Postseason honor
for Klaneski

Former University of Hawaii assistant Rocky Alt was the first coach to see the potential in Eddie Klaneski.

At the time, the walk-on from Damien High School was a mouthy kid, who thought the coaches were there to argue with, not listen to.

But in the spring of 1995, Klaneski gave himself an attitude adjustment. He worked hard and was declared by former head coach Bob Wagner as the best slotback on the team.

Klaneski not only started 11 games his sophomore season, but was awarded a scholarship for his efforts as well.

"Coming out of high school, he was a confident kid who believed in himself and thought he had all the answers," Alt said two years ago. "He didn't think he needed to listen to what people had to say to him. But he matured."

He went on to catch 36 passes for 541 yards and two touchdowns, and carry the football 30 times for 144 yards in what turned out to be Wagner's last season.

The following spring, Klaneski shifted to free safety under the watchful eye of new defensive coordinator Don Lindsey. Despite his inexperience, he was the only Rainbow named first-team All-Western Athletic Conference by the Pacific Division coaches.

The honors continued yesterday after he was named to this year's All-WAC team by Football News magazine. He will appear in the Dec. 6 issue.

What makes it even more special, the national publication didn't break down the teams into Mountain and Pacific divisions. Klaneski was one of four defensive backs selected from the entire league.

"That's great," Klaneski said upon hearing the news after yesterday's practice at Cooke Field. "I'm excited again just like last year.

"It's a surprise. You try to work hard for those kind of things all off-season. And it pays off again. Once you have your name on paper winning it last year, I think it helps the next year.

"If you play consistently and don't really mess up too badly, a lot of times it's automatic on things like that. Last year, it was really a big surprise because I didn't think I would even start."

This year, Klaneski is one of only four Hawaii defensive players to start every game. He leads the Rainbows in tackles with 99, pass breakups with 13 and interceptions with two. The 5-foot-9, 185-pounder is already on the Hula Bowl team. He would like to play in the East-West Shrine game or the Blue-Gray Classic.

"That's great," Lindsey said. "That's something all of us can be proud for him. He deserves it, earned every bit of it, as much as anyone I've ever been around."

OLD HOME WEEK: Returning to the Bay Area will be a lot of fun for freshmen Miles Garner and Charles Tharp.

Both players will have plenty of family and friends on hand for this Saturday's Western Athletic Conference game with San Jose State at Spartan Stadium.

"I could have as many as 200 people coming to the game," said Tharp, who played at St. Francis High in Mountain View, Calif. "I can't get that many tickets for them. They're going to have to buy them at the gate."

Garner competed at Archbishop Mitty High in San Jose, Calif. Spartans head coach Dave Baldwin said earlier this week that he wished he had Garner and Tharp on his team.

They aren't the only UH players from Northern California. Freshman running back Avion Weaver, wide receiver John Kirby, offensive lineman Vincent Street and linebacker Doug Rosevold also are from that part of the country.

"This is a game I've looked forward to for quite some time," said Rosevold, who is from Sacramento, Calif. "It's always fun to play in front of your family and friends. When you're playing football in Hawaii, you don't get that chance very often."

Weaver, who also played his prep ball in Sacramento, agreed.

"I bet I have 100 people there for the game," Weaver said. "Now, if I only get to play some in front of them, then I'll be happy."

INJURY UPDATE: Cornerback Al Hunter continues to make good progress playing with a broken right hand.

The senior from St. Louis School said the soft cast protected him well enough and that he can play in the final WAC game of his career.

"I'm getting used to playing with it," Hunter said. "The cast takes the hits fairly well. If the coaches call on me, I can go in there and be effective."

The bye week helped with all the bumps and bruises the UH players picked up along the way. The only players out are linebacker Stephen Gonzales (shoulder), cornerback Blase Austin (knee) and quarterback Dan Robinson (shinsplints).

-- By Paul Arnett

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http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu