Monday, September 3, 2001
[ UH WARRIOR FOOTBALL ]
Raw talent T happens every spring in college football coaches' meeting rooms across the nation.
Hawaii's Josiah Cravalho goes
home to Maui with a new
job -- in the secondaryBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comOffensive coordinator: "He's fast and tough, but he's got iron hands and he's got no footwork. Want to see what you can do with him?"
Defensive coordinator: "Uhh, OK. Thanks. ... I think."
Usually, it works out the way you'd expect. Just because a guy's not a good receiver, it doesn't mean he can become a good defensive back. He languishes on the third team and gets to cover kickoffs, if he's lucky.
But then, every once in awhile, a Josiah Cravalho comes along.
Cravalho, once a wide receiver, now a cornerback, is among several conversion projects on the Hawaii defense who will try to stop Montana in the UH season opener Saturday on Maui. The first Division I football player from tiny Kaahumanu Hou Christian School in Kihei could play an important role at nearby War Memorial Stadium as Hawaii goes into the game with a banged-up secondary.
At the very least, Cravalho will get lots of special teams action in his homecoming.
"That gives me a lot of motivation. It's a dream come true to go back home to the crowd there," he said. "Hopefully, we'll come back with a win. All my family over there, they're all pumped for the game. They can't wait to see me come back and play."
The redshirt freshman walk-on began his Warrior career as a wide receiver last fall. The coaches saw enough potential to keep him around -- on the other side of the ball.
Cravalho didn't blow anybody away with his technique as a DB last spring.
Height: 5 feet 9 inches Josiah Cravalho
Weight: 175 pounds
Born: Jan. 8, 1982 in Wailuku
Prep honors: 2000 graduate of Kaahumanu Hou Christian School. Four letters in track and field, three each in football, baseball, basketball and wrestling, one in soccer. Was on yearbook staff and Teen Age Republican Society.
"He got beat on every long ball," defensive coordinator Kevin Lempa said.
But, again, the coaches saw enough to believe he could become a contributor at some point.
"He was real raw but you could tell he had lots of natural ability," head coach June Jones said.
Secondary coach Rich Miano considered Cravalho a project.
"He's a guy who couldn't even back-pedal. But he could run, just raw speed, and he was tough," Miano said. "We knew we'd have to work with him."
Cravalho spent the summer improving his conditioning, strength and, most importantly, technique.
"He's made tremendous strides and now he's competing for a starting job and he's going to be a big-time special teams guy for us because of his speed. He's one of the quickest guys on this football team," Miano said.
"He's catching the ball better than last year and his footwork is much improved," the coach added. "He's still gaining knowledge and he's going to get better and better."
Not bad, considering Cravalho came from a high school football program that won one game and lost 39 while he was there.
Kaahumanu Hou, which had an enrollment of around 70, never had more than 25 football players on the team during his years.
Cravalho's father, Alan, said other high schools with more athletic tradition tried to get him to send Josiah their way. But Alan Cravalho, a minister, said he sent Josiah to Kaahumanu Hou for other reasons.
"His development as a Christian and a leader were priorities over football," Alan Cravalho said. "We hoped and prayed that even at a small school he would have success as an athlete."
Last month, the Maui Interscholastic League ruled that Kaahumanu Hou could not compete in football this year because it doesn't have enough players.
"That was disappointing for me," Josiah Cravalho said. "I have a younger brother (Ethan) there this year, and this was his turn to shine. He's a sophomore, so hopefully he'll get a chance later."
Josiah Cravalho's opportunity at UH is coming sooner than later partly because of injuries. Four of the team's defensive backs have suffered injuries.
"When they first said you go in and practice with the first team, I was happy," Cravalho said. "But the injuries bother me, seeing my friends get hurt. It helps me, I'm moving up. But I look at it as everyone will be healthy for the game, and I'll be fighting for that third position. The main thing is for me to be ready for whatever I'm needed to do."
Right now, it is to be ready to start if needed.
"Thankfully, June put him at defensive back," Miano said.
Said Jones: "He really worked hard in the summer. He came in competing for a job. He's got the raw ability to do it and he's just going to get better every year."
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