Talented safety enrolls at UH

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

•	WHAT: WAC football, Hawai'i (3-1, 2-0) at Boise State (3-1, 0-0) KICK OFF: Saturday at 2:05 p.m. (HST) TV/RADIO: Live on K5; game will be rebroadcast at 9 p.m./Live on 1420 AM

Faavae, who attended West Virginia last year, must redshirt this season in accordance with NCAA transfer rules. But UH coach June Jones said the 6-foot-1, 205-pound Faavae will "probably be a starter for us eventually."

Several schools, including Nebraska, pursued Faavae when he was a senior at Mater Dei High in Santa Ana, Calif. But Faavae said he did not meet the requirements to play as an NCAA freshman, and the Division I-A offers dropped off.

West Virginia admitted Faavae as a partial-qualifier, meaning he was allowed to attend classes but not play as a freshman.

At West Virginia, Faavae recalled, "My heart wasn't in it. I wanted to transfer."

He contacted the UH coaches, who told him they could not discuss his situation until he received a scholarship release from West Virginia.

"The release came through, and he's here," said UH assistant coach Dan Morrison, who recruited Faavae at Mater Dei.

Morrison said Faavae "was one of the better players in Southern California. He's a very special player."

Faavae, who will have two years of eligibility after this redshirt season, is working with the scout team, which simulates the opposing team's defense.

"He didn't like it back East and he wanted to come, and I'm glad he came," Jones said. "We project him as a safety."

It is believed that Faavae, who is currently paying his own tuition, will be put on scholarship. Jones declined to comment on that, other than to say, "He has the potential to be a walk-on (to) scholarship guy."

Who da guy? The Aloha Stadium announcement of linebacker Laiana Wong's name for a tackle against Southern Methodist drew a collective, "huh?"

Despite being on the roster since Aug. 26, the first day of UH's fall semester, Wong has been the Unknown Warrior.

"It's a new experience being here," said Wong, who played for Roosevelt High last year.

Wong actually attended Ke Kula Kaiapuni 'O Anuenue, a Hawaiian-language immersion school in Palolo. He said every subject but English was taught in Hawaiian.

"It was a good way to get in touch with the culture," he said.

Ke Kula Kaiapuni 'O Anuenue, with an enrollment of 313, has a working agreement that allows its students to join Roosevelt's clubs and athletic teams.

Jones said Wong, who is 5 feet 10 and 213 pounds, will be included on the 60-player travel roster for Saturday's game at Boise State.

Last call: Jones will decide after this morning's practice whether running back Mike Bass and fourth-string quarterback Jeff Rhode will make the travel roster.

Jones said it is unlikely Bass, who has a partially torn posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, will be able to play against the Broncos, but did not rule out taking him on the trip.

Rhode's brother, B.J. Rhode, is the Broncos' starting quarterback. Because Jeff Rhode's family will be making the trip from Oregon, and that he can be used during scout drills, he is being considered for a spot on the travel roster.

Jones usually takes no more than three quarterbacks on road trips, but is considering an exception this time.