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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, December 7, 2002

Five Warriors recognized as first-team All-WAC all stars

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Five University of Hawai'i football players yesterday were named to the Western Athletic Conference all-star team.

Wideout Justin Colbert, right guard Vince Manuwai, linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa, strong safety Hyrum Peters and punter Mat McBriar were honored in a polling of the conference's 10 head coaches. (A coach was not allowed to vote for his players.)

"That's real nice," UH coach June Jones said of his five first-team players. "It's a reflection of winning. When you win, players get recognized."

Colbert, Manuwai, Tinoisamoa and Peters were part of Jones' first UH recruiting class in 1999. McBriar, a resident of Australia, joined the following year as a walk-on. Peters, a Kahuku High graduate, also was a walk-on.

"I'm very happy for them," Jones said. "They worked very hard."

In 12 games, Colbert has caught 75 passes for 1,056 yards and six touchdowns. He is the sixth player to amass 2,000 receiving yards in a UH career.

Manuwai has made a team-high 53 pancake blocks this season while relinquishing one sack. He has been invited to play in the Hula Bowl, East-West Shrine Game and Senior Bowl.

Tinoisamoa, who also accepted an invitation to play in the Senior Bowl, is fourth in the WAC with an average of 9.4 tackles per game. Tinoisamoa has 16 tackles for negative yards.

Peters, who played nickelback and cornerback during his first two seasons, switched to strong safety in training camp. Of his four interceptions, three have been returned for touchdowns.

McBriar was honored, although his name does not appear in the WAC's weekly statistics. He averages 44.1 yards per punt, which is good enough to lead the WAC, except he does not meet the minimum of 3.6 punts per game.

Quarterback Tim Chang, center Lui Fuata, defensive tackle Isaac Sopoaga, linebacker Chris Brown and cornerback Kelvin Millhouse were named to the second team.

Slotbacks Britton Komine and Chad Owens received honorable mention.

Noticeable absences were defensive end Houston Ala and defensive tackle Lance Samuseva. Jones declined to comment on the snubs, but UH defensive coordinator Kevin Lempa said their exclusions were "a shame."

"These things go by stats and, for Lance, he doesn't have the stats, but he's the rock of our defense," Lempa said. "He's the center of our defense. It all starts with him, him and Isaac. Lance is the heart and soul of our defense."

Top Individual Awards

Offensive Player of the Year i Brock Forsey, Sr., RB, Boise State

Defensive Player of the Year i Quintin Mikell, Sr., DB, Boise State

Freshman of the Year i Paul Pinegar, QB, Fresno State

Coach of the Year i Dan Hawkins, Boise State

Second Team

Offense

WR, Billy Wingfield, Sr., Boise State; WR, Marque Davis, Jr., Fresno State; TE, Erick Streelman, Sr., Nevada; OL, Rodney Michael, Sr., Fresno State; OL, Lui Fuata, Sr., Hawai'i; OL, Cody Johnson, Sr., Nevada; OL, Keith Meyer, Sr., Rice; OL, Tim Provost, Sr., San Jose State; QB, Tim Chang, So., Hawai'i; RB, Rodney Davis, Jr., Fresno State; RB, Keylon Kincade, Jr., SMU

Defense

DL, Ryan Nelson, Sr., Boise State; DL, Isaac Sopoaga, Jr., Hawai'i; DL, Quincy Myles, Sr., Louisiana Tech; LB, Chauncey Ako, Sr., Boise State; LB, Bryce McGill, Jr., Fresno State; LB, *Chris Brown, Sr., Hawai'i; LB, Jeff Vanover, Jr., Rice; DB, Gabe Franklin, So., Boise State; DB, Kelvin Millhouse, Jr., Hawai'i; DB, Willie Sheppard, Sr., Louisiana Tech; DB, Gerald Jones, Jr., San Jose State

Specialists

PK, Josh Scobee, Jr., Louisiana Tech; P, *Jason Simpson, Sr., Fresno State; ST, Charles Pauley, Sr., San Jose State

Others receiving votes

Offense

WR-Lou Fanucchi, Sr., Boise State; Britton Komine, So., Hawai'i; Chad Owens, So., Hawai'i; D.J. Curry, Jr., Louisiana Tech; Chris Norwood, Jr., Louisiana Tech; Jamall Broussard, Jr., San Jose State; TE-Rocky Atkinson, Sr., Boise State; Duncan Reid, So., Fresno State; John Hampton, Sr., SMU; OL-Logan Mankins, So., Fresno State; Fitu Tu'ua, Jr., Fresno State; Tywoin Breaux, Sr., Louisiana Tech; Alan Parker, Jr., Nevada; Joe Hayes, Jr., San Jose State; LaMons Walker, Sr., San Jose State; Steve Reindl, Jr., SMU; Trey Darilek, Jr., UTEP; Anthony Taylor, Sr., Tulsa; QB-Luke McCown, Jr., Louisiana Tech; Zack Threadgill, Sr., Nevada; Scott Rislov, Jr., San Jose State; RB-Matt Milton, Fr., Nevada; Eric Richardson, Jr., Tulsa.

Defense

DL-Dane Oldham, Jr., Boise State; Brandon Avance, Sr., Louisiana Tech; Jorge Cordova, Jr., Nevada; Derek Kennard, Jr., Nevada; Philip Perry, Jr., San Jose State; LB-Sam Williams, Sr., Fresno State; Chris Marshall, Sr., Louisiana Tech; Logan Carter, Fr., Nevada; Carl LaGrone, Jr., Nevada; Luke La Herran, Sr., San Jose State; Michael Dulaney, Sr., Tulsa; DB-Wes Nurse, Jr., Boise State; James Sanders, Fr., Fresno State; Keone Kauo, So., Nevada; Marlon McLaughlin, So., Nevada; Tim Woodard, Jr., UTEP; Jeff Thibodeaux, So., Tulsa.

Special Teams

PK-Nick Gilliam, Sr., San Jose State; Keith Robinson, So., UTEP; P-Derek Jones, Jr., Nevada; Travis Hale, Sr., Rice; Bryce Benekos, So., UTEP; ST-Tim Gilligan, So., Boise State; Kameron Merritt, Sr., Boise State; Jermaine Landrum, So., Tulsa.