UH drops Ray Bass from roster
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
Defensive back Ray Bass is no longer on the University of Hawai'i football team's roster.
Bass, a second-year freshman from Corona, Calif., did not play in last week's 49-41 victory over Northwestern. He did not practice yesterday. UH coach June Jones said Bass will not play in Saturday's regular-season finale against Michigan State.
Jones said Bass remains on the team but "I can't really comment" on the situation.
Bass has been removed from the UH team roster distributed to the media.
At the Nike Combine in Los Angeles in 2002, Bass ran 40 yards in 4.31 seconds and had a vertical jump of 40.4 inches.
He chose UH over California, Arizona and Colorado.
He quit the team last season, but rejoined shortly thereafter and remained on football scholarship.
Bass has played in six games at cornerback this season, starting against Idaho.
Owens receives two WAC weekly honors
UH slotback Chad Owens yesterday was named the Western Athletic Conference's Player of the Week for offense and special teams.
He is the first player since Brigham Young running back Jaime Kimbrough in 1998 to earn two WAC awards in the same week.
"That says a lot right there," Jones said. "He's deserving both ways, that's for sure."
Against Northwestern, Owens caught nine passes for 155 yards and four touchdowns. He also scored on a 76-yard punt return, his fourth punt return for a touchdown this season. He tied school single-game records for most scoring catches and most touchdowns.
Yeah, but where's the sand, surf and sun?
In preparation for Saturday's game at Aloha Stadium, the Michigan State football team brought a little bit of Hawai'i to East Lansing, Mich.
The past three practices started at 11 p.m. to help the Spartans adjust to the five-hour time difference between the East and Hawai'i.
Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Hawai'i time.
"Our meetings don't start until 9 o'clock," quarterback Drew Stanton said.
To simulate Hawai'i's humidity, the Spartans turned their indoor practice facility into a greenhouse. Stanton said school officials cranked up the thermostat and used fans to "create some humidity. ... The condensation is like a cloud at the top of the building."
The Spartans are scheduled to leave East Lansing this morning and arrive in Honolulu this afternoon.
Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8051.
