Veikune, Safeties, Kelly, BCS, Homecoming

Dave Reardon profiles defensive lineman David Veikune. Great opening lines:

You won't see the word "START" at all next to the name David Veikune on the Hawaii football participation chart.

But the junior defensive end has certainly done a good job of finishing.

Veikune leads the Warriors with five sacks. As a team, UH is seventh in the nation at getting to the quarterback with 3.57 dumps per game.

Reardon also writes about the injuries to the UH safeties.

Desmond Thomas was still out after tweaking a hamstring Monday and Dane Kealoha Porlas was banged up, too, putting both No. 2s out of commission. Another backup, Viliami Nauahi, was in a boot to protect a sprained ankle suffered in last week's Scout Bowl.

"It gives us a chance to look at Erik Robinson, and Spencer Smith has been doing some good things, too. We got some looks at them and let the other guys rest."

Stephen Tsai writes about Dan Kelly and the improved kicking game.

During spring practice in April, Kelly settled on a technique. Instead of a looping motion, he went with a compact swing. With his right knee over the football, he would use a downward motion.

"You always think you get underneath it more with a low swing," Kelly said. "This one you come down at the ball. When you swing down at the ball, it pops up higher. It's completely opposite of what you would think logically in your head."

Ferd Lewis writes about Hawaii's BCS chances, and the controversy over people saying there is no chance.

Billingsley said he apologized to UH and Western Athletic Conference officials yesterday after telling CBS' Dennis Dodd, "I don't think they deserve to be there (at No 12 at season's end). They absolutely are playing the worst schedule. I have them 119th out of 119."

Billingsley told The Advertiser he felt his comments were "very unfortunate and inappropriate" and "hated for the players, (coach) June Jones, the fans and everybody else" to read them.

Here's a link to that Dodd article. Ferd continues:

UH is currently 7-0 with five regular season games remaining. Whether UH finishes in the BCS' Top 12, "that is something that is still yet to be determined. That is going to depend upon what kind of season Washington continues to have and what kind of season Boise State continues to have," Billingsley said. "That's still unknown. By the end of their (UH's) season, their schedule is probably going to look a lot stronger than it does right now."

It's gonna come down to the computers, or at least it seems. But the important thing is -- still get chance!

Speaking of the weak schedule, Dave Reardon talks to Herman Frazier in an article about increased ticket sales for games with attractive opponents.

"This weekend is obviously homecoming," UH athletic director Herman Frazier said. "We made some 2-for-1s available to alums as an enticement to come out and see their team.

"Those sales are going brisk," Frazier added. "I think the Boise game has gone sooner because of the opponent and Boise has not lost a conference game since I've been here. Thanksgiving weekend people have family in town."

Kalani Takase writes about all the local players on the NMSU football team who may get to come home for UH's homecoming game. NMSU coach Mike Fanoga will also be recruiting.

"It's a great place to find football players," Fanoga said. "One of the best places in the country to recruit right now. Everybody in the West Coast — Pac-10, Mountain West, top caliber programs — they're all trying to get Hawai'i kids."

And in ex-UH player news, looks like Chad Owens got a tryout with the Denver Broncos.

Among the four wide receivers the Broncos worked out Tuesday was veteran Bethel Johnson, a 2003 second-round pick by New England. Known for his speed, Johnson had success as a receiver and a return man while with the Patriots. He was traded last year to New Orleans and cut by the Saints. He was later cut by Minnesota last season.
The Broncos also looked at receivers Taylor Jacobs, Chad Owens and Cliff Russell.

Here's hoping for the best.