Snap decision paying off for UH football team

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Bryce Runge yesterday celebrated his 27th birthday by blowing out the doubts about his value to the University of Hawai'i football team.

"I've always felt if you want to be a good football team, you need a good snapper," UH coach June Jones said. "He's a good snapper."

Mouse Davis, who coordinates the special teams, insisted "a snapper is just as important as a punter or kicker. You don't realize how much you need one until you don't have a good one."

Runge is unique, and not just because he is the only scholarship player in the Western Athletic Conference whose sole job is to snap.

A 1995 graduate of Valencia High in Anaheim, Calif., Runge spent six years working in warehouses and competing on the professional rollerblade tour. He was skilled in street skating, grinding handrails and "doing all of the tricks."

He admitted to "not making much money, but it was a good experience. I was living off of my parents, traveling, partying. It was fun."

Runge and his brother, Brad, collaborated on a skatewear line, Circus Clothing, a company whose logo — an outline of two skaters — is tattooed on his right shoulder.

But after years of competing, "I had to give that up," he said. "I was getting hurt too much. I couldn't bear the pain anymore."

He bounced from job to job, "just messed around," before helping another brother coach a high school football team.

"That's when I decided to go back to school," Runge said.

He enrolled at Fullerton (Calif.) College, serving as the long-snapper. "It's a gift from God, I guess," he said.

On snaps, Runge places his right hand on the laces — "I hold it like a quarterback" — uses his left hand to balance the football and then fires away with "a kind of an upside-down spin." Runge is skilled enough that the football usually will arrive to the holder with the laces sunny-side up.

"It's all about the way it's turned when I release it," he said.

Davis said: "Consistency is the key."

Runge, a junior, does not know if he will exhaust his two seasons of remaining eligibility. His fiancee, Sharon Swingle, is a teacher in California, and he said he might pursue a professional career in football after this season.

"I'm 27," he said, and "if I had a shot, I'd definitely take it. I'm confident in myself that I'll do well."

So, too, is Jones. "He's a special player," Jones said.

Alama-Francis has back surgery

Defensive end Ikaika Alama-Francis is in jeopardy of missing the Sept. 4 season opener against Florida Atlantic after undergoing successful back surgery last week.

Alama-Francis has suffered from back ailments since playing for the UH men's basketball team as a freshman in 2002-03.

Rivers will report once paperwork clears him

Jason Rivers, the projected starting left wideout, said he will join the Warriors as soon as he turns in the paperwork certifying his academic eligibility.

"Right now, I'm chillin'," said Rivers, emphasizing he has met the academic requirements to play this season.

Defensive back George Perry, a 2003 Kahuku High graduate, is prepared to join the Warriors.

Stickler, Cole switch to running back

Ryan Stickler and Chris Cole apparently are making an easy transition to running back.

Stickler, of Alta Loma, Calif., competed as a quarterback in his first two years at UH.

Cole, of Mission Viejo, Calif., was a California Interscholastic Federation co-Player of the Year as a high school defensive lineman in 2002.

"We're blessed with a lot of good running backs," position coach Wes Suan said.

Caught in the quarterback gridlock, Stickler decided to seek a position change. He was prepared to move to linebacker before Suan put in a request. Stickler's plan is play on special teams this season while developing as a running back. UH has three senior running backs.

"I'm not disappointed," the 6-foot-2, 233-pound Stickler said of moving from quarterback. "I just want to play. I didn't care what position I was going to be. I want to get on the field. As it happens, running back will give me a great opportunity."

Suan said: "He's an athlete. I think he would have been good no matter where we put him."

Cole, who did not play last season to complete academic work, is quick (4.6 seconds over 40 yards) and strong (500-pound squat) but, at 5 feet 9 and 230 pounds, undersized for a defensive end.

"We know he can play on the defensive line, but (moving to running back) can get him on the field faster," Jones said. "We need blockers back there because we throw the football so much."

Suan said: "He's another good athlete. It makes sense for him to be a running back. We'll give him a chance, and see how he fits."

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