UH football recruit ineligible for 2002
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
A second football recruit — and possibly a third — will not play for the University of Hawai'i football team this season.
Defensive tackle Darrell Tautofi, a Kaimuki High graduate who played at Dixie State College in Utah last year, did not earn enough credits to transfer to UH this season. Tautofi will enroll in an undisclosed four-year college for a year, then transfer to UH. Because the four-year college does not sponsor a football team, Tautofi will not lose any eligibility, and will have two years to play two seasons at UH.
Tautofi, who is 6 feet 4 and 270 pounds, was named to the All-Western States Football League all-star team. Last season, Dixie finished 11-1, and was ranked No. 3 nationally.
The NCAA Clearinghouse still is reviewing the eligibility of defensive back Andrew John "A.J." Martinez, a recent graduate of Edison High in Huntington Beach, Calif.
Until Martinez is cleared, he is prohibited from enrolling at UH or practicing with the Warriors. As a result, Martinez will not report to UH Monday, the first day of meetings for Warrior newcomers.
The Los Angeles Times and Orange County Register named the 6-foot, 185-pound Martinez as the 2001 Orange County Back of the Year. He was used at cornerback, running back, receiver, kick-returner, placekicker and punter.
Last week, The Advertiser reported that defensive end Mel Purcell Jr. did not meet the requirements to play as a college freshman. Because the 6-foot-5, 230-pound Purcell earned a cumulative 3.6 grade-point average at Leoni High in American Samoa, easily passing such courses as trigonometry and chemistry, UH has petitioned the NCAA to classify Purcell as a "partial-qualifier."
Although a partial-qualifier is not allowed to compete in games, he is permitted to receive an athletic scholarship, attend team meetings and participate in practices.
The NCAA freshman eligibility rules will change next year. If the modified rules were in place today, Purcell would be eligible to play this season.
NOTES: UH head coach June Jones and receivers coach Ron Lee said they did not know if wide receiver Frank Rivers plans to report to the team Aug. 26, the first day rosters may expand. Rivers was not invited to training camp, and a report said he was considering retiring. ... Although the Warriors are hopeful of securing chartered flights to their five road games this season, new UH athletic director Herman Frazier said, "I'll tell you what ... I have never talked to June about it. I've heard some conversations from (associate athletic director Jim) Donovan that football wanted to charter." In the past, UH chartered from the West Coast to a Mainland city.
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Subject to change
- Aug. 31 Eastern Illinois
- Sept. 6 at BYU
- Sept. 21 at UTEP
- Sept. 28 SMU
- Oct. 5 at Boise State
- Oct. 12 Nevada
- Oct. 19 Tulsa
- Oct. 25 at Fresno State
- Nov. 2 San Jose State
- Nov. 16 at Rice
- Nov. 23 Cincinnati
- Nov. 30 Alabama
- Dec. 7 San Diego State
