Akina assumes role of No. 3 quarterback

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

As it turns out, there has been a shakeup at quarterback for the University of Hawai'i football team.

AKINA

Akina was one of three quarterbacks on the 60-player travel roster to Nevada two weeks ago. He completed his only pass, a 9-yarder, in a 59-28 victory over Army last Saturday.

Dan Morrison, who coaches the UH quarterbacks, said Akina earned the promotion after completing 5 of 9 passes and scrambling for more than 40 yards during an intrasquad scrimmage Nov. 5.

"Athletically, he's able to move around a little bit and make some plays," Morrison said. "He's done a nice job in the practice setting. He's a very confident young quarterback."

Chang said Akina "brings a unique dimension. He can throw it, as well as run, as well as create plays out of nothing. I think Coach (June) Jones saw that in the spring game. Coach Jones likes his attitude and his energized spirit."

Akina said it was "pretty cool" of Jones to include him on the travel roster to Nevada.

Akina started as a freshman at Eastern Michigan in 2001. Last year, he transferred to UH, where his father, Texas assistant coach Duane Akina, once served as a graduate assistant.

"I just talked to my friend (in Michigan), and it's 3 (degrees) plus the windchill," Akina said. "Do you know how cold that is? I'm just happy Coach Jones let me come out and play. You can't surf in 3 plus. You can walk backward to class because the wind hits you in the face. I'm just happy to be out here and contribute any way I can."

Many of Akina's relatives live in Hawai'i. At Punahou School, Morrison coached Akina's uncle, the late Shawn Akina. Duane Akina was a finalist for the UH head coaching job that went to Jones in December 1998.

"My dad said June definitely was the right guy for the job," Akina recalled. "He turned this program around like no one could imagine. I thought it was a good choice, and hopefully my dad will get a head job down the road sometime. I'm going to be graduating pretty soon, and I need to (serve as a graduate assistant coach) somewhere."

Fresno State coach Pat Hill, who coached alongside Duane Akina in Arizona, has promised Kainoa Akina a future position as a graduate assistant.

If anything, Akina has worked out a strategy to squeeze a job from his father.

"Hopefully, I'll get married, have one grandkid and he'll have to give me a job," Akina said, laughing. "Mom won't let him keep me out in the cold."

• Health report: UH slotback Chad Owens vowed to play against Alabama Saturday despite a foot injury that prevented him from practicing yesterday. Owens said he has "turf toe."

Owens is second nationally in receiving, averaging 8.44 catches per game. In the six games since being activated after a two-game suspension, Owens has 53 receptions for 763 yards. During the span, his per-game averages are 8.8 catches and 127.0 yards.

• Thinking big: Tavita Toefoki, a 6-foot-2, 370-pound rugby player from Australia, is working out details to join the Warriors as a lineman next season.

Toefoki, 20, plays on Australia's highest amateur rugby level. He would enroll at UH as a freshman.

"My uncle told me to give it a shot," said Toefoki, who is visiting relatives in Hawai'i this week. Charlie Pikula and his nephew attended UH's practice yesterday.

"There aren't many with his size and speed," Pikula said.

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