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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, November 20, 2003

Elimimian a one-man prevent defense

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Insisting it would have been poor manners, University of Hawai'i football player Abraham Elimimian declined to speak up when his name was mispronounced by a host of a weekly television show.

Elimimian also has not mentioned his distinction as the Warriors' only starting defensive back not to allow a touchdown this season.

In the past six weeks, according to UH coach June Jones, Elimimian has quietly become "the best corner in the conference. He's played extremely well."

Elimimian is fourth on the team with 57 tackles, an impressive feat considering that, as a right cornerback, he is restricted to covering one-quarter of the defensive secondary.

He has shut down some of the WAC's best receivers — Fresno State's Bernard Berrian (four catches for 38 yards), Nevada's Nichiren Flowers (3-37) and Tulsa's Romby Bryant (2-23).

At 5 feet 10, Elimimian has an average build for a cornerback. But he has bulked up to 191 pounds this year. "The most important thing," said Rich Miano, who coaches the UH secondary, "is he has a competitive nature. He gets so upset when he gets beat, whether it's a 5-yard pass or a 20-yard pass."

UH defensive coordinator George Lumpkin recommended offering a scholarship to Elimimian after watching him play in a high school basketball game in 2000.

"George made a good projection," Miano said. "He saw the competitiveness. The thing that really shocked me is he's the toughest guy out there, pound for pound. I know the fans in Hawai'i look for people who can hit and tackle, and so are we, but he's a guy who throws his body around. When the ball is thrown, he's at full speed. He doesn't care about harm to his body. He's as tough as nails."

As a second-year freshman in 2001, Elimimian had one interception. He made two last year and he has two this season. Against Army Saturday, "I feel I can get one," he said. "Every year I've gotten one interception more than the previous year. Three would be nice. Three is a good number."

Thinking ahead: With West Keli'ikipi expected to miss the rest of the regular season because of a knee injury, Jones is considering backup center Lyle Castro to fill the role as power running back.

The 5-foot-11, 255-pound Castro worked out at running back during spring practice in 2001. He missed the 2002 season because of "personal reasons," but enrolled in school last January.

During the scrimmage involving reserves and scout players Nov. 5, Castro aligned as a wideout. Castro can bench press 405 pounds and run 40 yards in 4.8 seconds.

"He's the logical choice" to succeed the 6-foot-1, 260-pound Keli'ikipi, Jones said.

"I hope so," said Castro, a senior from Saint Louis School. "I'd like to be on the field the last three games."

Throwback: Former Washington State quarterback Jack Thompson, better known as the "Throwin' Samoan," attended the Warriors' practice yesterday morning.

Thompson, here on a business trip, said he is "proud" of the growing number of Samoans playing college and professional football. Thompson, a first-round NFL pick in 1978, said he was part of second wave of players of Samoan ancestry, following such standouts as Farrington grad Bob Apisa, an All-American from Michigan State.

"What's happened is that wave has been followed by a wave and another wave and an even bigger wave now," Thompson said. "I think the genie's out of the bottle, so to speak."

UH has several players of Samoan ancestry, including three — defensive linemen Melila Purcell and Isa'ako "Isaac" Sopoaga, and offensive lineman Larry Sauafea — who played football for American Samoa high schools.

When he was a player, Thompson recalled, many "didn't know what a Samoan was. I think it's very clear what a Samoan is and where Samoa lies in the South Pacific. People used to ask, 'Is it near Hawai'i?' I'd say, 'We're all Island cousins, but were a little bit farther (from the Mainland).' When I was down in Tampa, they thought it was an island off of Cuba."

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8051.