Senior safety should no longer be .... of all jokes
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
Growing up with six brothers and sisters can be tough.
Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser
Growing up with the surname, "Butts," can be even tougher.
Coaches say Sean Butts' 4.3 speed helps him cover a lot of ground in the secondary.
"That's 'Seymour Butts' over there," University of Hawai'i assistant football coach Rich Miano said yesterday, pointing to safety Sean Butts.
"Sean has heard it all," said Leroy Hale, who will become his step-father in August. "Some kids used to call him 'Head,' as in 'Head Butts.' Still, he's a nice guy, a good guy, and I can't think of one negative thing to say about him."
Indeed, Butts' resume could be printed on Disney stationery. When he was in the seventh grade, he sold candy door-to-door to help support his family. In high school, he worked in a shoe store, while also helping his father's aviation business.
At UH, he is an honor student scheduled to earn a degree in marketing in August. To graduate in four years, he once earned 42 credits during an academic year. He is considering enrolling in the master's program in the fall.
He also is planning a summer wedding for his mother, Julie Howard, and Hale.
"He treats me very nicely," Hale said, adding Butts is so popular that female classmates from high school still call the family's home in Culver City, Calif.
• WHAT: University of Hawai'i football intrasquad game. • WHEN: Sunday, 5:30 p.m. • WHERE: Cooke field, UH campus (capacity 3,000). • TICKETS: $6 adults, $5 Na Koa members, senior citizens, military, fire department and police department, and all UH students with valid ID. No charge for children 3 and under. • PARKING: $3. • EVENTS: Quarterback challenge, kicking and punting contests. • PROGRAM: Gates open 4 p.m. with first 1,000 fans through gate receiving Warrior Spring Challenge T-shirts. Festivities include KCCN kid's zone with a dunking booth, football throw, jumping castle, and autograph and picture taking opportunities with players and coaches. Fans will be able to register to win prizes that include a trip for two to a 2002 Warrior football road trip, a trip for two to Las Vegas, a wireless phone with airtime, Papa John's pizza for a year, and a pair of 2002 UH football season tickets. • ENTERTAINMENT: Musical performances by Henry Kapono and Na Leo.
"I have to tell them, 'Sorry, he's in Hawai'i now,' " Hale said. And doing well.
Warrior Spring Challenge
In spring football training, Miano said, "Sean is making tremendous progress. If the season started tomorrow, he would be the guy at safety."
Last year, the 6-foot-3, 193-pound Butts moved from wide receiver.
"I played defense in high school, and I was recruited as a safety," he said. "I was willing to go either way. It was the coaches' decision to make, and I went with it."
Butts is one of the fastest Warriors, running 40 yards in 4.3 seconds and 100 meters in 10.5 seconds.
"Sean can run and he's smart, but the thing that worried me was, 'how would he tackle?' " Miano said.
Also, Miano wondered, "He'll get to a lot of balls, but will he catch them? He's a former receiver, but he doesn't have great hands."
At the end of last season, Miano warned Butts, "I'll make sure I do everything in my power to make sure you don't play unless you start lifting weights."
Butts has improved his strength, and in the rare full-contact drills this spring, he has delivered some punishing tackles. "He's become a better tackler," said Miano, who predicts Butts will have a shot at a pro career.
UH's defensive system does not have a true free safety, but in most schemes, Butts is in charge of covering the deep areas.
"We want him back there because he can cover so much ground," Miano said. "He can flat-out fly."
Said Butts: "In the beginning, it was difficult to learn the new position. But I take football just like I take my studies. I try to study real hard, and it pays off, I guess."
• McBriar loses a year: Punter Mat McBriar's Senior Walk has been moved up to December.
McBriar, who was raised in Australia, believed he would be a junior during the 2002 season. But UH officials determined that McBriar's eligibility clock began in 1998 when he attended a college in Australia, and that the coming season will be McBriar's last as a Warrior.
The NCAA allows a student-athlete five years to play four seasons, with the eligibility clock starting once a player enrolls full-time at a college.
McBriar took classes in Australia during the spring 1998 semester. He did not attend college during the 1999-2000 academic year. After being recommended to the UH coaches by San Diego Chargers punter Darren Bennett, McBriar enrolled at UH in August 2000. He earned a football scholarship in January 2001.
McBriar had believed that his sabbatical would not count against his eligibility. But after discussions with NCAA officials, UH officials determined that McBriar would only have one season left. McBriar was notified yesterday morning.
"It's disappointing," said McBriar, who is 60 credits short of a bachelor's degree.
McBriar averaged 42.3 yards per punt last season, helping the Warriors lead the Western Athletic Conference in net punting with an average of 38.9 yards.
