Sports Watch
IF Hawaii football fans could have only one Christmas present, asking Santa for another offensive tackle like Kaulana Noa would be a good choice. Noa has been rock
solid for RainbowsNoa makes his final appearance in a Rainbow uniform today in the Jeep Oahu Bowl against Oregon State.
It is an appearance that has to be noted and appreciated. It will be his 49th straight start at right tackle for the Rainbows, dating back to Noa's red-shirt freshman season in 1996, when he started all 12 games.
The NCAA doesn't keep a record for most football games started. If it did, the 6-foot-5, 317-pound senior would surely head the list.
Unlike Hawaii, the majority of colleges don't play 12 games a season. Elite teams do, counting bowl games. But freshmen rarely start at such programs.
For Noa, his 49th straight start is particularly satisfying. He's finally playing in a postseason bowl game after a title-winning year.
"This has been an unreal season for me," Noa said.
More so, considering that Noa and the other fifth-year seniors suffered through three of the school's worst losing seasons to get here.
NOA was on the losing side in 31 of 36 games before UH's stunning turnaround under first-year coach June Jones. Noa's rock-steady performance - he didn't allow a single sack in the pass-happy attack - was a huge contributing factor.
It's quite an accomplishment, almost as remarkable as 49 consecutive starts under three different head coaches.
Not bad for someone who played for Honokaa High School of the Big Island Interscholastic Federation, which doesn't compare in caliber to Oahu's two high school leagues.
His size helped, Noa admits. But nobody worked harder at improving his ability than Noa.
"I worked hard at it. Nobody can say I didn't deserve to start. And being lucky, I guess, not getting injured."
The only time Noa came close to seeing his starting streak end was last year before a road game at Fresno State. He had his swollen knee drained and didn't miss an offensive snap.
NOA'S All-WAC credentials and durability are the big pluses in his resume. But his work ethic is what should win over the pro scouts.
"My parents, with their work ethic, taught me. I don't want to let them down and I don't want to let my team down," Noa said.
It was his mom, Degmar, who took time off from her job to drive him to a UH football clinic in Kailua-Kona after his freshman year in high school.
"I really didn't want to go. But she told me, 'If you really love football, you've got to go to this,' " Noa recalled. "If it wasn't for her, I probably wouldn't be at UH. I'd probably be at home now."
Noa is looking forward to playing in the NFL. He wouldn't mind being a "Hog," by getting drafted by the Washington Redskins.
"I grew up as a Redskins' fan because of my dad. Everything was 'Hog Heaven' and 'Hail to the Redskins,' " he said.
Noa has one more game after today. He'll join teammates Jeff Ulbrich and Adrian Klemm in the Senior Bowl, which his parents, Ronald and Degmar, will attend as well.
Call it Hawaii 5-0.
Bill Kwon has been writing about
sports for the Star-Bulletin since 1959.