Keli'ikipi placed on scholarship
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
This Halloween week, running back West Keli'ikipi received the sweetest treat — a football scholarship from the University of Hawai'i.
Keli'ikipi was immediately put on scholarship after signing the contract Tuesday.
"Now I get to eat with the team," said Keli'ikipi, referring to the NCAA rule prohibiting nonscholarship players from participating in the free training table meals.
Keli'ikipi, a 1998 Wai'anae High graduate, attended community college and worked as a welder before saving enough money to enroll at UH in August. He has started four games, and leads the Warriors with 211 rushing yards.
In the last two games, he was pulled after failing to run with his usual force. The 6-foot-1, 260-pound Keli'ikipi blamed his power shortage on his diet. He has lost six pounds in the last month through the Atkins' Diet, which discourages the consumption of starches.
"To tell you the truth, trying to lose weight, I feel a little bit weaker," he said. "The coaches wanted me to lose 25 pounds, but now they want me to lose 10 pounds. I can eat a little more and gain some energy."
Although it probably would be easier to reshape his body during the offseason, Keli'ikipi said, "I want to get faster and stronger now. I just got a scholarship and I don't want to let the team down."
Say my name: Defensive tackle Isaac Sopoaga's first name is actually Isa'ako.
When Sopoaga, who was raised in American Samoa, attended College of the Canyons in California, school officials shortened his name to Isaak. At UH, the spelling was changed to Isaac.
Defensive line coach Vantz Singletary calls him Ice. He also has been nicknamed I-Sack.
Sopoaga's family prefers the name Isa'ako.
All business: In four seasons at UH, quarterback Tim Chang has traveled to Boise, El Paso, Fort Worth, Fresno, Houston, Provo, Reno and Tulsa.
During those trips, the only sightseeing was the view of Mexico.
From a bus.
In El Paso.
"We don't go anywhere," said Chang, whose team leaves today for Saturday's road game against San Jose State. "We have meetings and practices and we try to get some sleep. Our trips are business trips."
Catching on: Defensive end Nkeruwem "Tony" Akpan, a converted basketball player, competed as a tight end on the scout team yesterday. After making two leaping catches, Akpan said, "I'm ready to do anything. Anything to make me play I'm down for it."
Akpan's experience as a receiver is limited to games of catch with his host family when he attended high school in Birmingham, Ala. Akpan was raised in Nigeria.
On deck: During his weekly radio show, UH coach June Jones spoke of a highly regarded defensive tackle enrolled at UH. In fact, he was referring to Hausia Faleofa, who played at Western Michigan last year.
In 2002, Faleofa made 30 tackles, including six for losses. After a two-year church mission and two seasons at College of the Canyons, Faleofa verbally committed to UH in February 2002, only to sign with Western Michigan. He is sitting out this season in accordance with NCAA transfer rules and will have one season of eligibility remaining.
Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8051.
