Posted on: Friday, September 19, 2003

WARRIOR'S NOTEBOOK
Akpan, Uperesa play through pain

By Ferd Lewis and Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writers

LAS VEGAS — Both defensive end Nkeruwem "Tony" Akpan and offensive tackle Dane Uperesa will remain with the University of Hawai'i football team through today's game, following recent deaths in their families, coaches said.

"Our hearts go out to their families," said offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh.

Akpan received word Tuesday that his father had died in their native Nigeria of an apparent stroke, defensive line coach Vance Singletary said.

Uperesa's grandmother passed away in Hawai'i, Cavanaugh said. The funeral is tomorrow.

Singletary said Akpan would likely determine after the game if he will be flying home for the funeral.

"He (Akpan) has handled it well under the circumstances," Singletary said. "We all feel for Tony and his family."

The NCAA has a special assistance fund that provides allowances that pay for athletes to return home in the event of a death in the immediate family.

Christian Okoye, a Nigerian who played college football in the U.S. and went on to play in the NFL, lives in Southern California and has met with Akpan the last two days.

Head coach June Jones said Okoye met Akpan when the former Kansas City Chiefs' running back held clinics in Hawai'i.

• New turf: The Warriors will make their first appearance on TurfTech, a new synthetic playing surface.

The surface was installed this summer by Challenger Industries, the low bidder at $877,000. It replaced what had been a grass field.

"I think we are the first school in the country with it," said Mark Wallington, assistant sports information director at UNLV.

According to UNLV, the surface is "made up of 2.5 inch polyelthylene blades filled with shards of rubber over a rock and sand base."

• A hit on TV: Last week's UH-USC game drew nearly 500,000 households on Fox Sports Net, according network spokesman Tom Chiappetta.

The 0.70 rating was significantly better than the 0.47 generated by the previous week's Washington-Indiana game on Fox.

"We're happy with the result (of the UH-USC game)," Chiappetta said. "It did about what we were expecting."

• Coverboy: UH defensive lineman Lui Fuga, who was supposed to play at UNLV out of Waipahu High School in 1998, was the featured story of yesterday's Las Vegas Sun.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.
Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.