Bess to return punts for Warriors
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
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Tomorrow is the busiest shopping day of the year.
Saturday might be a day of happy returns for University of Hawai'i football player Davone Bess.
"I'm excited for the opportunity," said Bess, who has been named the Warriors' punt returner for tomorrow's game against Purdue.
UH coach June Jones had hesitated because he did not want to tax Bess, a sophomore slotback who leads the Warriors in receptions (6.82 per game) and receiving yards (84.8 per game).
But after Monday's conditioning drills, Jones walked up to Bess and said: "You're returning punts."
"That's all he said," Bess said.
Bess returned two punts for three yards last season, when he was the Western Athletic Conference's Freshman of the Year.
"(Jones) didn't want me to risk getting hurt" returning punts, Bess said. "That's the coach's decision. I'm just going with the flow. He's the general, and I'm just a soldier."
During training camp, Jones told the team Bess would return punts later in the season.
"That was always the plan," said Myron Newberry, who is third in the WAC with a punt-return average of 5.9 yards.
Asked about ceding the job, Newberry, who also is the starting right cornerback, said: "It's no biggie. He's Davone. He's a great player. I knew it would happen from the beginning of the year."
Bess has stayed after practices to catch punts from Kurt Milne.
"He's the best," Milne said. "He was the guy I always thought would be our punt returner. He always catches the ball. I've never seen him drop one punt."
Milne said Bess is skilled in catching punts only with his hands while scanning the coverage.
"He does a good job of keeping his eyes downfield while the punt's in the air," Milne said. "He'll look for guys, then catch it with his hands. He has great hands."
Milne said he tries to launch towering punts to Bess.
"Those are the most important," Milne said. "You have to field a high punt. If it's a low liner, you can get away from it."
Bess said returning punts is "something I've wanted to do since I've been here. Coach is giving me the opportunity. I don't want to let him down. Now it's all about me showcasing my abilities."
MORE HONORS FOR COLT
The Sugar Bowl Committee has named UH's Colt Brennan as one of 11 finalists for the Manning Award as the nation's best college quarterback.
"That's cool," said Brennan, who leads the nation in passing efficiency (189.6 rating) and total offense (403.3 yards per game). "It's nice to be nominated for another award. It's an honor, as it is an honor to be considered for the Davey O'Brien (award). I'm excited that the team and I were able to get some recognition for our program. Now it's time to get back to work."
The Manning Award was created in honor of the college football accomplishments of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning, and will be presented following the holiday bowl season. The Mannings and a panel of national media will select the winner.
BATTLE ON THE EDGE
Saturday's game will feature a compelling matchup between Purdue defensive end Anthony Spencer and the UH offensive tackles.
Spencer leads Division I-A in tackles-for-losses, with 2.21 per game, and has 10.5 sacks in 12 games. Spencer can align on either side, meaning he will face either left tackle Tala Esera or right tackle Dane Uperesa.
"He's a great player," Uperesa said. "I've been hearing about him since early in the season. Every time I could catch a (Purdue) game on ESPN, I would watch. The announcers would talk a lot about him."
While the Warriors were watching Spencer, he was watching them.
"I've been watching quite a bit of film," said Spencer, who has focused primarily on Esera. "He's a really good offensive tackle. He's got really good balance. He sets up pretty well."
Esera said: "It should be a good challenge. He's quick. He's very good."
At 6 feet 3 and 261 pounds, Spencer has a weight disadvantage against Esera (6-4, 308) and Uperesa (6-4, 310). But Spencer, who has 85 tackles, including a team-high 63 solo stops, relies on quickness and improved health. He was hindered by a shoulder injury last season.
"I'm pretty much fine," Spencer said. "I've got some nagging injuries, but that comes with football. It's a long season. Playing defensive line is not easy on the body."
UH offensive line coach Dennis McKnight said Spencer is the best of the best defensive line on the Warriors' schedule. "He's very skilled," McKnight said. "This is a good challenge for us."
