice. "That's the first step," he said. "I want to transfer that to the game."