Iron is kind for UH football team
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
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To prevent iron deficiency, the University of Hawai'i defensive players and offensive linemen skipped yesterday's two-hour practice and instead lifted weights.
"Some guys really needed to pump iron," said Mel deLaura, who runs the Warriors' conditioning program.
The break from practicing came two days before the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl.
But defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville said the bowl schedule did not leave enough time for the defensive players to weight train. When school was in session, Glanville said, the players had the entire day to schedule weight sessions around classes, practices and meetings.
Because the Warriors are staying in Waikiki this week, buses shuttle the players from the school at 10:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. UH's practices are from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., and breakfast is after that.
"We weren't getting our good heavy weightlifting because we had to get on the bus," Glanville said. "We needed to lift. We requested it, and we got permission."
Head coach June Jones coordinated the offensive drills for the entire two-hour practice.
Meanwhile, the defensive players and offensive linemen lifted for about 90 minutes.
The coaches also lifted, according to Glanville.
"George (Lumpkin) and Cal (Lee) won the coaches' competition," Glanville said. "Rich Miano and I brought up the rear."
The highlight came from safety Desmond Thomas, who has earned the nickname "Half-Rep" because of his inability to bench press 225 pounds. Thomas is 6 feet 2 and 172 pounds.
To measure strength stamina, UH players are tested on how many times they can bench 225 pounds. Backup center Marques Kaonohi holds the team record with 42 repetitions.
In contrast, deLaura said of Thomas, "he never got 225 pounds one time. The players decided to rally around him."
With the theme song to "Rocky" blaring, teammates carried Thomas into the weight room.
Thomas then benched 225 pounds one ... two .... three ... four times.
"It was a record for him," deLaura said.
With teammates cheering, Thomas was presented with a "championship" belt.
He then was hoisted again.
"They certainly haven't been tight this week," defensive line coach Jeff Reinebold said of the Warriors.
LACOUNT DOES THE JOB
While several UH seniors ponder the possibility of pro football careers, nose tackle Kahai LaCount knows the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl against Arizona State will be his last organized football game.
"It would be nice to go on and keep playing like some of the guys on the team," LaCount said. "But not everyone is that fortunate, I guess. It's going to be hard not to play again. A lot of the guys who are done playing, whenever we see them, they're always saying: 'Cherish these times because when they're over, you're going to miss them.'"
Despite an uneven college career, LaCount, a 2002 graduate of Kailua High School, said he does not regret his decision to play for the Warriors.
"It meant a lot for my family to come here," LaCount said.
LaCount was recruited as an offensive lineman, but he was used sparingly there.
"A lot of the guys on the offensive line, I guess, were better than me," said LaCount, who moved to the defensive line in 2004. "I came over, and I've had a lot of fun."
Last year, LaCount doubled as a wedge blocker on kick returns. This year, he is the starting nose tackle in the Warriors' "jumbo" defense, a short-yardage scheme.
LaCount said he is fortunate to be available for tomorrow's game. He missed the final three regular-season games after suffering a partially torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee.
"I thought I'd never get to play one last time," he said. "I thought my career was done."
LaCount said he is on schedule to earn a bachelor's degree in May.
"I'm going to be the first boy from my family to graduate from college," he said. "This is the hardest thing I've ever done. There was so much reading and writing papers. I'm looking forward to finishing."
After that, he plans to work for a year or two, then take firefighter classes. He aspires to a career as a federal firefighter.
LaCount's parents divorced when he was 5. His father lives in Los Angeles. His mother and brother live here.
"I want to get a job and help support my family, and help out my mom the best I can," he said. "They did so much for me. It's the least I can do."
BARRETT FOLLOWS THE DOG
In a man-chases-dog twist, Arizona State safety Josh Barrett said he is on the lookout for bounty hunter Duane "Dog" Chapman.
"Yes, where is he?" Barrett said.
Barrett said he often watches Dog's reality show, which is recorded in Hawai'i.
"What really got me on the Dog was 'South Park' did a skit when Cartman was dressed up as Dog," Barrett said. "He was going around doing what Dog does. That was hilarious. From then on, I followed Dog's show."
