The University of Hawaii football team’s annual Scout Bowl is about as good as it gets for free sports entertainment, this side of the spring practice finale.
During UH’s bye week, you get to see some real tackle football played by real college football players. Guys hungry for contact and hungry to make an impression on the coaches.
And, you get a glimpse of the Warriors’ future.
The performance I remember most from a UH Scout Bowl was that of a skinny little walk-on freshman quarterback four years ago. He got pounded. By the third play, his facemask was full of dirt and grass.
But he hung in there and made a few plays. Afterward, Shane Austin grinned and talked about how much fun it was, and you knew he was a keeper. Now he’s a not-so-skinny senior and the back-up to Bryant Moniz.
Sophomore David Graves has been getting most of the mop-up duty this fall, and is considered a strong contender to be the No. 1 quarterback when Moniz, now a senior, is done. But if UH finds itself in a pinch later this season with Moniz not available, watch for Austin. Remember the game at San Jose State in 2009? He started in place of Moniz, who was out with sore ribs, and Austin brought back a win.
THIS YEAR’S revelation from Thursday morning’s Scout Bowl? Well, there’s safety Bubba Poueu-Luna, who had two interceptions. And there’s quarterback Kevin Spain, who threw a beautiful long touchdown pass, and will be among those pushing Graves next spring (as will Jeremy Higgins, who also passed well).
I was also impressed with the guy who caught Spain’s bomb, Cecil Doe. The first thing you notice is his size. He’s 6 feet 3 and 210 pounds. Then there’s the speed and athleticism, with which he is blessed in large supply.
Doe is a JC transfer from the North Dakota State College of Science, which he went to after graduating from Wayzata High School in Plymouth, Minn. When a player comes to Hawaii from the Midwest, you’ve got to wonder why. In this case, it makes sense: UH offensive line coach Gordie Shaw used to coach at Minnesota. “Coach Shaw recruited me when I was in high school,” Doe said. “He kept in touch with me and kept me up to date when I went to junior college.”
DOE IS REDSHIRTING partly because UH’s passing offense is complicated, and partly because the Warriors have a lot of experienced receivers.
He’s got what June Jones used to say Ashley Lelie had: want-to. “He’s always asking me questions, which is good,” senior receiver Royce Pollard said. “If you just hang in the back at practice and mosey through, you’re not gonna learn anything.”
Nick Rolovich said he expects Doe to be ready to compete for a starting spot in spring practice.
“He’s advanced since he got here in January, but he’s still got some ways to go,” the offensive coordinator said. “But you can tell it’s starting to make sense for him and he’s beginning to turn the corner with the offense. The picture’s starting to clear up for him.
“He had four options on that (touchdown) play before he’s up at the line,” Rolovich added. “Then the decision was fairly easy because of the coverage. He burned a nine route and beat the defender.”
Doe knows it won’t always be so simple as using his physicality and speed to overwhelm a cornerback. He has to keep working and learning, and he still has to wait his turn. The Scout Bowl is just a look at what the future might hold.
“Patience is what I value most. Definitely,” Doe said. “I take pride in that. When my number is called, I want to know what I’m doing.
“The work will pay off.”
