Davone Bess for Hiesman

I hope that you have had the chance to watch Hawaii's football team at some point this season. June Jones is an offensive genius, and his teams are among the most fun to watch year in and year out. This season is no different. Colt Brennen is a front runner for Hiesman, the Rainbow Warriors are undefeated and ranked 12th in the nation, and that game last Friday against Boise State was prime time action. But these are all things that you already know, and if you don't you will after they dismantle our beleaguered Huskies this Saturday in Honolulu. What you don't already know is the amazing tale of Davone Bess. Here at "Road to the BigTime" we often celebrate things in sports that are less than smiled upon by the mainstream sports media: Manny's posing, Randy Moss and T.O., sucker punching, etc. Well, Davone Bess is right up our alley. Not that he isn't a great guy, or a wonderful athlete. His story is simply unique, and appealing to my type of sports fan. Here is an ode to a "Road to the BigTime" all-star.

While his 15 catch, 181 yard, 2 touchdown game against Boise State was very impressive, what's more impressive to me is how he ended up in Hawaii. Bess was a three sport star in high school in Oakland, and was all set to attend Oregon State University on a full football scholarship, when he was locked up in a juvenile detention center for 15 months less than three weeks after his high school graduation. Oregon State quickly rescinded its scholarship, and there he was in juvie, all alone, athletic freak that he was, with no future in sports. So he did what any hood star would do. He convinced one of the activities coordinators at the detention center to start taping the 7 on 7 football scrimmages that they had during "exercise period". Eventually they had enough footage to compile a hi-lite tape, and they sent it to Hawaii. They liked it, and when he got out of jail, they extended him a scholarship, and the rest is history.

He got a college scholarship for a 7 on 7 jailyard hi-lite tape!! That is hard. Not only that, but he is one of the most athletic receivers in college football this year. He shakes guys like Steve Slaton, he does front flips into the end zone like Reggie Bush, and he has really funny bleached dread locks like T-Pain. So, if you get the chance to watch the Huskies game this Saturday, please do so for your own enjoyment. God knows that after the Apple Cup we all need a game to sit back, relax, and watch those good for nothing bastards get killed. I'll be rooting for Davone Bess, and if the dread locks and freakish athleticism have anything to say about it, you will be too.