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UH FOOTBALL
WHAT: University of Hawai'i (9-2, 7-1 in Western Athletic Conference) vs. Purdue (8-4, 5-3 in Big Ten) WHEN: 6:05 p.m. Saturday WHERE: Aloha Stadium TV: Live on Oceanic cable pay-per-view digital; rebroadcast on PPV at 10:30 p.m. Call 625-8100 on O'ahu or (808) 643-2337 statewide. Delayed on KFVE Sunday 10 a.m. AUDIO WEBCAST: www.espn1420am.com VIDEO WEBCAST: Available through Hawaiian Telecom and KFVE. Tickets available for single game at $9.95, a full season for $39.95. Go to www.hawaiiantelmedia.com RADIO: Live on ESPN 1420, with warmup show at 5 p.m. Neighbor Island simulcasts on KAOI on Maui/Kona, KPUA in Hilo and KQNG on Kaua'i GATES OPEN: Parking lot 2:30 p.m.; Stadium gates 3 p.m. TICKET PRICES: $38 sideline, $32 South end zone, $27 North end zone (adult), $22 North end zone senior citizen, $22 North end zone students 4-18, $5 UH students. TICKET SALES: Available online at hawaiiathletics.com, by calling 944-2697 (BOWS) between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or at Stan Sheriff Center, Aloha Stadium, UH Campus Center, RainBowtique at Ward Centre and Windward Community College's OCET Office during business hours. Convenience fees may apply. PROMOTIONS: Tickets are $20 for special “Kids’ Night” sections in the North and South end zones. A minimum of four tickets must be purchased and there is a maximum of 12. Senior citizens (65 years and older) will receive the discount (maximum of 8). A driver's license or identification card is required when purchasing tickets at the Aloha Stadium Box Office in advance and on game day. It is only available at the Stan Sheriff Center Box Office in advance (Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.). Other restrictions may apply. PARKING: $5 ALTERNATIVE PARKING (no tailgating): • Leeward Community College (free with $2 charge for shuttle service); • Kamehameha Drive-In ($5 with free shuttle service); • Radford High School ($3 with no shuttle service). All shuttle service runs from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and approximately one hour after the game ends. SECURITY: Only fanny packs, purses, backpacks and handbags will be allowed into stadium (subject to check). TRAFFIC ADVISORY: Sports Radio 1420 will provide traffic advisories and updates before each UH football home game. BUS SHUTTLES: For UH students: Chancellor office is providing free bus transportation to the home games at Aloha Stadium. Buses will pick up UH students on Dole Street in front of Gateway House two hours before game time.The buses will leave the stadium 30 minutes after the game and return to Gateway. Sign-up sheets are at the front desk at each UH residence hall. Roberts Hawaii is offering round trip "air conditioned" shuttle bus services to Aloha Stadium for $6 from three O'ahu areas. Bus No. 3 will pick up at the Hawai'i Kai Park n' Ride at 4 p.m., at Bank of Hawai'i at Kahala Mall at 4:15 and proceed to the stadium. Bus No. 2 will pick up at the Kailua District Park, Kainalu Avenue at 4:15 p.m., at Windward Mall Shopping Center on Alaloa Street facing Sears at 4:30 and proceed to the stadium. Bus No. 1 will pick up at the Mililani Mauka Park n' Ride at 4:30 p.m. and go directly to the stadium. 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, downtown, Hawai'i Kai, Kahala Mall, Kaimuki, Palolo, Waikiki and the University of Hawai'i. Leeward pickups are at 'Ewa Beach, Kapolei, Mililani Mauka and Village Park. Windward pickups are at Kalaniana'ole Highway and Kailua Road, Kailua Road at Keolu Drive and Hele Street, Kailua Road at Hahani Street, Kane'ohe Bay drive at Mokapu Boulevard and Kane'ohe Bay Drive at Makalani Street. Rates are $3 one way and $6 roundtrip. Passes and transfers are not accepted. For information, go to: www.thebus.org
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Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.
