Warriors' Bass glad for second chance

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

The University of Hawai'i football team added talent by not subtracting cornerback Ray Bass.

"I'm happy to be back," said Bass, a prized 2003 recruit who quit the team during the middle of last season.

But Bass reconsidered, pleaded with UH coach June Jones for a second chance and now is competing for a starting job at cornerback in spring practice.

"I want to work hard and show Coach Jones I made a mistake and want to make up for it," Bass said.

Bass was highly recruited as a high school senior in Corona, Calif., after he ran 40 yards in 4.31 seconds at the Nike Combine. He was redshirting last season because the Warriors had two returnees at cornerbacks.

In October, with little warning, Bass quit the team. "It wasn't about playing time," Bass insisted. "I never thought I should have been playing (as a freshman). I had a lot of outside influence. A lot of people were telling me a lot of things."

He would not identify those advisers, but said, "Basically, I was having some doubts about a lot of stuff. I didn't make the right decisions. I wasn't thinking right."

Football scholarships are one-year contracts, and although Bass left the team, he continued to attend classes and receive free room and board.

On the first day of the spring semester in January, Bass approached Jones. Jones then consulted with his coaches, several players and Bass' father.

"I was hoping Coach Jones would take me back, and he did," Bass said. "I gave him my word I would work hard, and that's what I'm going to do."

As a condition of the reinstatement, Bass was told his attitude during spring practice would determine whether his scholarship is renewed in the fall.

"He knows he has to work hard, and that he's under a kind of probation to make sure he does things correctly and that he gets his teammates' confidence back," said Rich Miano, who coordinates UH's pass defense. "I think he's doing that."

Right cornerback Kenny Patton empathized with Bass. "It's especially hard for him because he's so far away from his parents," Patton said. "He's a Pacific Ocean away. I'm glad he's back. ... He's going to help our team."

Patton and Abraham Elimimian are listed as the top cornerbacks. Bass, Omega Hogan and Cameron Hollingsworth also are in the rotation.

"Physically, he's all that we thought he could be," Miano said of the 5-10, 175-pound Bass. "It's a matter of time before he's a big-time player for us, and that can happen sooner or later if there are some injuries (to others). He's capable of helping us this year."

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