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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, August 21, 2002

Manuwai providing backup on long snaps

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

University of Hawai'i football player Vince Manuwai, who already is a candidate for the Outland Trophy as the nation's best lineman, is working out as a long-snapper.

"It can't hurt," said Mike Cavanaugh, who coaches UH's offensive linemen.

Manuwai, who starts at right guard, tried long-snapping two years ago. Because of injuries to several players last year, Manuwai was used as a long-snapper on the scout team for a week.

This season, Manuwai is listed as the No. 2 long-snapper, behind Lui Fuata, on field-goal attempts.

"You have to do what you have to do," Manuwai said.

Manuwai said he has few problems in isolated drills, but admits to being nervous when he snaps during full-contact drills.

"There's a lot of pressure," he said. "A bad snap can cost you three points. You never know if that will be the difference in a game."

He said he is working on his technique and accuracy.

"It's not an easy job," he said. "But if you can do it, you have a chance to make an NFL team. Every NFL team needs a long-snapper."

• Health report: Starting left guard Shayne Kajioka is the latest to join the injury list. Kajioka suffered a mild concussion Monday, and is not expected to compete in full-contact drills until at least tomorrow.

With Phil Kauffman also slowed by an injury, Chad Kahale, a redshirt sophomore from St. Louis School, has received work with the first team.

Cavanaugh said he also would like Brandon Eaton, a backup at center and both tackle positions, to learn to play guard.

Injured wideouts Justin Colbert and Omar Bennett resumed practicing yesterday.

• Tata update: Linebacker Tony Tata, who recently left the Nebraska football team, is prepared to enroll at UH, family members confirmed yesterday.

Tata is a 1998 graduate of St. Louis School. At Nebraska, he redshirted in 1998, played a total of 12 games in 1999 and 2000, and sat out last season while recovering from a knee injury.

He left Nebraska, citing "personal reasons," although it is believed he wanted to tend to his son, who is battling an illness.

Tata is applying for a special waiver that would allow him to play for the Warriors as a sixth-year player in 2003. NCAA rules limit a football player to five years to play four seasons. Because a player must sit out a season after transferring to a second NCAA Division I-A school, this would be Tata's final collegiate season if he does not receive the waiver.

• New practice schedule: Today and tomorrow, the Warriors will practice from 2-5 p.m. and 7:45-9:15 at the grass practice field.

Friday, UH practices from 1:45-3:15 at the grass practice field and 6-8 p.m. at Aloha Stadium. The night practice at the stadium is closed to the public.

In the first 10 days of training camp, the Warriors practiced in the morning and afternoon.

The Warriors are expected to stage a controlled scrimmage during Saturday's practice at the grass field. That practice is scheduled for 8:30-11:30 a.m., and is open to the public.

• TV update: K5 general manager John Fink said the success of the pay-per-view package for Warrior home games will not be known until October.

UH opens the season Aug. 31 against Eastern Illinois, a Division I-AA program. The Warriors have two road games and a bye in the ensuing three weeks.

"I think this thing will play out based on the team performance," Fink said. "People are still in the summer mode. Hopefully, people will watch the first game, then decide this is something they want."

K5, which owns the local television rights to UH sports, is producing the pay-per-view live telecasts. Oceanic-Time Warner Cable of Hawai'i is supplying the digital cable box needed to unscramble the signals.

Fink said K5 produced the television commercials for the service, while Oceanic paid for the newspaper advertisements.

• Coaches camp: The June Jones Sports Agility Camp is Sunday morning, from 8 to 10:30, at UH's grass practice field.

The camp is open to all ages.

The entry fee is $10, and Jones and other UH coaches will be the featured instructors. Proceeds go to Na Koa, the football program's booster club.

For details, call 671-3812.