Hawaii got its first verbal commitment from a defensive line recruit for next year's incoming class yesterday when Kahuku High School tackle Tala Esera agreed to accept a football scholarship. Red Raiders’ Esera
accepts UH offerBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comThe 6-foot-3, 245-pound OIA Red honorable mention helped solidify the middle of the defensive front for the Red Raiders, who won their second consecutive state championship last Friday.
"He gets overshadowed by (defensive end) Jonathan Mapu, but he's the man inside," Kahuku coach Siuaki Livai said. "Big, tall man. Puts the pressure on the middle. He's a great kid. Very coachable, very quiet. Just does his assignment and very consistent. He's also a great student."
Esera's mother, Mary Jane, is the head of the Kahuku math department. His father, Naturu, was a star rugby player in Samoa and Hawaii.
"I think he sees this as an opportunity," Mary Jane Esera said. "UH is a good school, a good program and it's home. He has a very supportive family that is anxious to see him play."
Esera did not make any other recruiting visits, but he went to football camps at Colorado and Michigan State, making the all-camp team at Michigan State twice.
Esera joins Kailua offensive linemen Kahai LaCount, Marques Kaonohi and Samson Satele, Mililani linebacker Kaipo Patoc, and Saddleback (Calif.) JC quarterback Jason Whieldon on UH's list of players who have made verbal commitments.
Letter-of-intent day for high school seniors is Feb. 6.
Livai said several other Kahuku standouts are interested in UH, including Mapu, quarterback Inoke Funaki, running back Mulivai Pula and offensive tackle Kalavi Blanchard.
Kanoa in Shrine Game: UH offensive lineman Manly Kanoa will play in the East-West Shrine college all-star game Jan. 12 in San Francisco.
"Cav (offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh) told me last week he was trying to get me in the game," Kanoa said. "I'm glad it worked out."
Kanoa, who was named to the Western Athletic Conference first-team yesterday, is a third-year starter at left guard. The 6-foot-5, 308-pound senior is a graduate of Kamehameha.
Get there early: Aloha Stadium officials said there were 1,200 tickets still available yesterday afternoon for Saturday's BYU game. If it is a sellout, it will be the first for Hawaii at Aloha Stadium since it hosted Portland State to begin last season.
Stadium spokesman Les Keiter said the gates will open at 7:30 a.m.
There will be three alternate parking sites Saturday: Radford High School, Leeward Community College and the Halawa bus facility. The parking fee at Radford is $2 with no shuttle service. Parking is free at Leeward and there is a $2 round trip shuttle. Parking at the bus facility is $3 with free shuttle.
There will be no parking at Kam Drive-In and Ford Island.
Flower power: Plastic bags for leis will be allowed, Keiter said.
Originally, because of security precautions, the bags were not permitted. But Keiter said stadium officials received numerous calls complaining (many fans bring leis to give to players during the annual senior walk after the season's last game).
"By popular demand, a change was made in policy and fans can bring the leis in plastic bags," Keiter said.