Posted on: Sunday, August 11, 2002

With his playing days over, Gouveia to assist, get degree

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Lineman Isaac Sopoaga waits his turn during opening-day drills. Cory Lum • The Honolulu Advertiser

He won an O'ahu Prep Bowl title as a Wai'anae High senior, a national championship as a Brigham Young University linebacker and two Super Bowl rings during a 13-year career in the National Football League.

But for all of his pigskin accomplishments, Kurt Gouveia's ultimate goal is to earn a sheepskin.

"That's one of the promises I made to my parents," Gouveia said. "I told them I'd get that degree. Now that I retired about a year ago, I have that chance. It's time for me to go to back to school and get that degree."

Gouveia is serving as a UH student assistant while earning the final 21 credits for a bachelor's degree. "I'm honored to be part of the Hawai'i Warriors," Gouveia said. "It's such a great program. The kids are hustling. The kids want to win. I love to watch that."

UH coach June Jones announced that former Warriors Jacob Espiau and Rinda Brooks will serve as graduate assistants. Former UH quarterback Dan Robinson, who was a graduate assistant last year, is enrolled in dental school in Louisville.

Former UH slotback Craig Stutzmann has been named the sideline reporter for Warrior football broadcasts on KKEA (1420 AM).

• Easy as A-B-K: Defensive tackle Isaac Sopoaga, whose first named was spelled with a "K" in junior college and in high school, told UH officials he now wants it spelled with a "C." He said it was spelled with a "K" previously because there is no "C" in the Samoan language.

• Roll call: Left tackle Wayne Hunter did not practice yesterday while he awaits results of a physical examination. Hunter is expected to practice Tuesday.

Slotback Gerald Welch, who underwent surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in April, said his health is "close to 95 percent. If I work hard, by the next two weeks, it should be at 100 percent."

Linebacker Anapati Mailo, who recently returned from a two-year church mission, and linebacker Justin Faimealelei, a 2001 Kaimuki High graduate who attended Hawai'i Pacific University last year, have been added to the team's depth chart. They will not report until Aug. 26, when rosters may expand.

Wideout Jeremiah Cockheran, who attended a junior college the past two years, is reunited with high school teammate Justin Colbert, the starting left wideout. After Cockheran failed to earn a qualifying SAT score in high school, "he vowed to me he was going to make it," Colbert said. "Now, here he is. He's going to be a player."

Said Cockheran: "I have to prove myself, but I'm glad to be here."