Thursday, September 6, 2001

[ UH FOOTBALL ]

CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Hunter, a Radford graduate who plays on Hawaii's defensive line,
will be "a millionaire if he stays healthy," defensive
line coach Vantz Singletary says.

Huge man,
huge heart

UH defensive lineman
Wayne Hunter has size, but
it's his desire that sets
him apart

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By Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.com

First you notice Wayne Hunter's physical size. At 6 feet 6 inches, he stands nearly a half-foot above many of his Hawaii football teammates.

Then you see his athleticism. He moves like a smaller man, like a cornerback or a wide receiver, not a defensive tackle. He possesses physical gifts which defensive line coach Vantz Singletary says will make Hunter "a millionaire if he stays healthy."

If you talk to him, you find he is intelligent and articulate.

But what you don't see, at least right away, is his desire -- the kind usually reserved for the walk-ons, the Rudys of the college football world.

Inspiration comes from perspiration. It's always been that way for Hunter, consistently one of the first to arrive at practices and among the last to leave.

He got it from his high school coaches at Radford -- Kelly Sur, Thor Salanoa and Matt Manuma.

"They pushed me when I didn't want to be pushed," he said. "I'm thankful."

Then there are the college coaches -- those at California who helped develop him his freshman year, and now, June Jones and Singletary of the Warriors. Jones, the head coach, rehabbed hard to come back from a near-fatal car accident and Singletary, Hunter's defensive line coach, lost 100 pounds in a year.

WAYNE HUNTER Born: July 2, 1981, Honolulu Height: 6-6 Weight: 286 Prep: Graduated from Radford High School in 1999. Earned three letters each in football, basketball and track and field. Named All-American by PrepStar. College: 14 tackles, including five for a loss in eight games as a freshman at California in 1999.

But most of all, Hunter caught the work-ethic bug from his mother, Frances.

"It's carried over through the coaches," Hunter said. "It really started from my mom."

Frances always worked two jobs while raising Wayne and his three siblings by herself. At various times, she sold insurance, worked in airlines reservations, as a telephone operator, a pizza restaurant shift leader and a cab driver.

With Frances out of the house so much, Hunter could have gone astray. Instead, he observed his mother and learned the value of sheer effort.

"I did work a lot," Frances said. "But I'm blessed with children who understand the importance of it. He was always mature and I think the way he grew up made him become a leader."

It takes a leader to sacrifice the potential glory of forced fumbles and sacks at defensive end to learn a new position, defensive tackle. Especially at his height, Hunter will absorb more physical abuse. But he will take up more opposing blockers and help UH's overall defensive scheme.

"His being unselfish helps us a lot," defensive coordinator Kevin Lempa said. "We needed help inside and he agreed to do it and stabilize our front. He's adjusted well and fits in well with everyone here. I think if we get some tackles healthy, it's a possibility he will move back outside."

It might seem a simple move, just one man over on the line. But Hunter has found it's not that easy. Some of the best defensive ends are freelancing freaks of nature who simply use overwhelming athleticism and quickness to destroy offenses.

The coaches say Hunter could be one of these men, in the NFL, in a few years.

"He has that unique talent to be very good at the next level," Jones said.

CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Wayne Hunter learned his work ethic, in part, from
his mother, Frances.

"I've been to four NFL camps, and he's already better than half those guys," Singletary said.

But tackles use technique as much as brute strength. That's why Hunter comes in early to powwow with Singletary and stays late for extra work with senior tackle Mike Iosua.

"The move's coming along great. He's got a lot of talent and strength," Iosua said. "We work on making the key reads, figuring out what the offense is doing, getting an understanding."

The other big transition for Hunter was joining Hawaii after a year at Cal, where he played and did well as a true freshman. Because of NCAA transfer rules, he had to sit out a year.

"It was the longest year of my life," he said of Hawaii's 3-9 season of a year ago. "Just watching the guys and feeling helpless."

But he was where he wanted to be. Hunter said he returned because of homesickness. Frances said she was disappointed at first. She understands the value of an education from a highly regarded college like California.

"But you know, I've changed my mind about that," she said. "He seems so much more happy here, so what can you say? He's doing well. He should be happy. Life is so short."

The family was reminded just how short when Wayne's grandmother and Frances' mother, Mafatua Taeleifi, passed away on Aug. 2.

"She was his favorite. He visited her last year (in New Zealand)," Frances said. "She really wanted to see one of Wayne's games."

So Hunter has another source of inspiration to see him through the long, early mornings as he soaks up the knowledge from Singletary and Iosua and deals with the cut blocks from the shorter but more experienced offensive linemen.

"I'm just trying to get better, every little bit helps," Hunter said. "We've just got to do what we've got to do. And this year we've got to stop the run."

One of Frances' many skills is fixing cars. She grew up in a body and fender shop. But she's still novice in her knowledge about the game at which her son is so talented.

"I still cheer just because everybody else is, so I don't really understand football yet. But I've heard he's making a sacrifice for the team," Frances said. "That doesn't surprise me. He's the kind of person who is always there when you need him."

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UH Athletics
Ka Leo O Hawaii