Jones sings praises of Warrior freshmen

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

After every football practice, University of Hawai'i offensive lineman Xavier Ho'olulu walks near a player being interviewed and softly sings, "Say my name, say my name ..."

Wide receiver Jason Rivers is among a number of UH freshmen making a bid for playing time this season. Advertiser library photo • Aug. 8, 2003

UH coach June Jones has predicted that members of this class will end up as starters — perhaps, as early as this season.

Jones, who often comes across as the anti-Ali — "You're the greatest!" — recently declared: "Our true freshman class is the best one I've had since I've been here."

To earn that distinction, it would need to surpass the achievement of the class of 2000, featuring quarterback Tim Chang, right guard Uriah Moenoa, strong safety Hyrum Peters and cornerback Abraham Elimimian.

Of the 25 starting positions — two players share the running back job — 19 are manned by players who entered the program as true freshmen. There are nine from the class of 2000 — seven recruited when they were high school seniors and two who joined as walk-ons. Left wideout Britton Komine and left slotback Chad Owens eventually earned football scholarships.

In addition, two of the Warriors' best pro prospects — defensive end Travis LaBoy and left cornerback Kelvin Millhouse — first enrolled at UH in August 2000. LaBoy transferred from Utah State and Millhouse, a year after rejecting a UH scholarship, came from Mount San Antonio College in California.

Also, Pisa Tinoisamoa, now a starting linebacker with the St. Louis Rams, signed with UH in 1999, but was not eligible to play until 2000.

But as training camp ended with last night's practice at Aloha Stadium, Jones said: "I'm really pleased with all of our true freshmen. All of our 18-year-old kids have a chance to be great players."

In training camp, wideout Jason Rivers, before suffering a pulled left hamstring, pushed Komine for a starting job. Cornerbacks Ray Bass, A.J. Martinez and Ernest Powell played extensively. Quarterback Jack Rolovich, whose older brother, Nick, started at UH, probably will be the scout team quarterback this year. Offensive linemen Jeremy Inferrera, Larry Sauafea and Michael Lafaele challenged for starting jobs, forcing Jones to scrap plans to automatically redshirt them.

"All of the true freshmen look like potential starters," Jones said. "We don't want to burn a year. At the same time, if they contribute (this year), they're going to play. We're going to put the best players on the field."

Here's a breakdown of the starters who entered UH as true freshmen. An asterisk indicates the player initially was a walk-on.

• 1999: SLB Keani Alapa*, LG Shayne Kajioka, DT Lance Samuseva.
• 2000: DE Houston Ala, PK Justin Ayat, QB Tim Chang, LCB Abraham Elimimian, LWR Britton Komine*, RG Uriah Moenoa, LSB Chad Owens*, SS Hyrum Peters*, FS Leonard Peters.
• 2001: RB Mike Bass, WLB Ikaika Curnan, C Derek Faavi*, RSB Nate Ilaoa.
• 2002: P Kurt Milne*, LT Samson Satele, RT Dane Uperesa.