Although left slotback Davone Bess is leading the nation in receiving, he is admittedly struggling "mentally" and has received several pep talks from the University of Hawai'i football coaches.

"I've been kind of upset with myself," Bess said.

Bess has 49 receptions, an average of 8.17 per game. But he also leads the team with seven drops in six games, and has broken off routes a few times.

"Even though I'm leading the nation, I'm really frustrated with myself," said Bess, a sophomore from Oakland. "I don't think I've been playing up to my expectations.

"It has nothing to do with my physical ability," he added. "It's all mental. It's a matter of executing and doing what I do every day in practice."

Ron Lee, who coaches the receivers, said Bess "needs to focus more on the whole scheme of things rather than try to take it upon himself to win the whole ballgame by himself."

Six of his seven drops have occurred in the first half, leading Bess to believe he is "too hyped" at the start of games.

"I think it's a matter of me calming down and just really relaxing," Bess said. "I tend to get over-anxious and really excited. That's exactly what it was in (the season opener against) Alabama. I was trying to do too much instead of letting it happen. I have to try to catch the ball first, then go forward."

Quarterback Colt Brennan said: "I think Davone feels he has to do too much. He needs to be himself. Davone's a playmaker. You have to trust him. Davone does so much for us, it's not like we want to give him pointers. He knows what's best for himself. We don't want to get nit-picky. Even if he does make a bad play by cutting back too much, he'll make up for it three plays later when he makes four guys miss and he gets 15 extra yards."

Head coach June Jones and Lee have had pep talks with Bess this week.

"He'll be a lot better this week," Lee said.

NOTES

GRICE-MULLINS AILING, NOT ON TRAVEL ROSTER

Right slotback Ryan Grice-Mullins, who has missed three consecutive games while recovering from a sprained left ankle, did not compete in contact drills yesterday, and was not listed on the 60-player travel roster for Saturday's road game against New Mexico State.

Grice-Mullins did not attend the receivers meeting yesterday afternoon. The Warriors were scheduled to depart last night.

Grice-Mullins participated in conditioning drills Monday and competed in practice Tuesday. But he said his left ankle is tender.

"I feel all right," Grice-Mullins said. "I guess I have to give it more time."

Ross Dickerson, who has emerged as the Warriors' second-leading receiver, is expected to make his fourth consecutive start at right slotback.

KICK COVERAGE GETS SPARK FROM GALDEIRA

Fresno State was so concerned about UH's kick-coverage team it tried to double-team the "hawk," the player who races down the lane along the sideline. The thing is, Guyton Galdeira was not playing the hawk, moving over one position.

The other thing is, Galdeira is 5 feet 7 3/4 and 170 pounds.

"You usually don't give that job to a guy his size," UH assistant coach Rich Miano said of Galdeira, who made two big knockdown tackles. "But he's been such a spark. Power is speed. He runs down there at full speed. He does not slow up. He does not avoid contact. He accelerates through contact. It goes to show, it's not how big you are, it's how bad you want it."

Dennis McKnight, who coaches the kick coverage, said: "It's the old adage. It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog. He wants it, man."

McKnight said Galdeira was noticed after repeatedly tackling kick returners in practice.

"I made some plays, and they gave me an opportunity," Galdeira said.

After knocking down a Fresno State blocker, Galdeira demonstrated his other skill — dancing. Galdeira has danced at Merrie Monarch the past four years.

"It's two different skills," Galdeira said of football and hula. "I like the balance."

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.