Posted on: Tuesday, December 14, 2004
Hawai'i's Owens earns AP second-team honors
| • | Safety from California commits to Warriors |
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
The honors keep rolling in for University of Hawai'i football player Chad Owens.
Advertiser library photo • Dec. 5, 2004 Utah offensive lineman Chris Kemoeatu, a former Kahuku High standout, also was chosen to the second team.
Owens also was selected as the Mosi Tatupu Award winner as the nation's best special teams player.
Pro Football Weekly picked Owens as an All-America honorable mention.
AP's list is the most prestigious of the eight All-America presenters, and is selected by sportswriters and sportscasters from across the country. (Advertiser columnist Ferd Lewis represents the Hawai'i media this year.)
"I'm thankful for this honor," said Owens, a fifth-year senior who plays slotback and returns punts. "There isn't much in my life in the past five years — other than my family — that I've loved more than playing this game. I put all of my heart and soul into it."
Owens is UH's career leader in all-purpose yards (5,257). This year, he broke the school's single-season record of 94 receptions.
He has scored 15 touchdowns on pass receptions and four on punt returns. His 114 points is two short of Jamal Farmer's single-season UH record set in 1989.
"I'm proud of him," UH coach June Jones said. "He's certainly earned it. The last two games, against (teams from) the Big Ten, were pretty unbelievable. It was pretty amazing. It was something to have those type of games against those type of teams, especially on national television."
Against Northwestern, Owens caught nine passes for 155 yards and four touchdowns. He also scored on a 76-yard punt return.
Against Michigan State, he had 13 catches for 283 yards and four touchdowns.
Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser Owens has overcome a rocky journey. As a Roosevelt High senior in 2000, he did not receive any Division I-A football scholarship offers.
"I was always overlooked," he said. "It was nothing new for me. I was always small or whatever. ... But the road I took, I wouldn't want to change it for anything. I believe everything happens for a reason. This shows what hard work and dedication can do for a person. Sticking with what you believe in, and believing in everyone around you, it shows a great lesson in life."
Owens said he experienced difficulties during his UH career. "I thank God for allowing me to bounce back from some adversity," he said. "That's one thing about myself. There's no quit in me. I'm here for a reason. I would never let my teammates down. I would never give up on anything, especially this game I love so much."
The Maui Football Club, in concert with Hula Bowl Maui, selects the Mosi Tatupu Award winner, named after the former Punahou School, Southern California and NFL running back.
"He qualified because he does the punt returns as well as anybody," said Dick Schaller, the Hula Bowl's development coordinator.
Schaller said this is the first time a UH player has won in the award's eight-year history.
Kemoeatu, a 6-foot-4, 338-pound senior offensive guard and 2001 graduate of Kahuku, was also named to the Sports Illustrated All-America first team and was a Mountain West Conference first team selection for No. 5 Utah.
Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8051.
Owens, a 5-foot-9, 179-pound senior, yesterday was named to The Associated Press' All-America second team.
Hawai'i slotback Chad Owens caught four touchdown passes in the regular-season finale against Michigan State. Owens, who is also a punt returner, was honored as a utility player by Associated Press.
"He's been awesome," quarterback Tim Chang said. "He's been great. He's very special to have on the team."
Chad Owens was back at work yesterday in UH's first practice in preparation for the Hawai'i Bowl.
