Dane the Mane

Too bad he has short hair, otherwise that would be a better nickname. Stephen Tsai has a profile on the incredible athlete that is offensive lineman Dane Uperesa.

Uperesa, who is 6 feet 5 and 305 pounds (after yesterday's two-hour practice), can bench-press a maximum 470 pounds, as well as bench 225 pounds 33 times.

He can squat-lift 600 pounds.

He also can leg-press at least 780 pounds with each leg; he might be able to do more, but the 60-pound bar can't hold more than 16 45-pound plates.

Uperesa, who can dunk a basketball, has a 32-inch vertical jump.

Without a running start, he can touch 11 feet, a contact point that usually is reached by a volleyball outside hitter.

He can run 40 yards in 4.89 seconds.

All that Dane is missing is a blue ox. And a mean streak, at least on the field, which the article goes on to say. Dennis McKnight is responsible for instilling that in Dane this fall. As well as the idea that he should join the McKnight family.

Still, McKnight said, "He's a great kid. I wish he didn't have a significant other. I'd like him to marry my daughter. He's the kind of guy I'd like to have as a son-in-law."

Yikes!

The article also talks about strength coach Mel DeLaura, and how he has had a huge impact on the Warriors. June Jones illustrates how far UH has come.

Jones was hired as UH head coach in December 1998. In the summer of 1999, Jones recalled, "there was nobody staying here (to train). There was one person, (quarterback) Dan Robinson, playing catch with Dawn, our student manager. That was the only person the summer before our first season. Now we have close to 70 guys staying over here. That's the difference between winning and losing. If you want to win, that's what you have to do."

In even more news from the same article, cornerback Ryan Keomaka will rejoin the team August 21st after clearing up some academic issues. There's still more news, but you'll just have to read the article.

When The Juggernaut (aka "Reagan Mauia") graduates, it looks like someone will be there to take his place, though I'm not sure if The Juggernaut can ever truly be replaced. Dave Reardon talks about junior Siave Seti, a 281 pound running back who is learning the ropes from the one, the only.

"He's coachable, real coachable. He opens his eyes and ears and just absorbs everything I tell him," Mauia said. "(Third-string running back David) Farmer told me the other day, 'Man, it feels good all the guys are coming to you to ask you.' Before I used to go to Farmer all the time and Nate Ilaoa. Now I understand the system so I can answer a lot of the questions myself."

If there's anything more dangerous than The Juggernaut, it's a knowledgable The Juggernaut. Let's hope he can pass on his knowledge to his wee 281-pound apprentice, and someday soon the student shall become the master.