Hawai'i Offensive Lineman: Dane Uperesa

Dane Uperesa was recently selected District VIII All-Academic Team in addition to being named Second Team All WAC. Uperesa is preparing for the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl on December 24, 2006 and has been selected to play in the Hula Bowl All Star Game.

Not much down time for Warriors' Uperesa

By Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.com

The Hawaii football team had last week off, but Dane Uperesa didn't stop working.

"Not really," the senior starting right tackle said, when asked if he got to relax a little.

"I've been writing my thesis paper and it's about 40 to 50 pages. I had to dedicate a lot of time to the computer." Uperesa is among the Warrior seniors who graduate Sunday. Yesterday, he learned he was named to the District VIII All-Academic team. Uperesa, who has a cumulative GPA of 3.63, is getting a degree in communications.

His thesis deals with the effects of media exposure on body image for males.

"In the research we came across reverse anorexia. Some guys work out too much and it can cause problems," Uperesa said.

Of course, there are some athletes who don't work out enough. Uperesa said the Warriors didn't suffer that problem last week, as players still found their way to the weight room during the lull before practices for the Dec. 24 Sheraton Hawaii Bowl against Arizona State.

"We worked out, but we also all definitely took some time away from football last week, and that's good. Heal the body up. Of course the winning made the weeks go by faster. We were so immersed in football for 12 straight weeks," Uperesa said. "It's good to get away from it, especially around finals week."

The Warriors (10-3) have one big onfield exam remaining in the Sun Devils (7-5). A victory in the Hawaii Bowl allows UH to tie the school record for wins in a season. It could also propel the Warriors into the final polls after the Dec. 2 loss to Oregon State to end the regular season knocked them out of the rankings.

Yesterday, the team went through a light hour-long workout, and will do the same tomorrow after taking today off.

Uperesa said he's fully recovered from a bent wrist that sidelined him for the last four plays of the Oregon State loss.

"I put a brace on it and it was sore the next morning, but I'm ready to go now," he said.

The Sun Devils arrive next Monday and will be staying at the Sheraton Waikiki. The Warriors move into their Hawaii Bowl rooms at the Sheraton Moana Surfrider on the same day.