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SHERATON HAWAI'I BOWL
WHAT: University of Hawai'i (10-3) vs. Arizona State (7-5) WHEN: 3:05 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 24 WHERE: Aloha Stadium TV: Live nationwide on ESPN with Mark Jones (play-by-play), David Norrie (analyst) and Heather Cox (sideline). AUDIO WEBCAST: espn1420am.com RADIO: Live on ESPN 1420, with Bobby Curran (play-by-play), Robert Kekaula (color) and John Veneri (sideline). Don Robbs hosts "Warrior Warm-up" beginning at 2 p.m. and also the halftime show. Neighbor Island simulcasts can be heard live on KAOI on Maui/Kona, KPUA in Hilo and KQNG on Kaua'i. TICKET PRICES: $10 to $45. TICKET SALES: On sale online at sheratonhawaiibowl.com, or by calling 548-BOWL (2695) between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or at Stan Sheriff Center, Aloha Stadium, UH Campus Center, RainBowtique and Windward Community College's OCET Office during normal business hours. Convenience fees may apply. GATES OPEN: Parking lot gates at Aloha Stadium will open at 10 a.m. Stadium gates open at 11 a.m. ALOHA STADIUM PARKING: $5 ALTERNATIVE PARKING (no tailgating): • Leeward Community College (free parking and $2 per person charge for shuttle service); opens 11 a.m. (A giveaway of stadium concession coupons for two free 32-ounce soft drinks ($7 value) to the first 500 drivers who use this parking site.) • Kamehameha Drive-In ($5 with free shuttle service); opens 11 a.m. (A giveaway of stadium concession coupons for two free 32-ounce soft drinks ($7 value) for the first 500 drivers who use this parking site.) • Radford High School ($3 with no shuttle service); opens 11 a.m. SECURITY: Only fanny packs, purses, backpacks and handbags will be allowed into stadium (subject to check). TRAFFIC ADVISORY: Sports Radio ESPN 1420 will provide traffic advisories and updates. BUS SHUTTLES: Roberts Hawaii is offering round trip "air conditioned" shuttle bus services to Aloha Stadium for $6 from three O'ahu areas. Bus No. 1 will pick up at the Mililani Mauka Park n' Ride at 1 p.m. and go directly to the stadium. Bus No. 2 will pick up at the Hawai'i Kai Park n' Ride at 12:15 p.m., at Bank of Hawai'i at Kahala Mall at 12:45 and proceed to the stadium. Bus No. 3 will pick up at the Kailua District Park, Kainalu Avenue at 12:15 p.m., at Windward Mall Shopping Center on Alaloa Street facing Sears at 12:45 and proceed to the stadium. The shuttle will depart from Aloha Stadium half hour after the game ends. Reservations are required and service is first come, first serve. Call Roberts School Bus at 832-4886 for reservations and additional information. CITY BUS SERVICE The FootballExpress offers 17 pickup locations throughout O'ahu. The first trip from each location leaves approximately three hours before kickoff and the last trip leaves approximately 90 minutes before the game. Return trips leave as soon as the bus is full, with the final trip leaving 30 minutes after the game ends. Honolulu pickup locations are at: • Ala Moana (Kona Street), noon, 12:30 p.m., 1 p.m., 1:30 p.m. • Downtown (Alapai Transit Center), 12:10 p.m., 12:40, 1:10, 1:40. • Palolo (Waialae, Palolo, fronting McDonald), 12:02 p.m., 12:32 p.m., 1:02 p.m. • University of Hawai'i (Sinclair Circle), 12:10 p.m., 12:50, 1:10, 1:30. • Kahala Mall (Waialae, Kilauea across mall), noon, 12:40, 1:10, 1:40. • Kaimuki (Koko Head, Waialae, fronting Liliuokalani Elementary), noon, 1 p.m., 1:30 p.m. • Waikiki (Monsarrat at Kapiolani Boulevard), 11:30 a.m., 11:45 a.m., noon, 12:15, 12:30, 12:50, 1, 1:10, 1:30. • Hawai'i Kai (Keahole St., Hawai'i Kai Park & Ride), 12:15 p.m., 12:30, 12:45, 1, 1:15, 1:30. Leeward pickups are at: • 'Ewa Beach (Fort Weaver, Kaimalie before 'Ewa Beach Shopping Center), noon, 1:20. • Kapolei (Kamokila Boulevard at Kahuhihewa State Building), noon, 1:40. • Mililani Mauka (Ukuwai Strett at Mililani Park & Ride), noon, 1 p.m., 1:40. • Village Park (Kupuohi Street, Royal Kunia Park & Ride), 12:20 p.m. and 1:40. Windward pickups are at: • Kalaniana'ole/Kailua (acros Castle Medical Center), noon, 1:20. • Kailua: Keolu/Hele (across Enchanted Lake Shopping Center), 12:05 p.m., 1:25. • Kailua / Hahani (Kailua Shopping Center), 12:10 p.m., 1:30. • Kaneohe Bay / Mokapu (fronting Aikahi Shopping Center), noon, 1:20. • Kaneohe Bay / Makalani (across Windward City Shopping Center), 12:10 p.m., 1:30. Buses will leave the stadium when the bus is full and the last return trip will leave a half-hour after the game ends. Rates are $3 one way and $6 roundtrip. Passes and transfers are not accepted. For information, go to: http://www.thebus.org ALOHA STADIUM PARKING PLAN: The stadium authority has released a set of new plans to help prevent gridlock at this weekend's Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl. The authority has created the following procedures for the Christmas Eve game: -- Cancellation of the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet on Sunday only. -- Opening parking gates at 10 a.m., five hours before the 3 p.m. kick-off. -- Halawa gate, Gate 3, will be used as the entry for upper and lower Halawa parking lot only. -- Lower Salt Lake gate, Gate 4, will be used for entry for upper and lower Halawa parking lot. -- Kamehameha Lot gate, Gate 5, will be used for entry for Kamehameha Lot only.
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Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.
