Pair of QBs not invited to camp

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

University of Hawai'i quarterbacks Jeff Rhode and Ryan Stickler are not invited to participate in the Warriors' three-week training camp in August.

Rhode

Stickler

The Warriors had more than 100 players on their spring roster. With about 30 first-year players, including three quarterbacks, joining the Warriors this coming season, UH coach June Jones was forced to trim the active roster.

Rhode and Stickler will be permitted to join the Warriors on Aug. 28, the first day of UH's fall semester, when the roster limit is removed. UH opens its season Sept. 4 against Florida Atlantic.

In spring practice in May, Rhode, a fourth-year junior, and Stickler, a third-year sophomore, competed for the job as the top backup to starting quarterback Tim Chang.

But Kainoa Akina, a fourth-year junior, emerged as the No. 2 quarterback. Jack Rolovich, a second-year freshman, is listed at No. 3.

Three 2004 high school graduates — Tyler Graunke, Taylor Humphrey and Brandon Satcher — will compete at quarterback in training camp.

Rhode said Jones' decision was "courteous."

"The opportunities in the fall (training camp) were going to be very limited," Rhode added. "We would have been standing around. I understand that."

Still, he said, "my desire to want to lead this team is very great. To be put down on the bottom is tough for me, but it makes me want to work hard. My faith in God has been very helpful. I'm going to work hard and try my best and see what happens."

Another scholarship player, slotback Orlando Wong, also will have to wait until Aug. 28 to begin practicing with the Warriors.

• Two investigated: Two UH football players face disciplinary action for their involvement in a dormitory fight on the Manoa campus in February.

Federal privacy laws prohibit UH officials from identifying the students.

But people familiar with the investigation said the players involved are starting right tackle Brandon Eaton and running back Michael Bass.

"I can't comment on it right now," Eaton said.

Bass was not immediately available for comment. His father, Rickey Bass, said: "He's a grown man. I don't know what's happening with (the case). He's not telling me anything."

Carolyn Tanaka, UH's associate vice president of external affairs and university relations, said a university investigation determined that the "incident," which involved up to 30 students and non-students, was in "clear violation" of the conduct code for students.

She said police were called to the incident, but no police complaint was filed and there were no arrests. She said neither a complaint nor arrest is needed to determine a violation of the code.

She said there were "injuries, but I don't know how severe."

She said she did not know if there was property damage.

"Clearly there was a violation of the student conduct code," Tanaka said, prompting the "university to initiate action."

Tanaka said the case is in "the disciplinary process." After that, she said, "there's an appeals process."

The athletic department has not taken any action in the matter. UH coach June Jones said he expects the case to be decided in "two or three weeks. We'll let the process take its course. I can't comment until then."

Eaton and Bass competed in the 15 days of spring practice in May. They remain on football scholarship and are expected to report to training camp on Aug. 9. Eaton, a fourth-year junior, exited spring practice as the starting right tackle. Bass, a senior, and Michael Brewster are competing for the starting job at running back.

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