Brown hopes UH's black magic rubs off on Blazers

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

When in paradise . . .

For tomorrow's Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl at Aloha Stadium, Alabama at Birmingham will use the University of Hawai'i's usual sideline, locker room and, now, lucky jersey color.

This season, the Warriors are 6-0 when they wear black jerseys. But as the designated "visiting" team tomorrow, they are required to wear white jerseys.

The Blazers usually wear green jerseys for home games. Told of UH's success when wearing black jerseys, Brown said, "I know that. I didn't want to say that, but I know that. ... I did a little research. I'm a very superstitious person."

Brown added: "These are special-made jerseys for the game. We got them a brand new jersey for this game."

A UAB spokesman said the jerseys for the 97 players cost $10,500.

The Blazers received their new jerseys after yesterday's practice at Aloha Stadium. They will not practice today.

"They get to keep this jersey, so I wanted to give them something that was a little different, that we hadn't worn," Brown said. "We've worn black jerseys before ... in the last nine years."

The Blazers also will receive commemorative rings.

Meanwhile, the Warriors yesterday were scheduled to receive Mini iPods — digital music players that can store 1,000 songs.

They had asked for iPods, which can store 10,000 songs. But UH officials opted for Mini iPods ($230) after receiving an educational discount from the Apple Store.

NCAA rules allow schools participating in bowls to spend up to $350 in gifts for each player. The gift package does not include the $270 stipend each UH player has received.

A little joyriding can't hurt, right?

To compensate for his strict curfew, Brown is allowing his players to rent mopeds during this trip. But he nearly reconsidered his decision when a reserve player suffered an injury from a moped spill.

Then, during an evening stroll, Brown noticed 30 Blazers blazing through Waikiki.

"They looked like the Hell's Angels," he said, smiling.

Linebacker gives Blazers a lift

To improve his conditioning, UAB linebacker Zac Woodfin hired a nutritionist this past summer.

Woodfin

He also makes sure to get his daily iron.

"I live in the weight room," he said. "Most football players do. I try to work a little bit harder than all of my competition."

Before the start of the season, Woodfin was bench pressing about 450 pounds during a workout session when he was asked to attempt a 500-pound lift.

"I was feeling confident," Woodfin recalled. "Everybody circled around and everybody was yelling and your adrenaline was going. I said, 'OK, let's move it up.' "

Woodfin said it "took me a good four, five seconds to hit it up. When I finally locked it up, I was a little bit dizzy. The blood was definitely rushing to my head. I was really, really happy."

Woodfin is the Blazers' career leader with 368 tackles. He set the school's single-season record of 149 tackles in 2003.

Rain can't dampen Jones' spirit

Yesterday's downpour turned UH's grass practice field into a mud bath. Several UH players rode a bus to the locker room. The road between the five-story parking lot and UH athletic department was flooded.

But UH coach June Jones, who was raised in rainy Portland, said, "This is a good day. It's warm."

Jones said the practice was abbreviated by 15 minutes.

"We got a lot done," he said. "We did all special teams for 45 minutes and then we did about an hour of offense and defense. It was sloppy out there, but we'll be ready to play."

Slotback Gerald Welch, who did not work out Tuesday because of a pulled leg muscle, resumed practicing.

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