All-WAC Warriors

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Defensive end Travis LaBoy became the second University of Hawai'i player to be named the Western Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year. Al Noga was the first in 1986. Advertiser library photo • Dec. 7, 2003

"He's very deserving of this," UH assistant coach Vantz Singletary said of LaBoy, who yesterday was named the Western Athletic Conference's Defensive Player of the Year.

"I'm definitely surprised," said LaBoy, who became the second UH player to win the honor, after All-America defensive tackle Al Noga in 1986. "It's mostly due to my teammates. I can't do it by myself. The d-tackles, defensive ends, linebackers, secondary with the coverage ... it was a whole team effort, and I'm thankful for it."

Last summer, UH coach June Jones challenged the often-injured LaBoy to fully commit to football.

"He worked hard and did everything we asked him to do," Jones said. "When that happens, good things happen to people who have talent, and he's got a lot of talent."

LaBoy, who was a champion paddler in Northern California, played one season at Utah State before transferring to UH in 2000. He quickly developed into a relentless pass rusher. This season, he led the WAC with 13 sacks. He also improved his grade-point average enough to get off academic probation.

"It's a great day for the LaBoy family — mom, dad, everyone," Singletary said. "It's a great day for the state (and) the whole defensive line."

The other UH players named to the first team were:

Slotback Chad Owens, a fourth-year junior from Roosevelt High.

"It's a credit to my teammates and coaches," he said. "It's pretty awesome. I don't know what to say other than it was a great season and I had fun."

Owens, who joined UH as a walk-on in 2000, said: "You earn what you work for. We worked really hard to earn a scholarship and WAC honors."

Defensive tackle Isa'ako "Isaac" Sopoaga, the first graduate of an American Samoa high school to start for the Warriors.

"I didn't expect to be on the first team," said Sopoaga, who often drew double and triple blocks. "I'm happy for it."

Strong safety Hyrum Peters, who was named to last year's first team. "I'm happy to achieve one of my goals," he said. At 5 feet 8, Peters was used as a linebacker, blitzer and pass defender.

Cornerback Kelvin Millhouse, who rejected UH's scholarship offer as a high school senior because he didn't want to play receiver in college. After a year at a junior college, he joined UH as a sophomore.

"When your heart says something, you should do it," Millhouse said. "I knew I would be a better college cornerback than a college receiver. I think I made the right decision."

Samson Satele, a freshman, was named to the second team. He started the opener at left tackle before moving to left guard, where he started the past 12 games.

"Coach always says 'work hard and good things will happen,' " he said. "I think I proved that. Second team is nice."

Owens said the honors should be spread among the team. "If it wasn't for the O-line blocking for (quarterback) Timmy (Chang), I wouldn't get the ball. If it wasn't for Isaac drawing double teams, Travis might not always get in there. It's the next guy who always helps you out."

ALL-WAC TEAMS

First Team Offense

• WR—Chad Owens, Hawai'i, 5-9, 177, Jr.
• WR—Tim Gilligan, Boise State, 5-9, 181, Sr.
• WR—Bernard Berrian, Fresno State, 6-2, 190, Sr.
• TE—Garrett Mills, Tulsa, 6-2, 214, So.
• OL—Trey Darilek, UTEP, 6-6, 305, Sr.
• OL—Austin Chadwick, Tulsa, 6-4, 283, Sr.
• OL—Harvey Dahl, Nevada, 6-5, 309, Jr.
• OL—Ben Stephens, Rice, 6-2, 300, Sr.
• OL—Chris DeMunbrun, Rice, 6-4, 295, Sr.
• QB—Ryan Dinwiddie, Boise State, 6-1, 187, Sr.
• RB—Ryan Moats, Louisiana Tech, 5-8, 201, So.
• RB—Howard Jackson, UTEP, 5-10, 160, Jr.

First Team Defense

• DL—Isaac Sopoaga, Hawai'i, 6-3, 315, Sr.
• DL—Travis LaBoy, Hawai'i, 6-4, 249, Sr.
• DL—Jorge Cordova, Nevada, 6-2, 250, Sr.
• DL—Julius Roberts, Boise State, 6-5, 239, Jr.
• LB—Andy Avalos, Boise State, 5-10, 223, Jr.
• LB—Bryce McGill, Fresno State, 5-11, 205, Sr.
• LB—Nick Bunting, Tulsa, 6-1, 205, Fr.
• LB—Daryl Towns, Nevada, 6-0, 230, Sr.
• DB—Wes Nurse, Boise State, 5-10, 189, Sr.
• DB—Hyrum Peters, Hawai'i, 5-8, 188, Sr.
• DB—Kelvin Millhouse, Hawai'i, 6-1, 205, Sr.
• DB—James Sanders, Fresno State, 5-11, 205, So.

Specialists

• PK—Josh Scobee, Louisiana Tech, 6-2, 186, Sr.
• P—Jared Scruggs, Rice, 6-3, 165, Fr.
• ST—Bernard Berrian, Fresno State, 6-2, 190, Sr.

Top Individual Awards

Offensive Player of the Year—Ryan Dinwiddie, Sr., QB, Boise State

Defensive Player of the Year—Travis LaBoy, Sr., DE, Hawai'i

Freshman of the Year—Nick Bunting, LB, Tulsa

Coach of the Year—Steve Kragthorpe, Tulsa

Second Team Offense

• WR—Tuati Wooden, Sr., San Jose State
• WR—D.J. Curry, Sr., Louisiana Tech
• WR—Romby Bryant, Sr., Tulsa
• TE—Courtney Anderson, Sr., San Jose State
• OL—Daryn Colledge, So., Boise State
• OL—Dartagnon Shack, So., Fresno State
• OL—Samson Satele, Fr., Hawai'i
• OL—Joseph Hayes, Sr., San Jose State
• OL—Chris Hines, Jr., Nevada
• OL—LaMons Walker, Sr., San Jose State
• QB—James Kilian, Jr., Tulsa
• RB—Chance Kretschmer, Jr., Nevada
• RB—Keylon Kincade, Sr., SMU

Second Team Defense

• DL—Derek Kennard, Sr., Nevada
• DL—Brian Morris, Jr., Fresno State
• DL—Garrett McIntyre, So., Fresno State
• DL—Allan Adami, Jr., SMU
• LB—Robert Rodriguez, Jr., UTEP
• LB—Michael LeDet, Jr., Tulsa
• LB—Byron Santiago, Jr., Louisiana Tech
• LB—Travis Burgher, Sr., Boise State
• LB—Antonio Crow, Sr., Louisiana Tech
• DB—Kedrick Alexander, So., Tulsa
• DB—Gabe Franklin, Jr., Boise State
• DB—Gerald Jones, Sr., San Jose State
• DB—Jermaine Hope, Jr., Tulsa

Specialists

• PK—Brett Visintainer, Jr., Fresno State
• P—Bryce Benekos, Jr., UTEP
• ST—Tim Gilligan, Sr., Boise State