Can't take anything away from Warriors
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
The earth shook for a few seconds yesterday — not that University of Hawai'i defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville noticed.
"Really?" Glanville said after being told of the Big Island quake. "I saw (defensive lineman Keala) Watson fall down. Maybe that's what it was."
Other than that, Glanville treated Thanksgiving Day like any other work day.
He scolded players for blowing assignments during yesterday's two-hour practice, spent another two hours conducting video reviews with the defensive players, and then took the rest of the afternoon to watch more videos of tomorrow's opponent, Purdue.
Thanksgiving?
"We're not in a giving mood," said Glanville, who is focused mostly on takeaways. "Thanksgiving doesn't matter to us. The enemy doesn't care. They're not taking the day off."
Actually, two Warriors called in sick. Inside linebacker Adam Leonard and cornerback Ryan Keomaka are suffering from flu-like symptoms. Linebacker Timo Paepule and Watson did not practice Wednesday for the same reason.
Warriors head coach Jones Jones said a half-dozen players have been affected.
"It's a flu bug," Jones said. "It kind of kicks your rear end. I had it last week, but I didn't miss practice."
KELLY KICKS BAD HABIT
Placekicker Daniel Kelly said he believes he has solved the riddle of his field-goal problems.
Against San Jose State last week, Kelly converted two field-goal attempts.
"But if you looked at them, they barely hooked in," Kelly said. "That was because of the spin."
Earlier in the year, Kelly had thought he figured out his accuracy problems, using a new approach before making contact. But then the Warriors went four games in a row without attempting a field goal, and Kelly's accuracy went on hiatus.
"I thought I had it figured out, but the way I had it figured out wasn't very consistent," he said.
During Wednesday's practice, Kelly noticed his aim improved when he kept his shoulder and hips square to the goal posts.
"I wasn't pulling (the right leg) across (the body)," Kelly said. "All I had to do was to go straight through the ball. I seemed to get a lot better height (on the kicks)."
During the field-goal segment, he converted 80 percent of his kicks.
"It was all trial and error," Kelly said. "I was kicking all day, trying to find something new, and this is what I came up with."
He said he was helped by launching kicks toward the shot-put cage on the soccer field adjacent to the football practice facility. He used two of the support poles to create a target lane.
"(The cage) is like an arena-league (goal post)," Kelly said. "I can kick as high as I want into the net. I enjoyed kicking against that than using the real uprights."
Mouse Davis, who coordinates the special teams, said: "He's looking better. You've got to keep tuning it."
SETI STARTS UNDER RADAR
It went unnoticed in the box score, but nose tackle Siave Seti made his first career start against San Jose State.
Seti was the designated defender whenever 6-foot-4, 335-pound Jibri Sharp was used as the Spartans' fullback.
Just before the start of the Spartans' first possession, Sharp raced onto the field. Seti then checked into the game, too, while cornerback Gerard Lewis headed to the UH sideline.
"My assignment was to go in there and blow him up," Seti said.
The problem was Sharp entered at guard instead of fullback. Seti scrambled, finally aligning opposite the tight end. Seti left after the first play, Yonus Davis' 5-yard rush.
"It was a good experience," Seti said. "The good thing is it was my first start, even though it wasn't to be."
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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. 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.
