Thursday, December 6, 2001
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Nate’s talent Of course Nate Jackson enjoyed the movie "The Fast and the Furious."
comes naturally
The hard-hitting, high-flying,
1 more for Williams, seniors
UH defensive back lines up with
his Warrior teammates 1 more
time vs. BYUBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comThe title is an apt description of his style on the football field. But the Hawaii senior free safety also loved the film's subject matter -- cars ... fast cars.
"It's a really good movie. I'm not into all those rice rockets, those little Hondas racing around and stuff. But I liked that Camaro, the big-block Chevy," said Jackson, who sometimes spends 14-hour days working on cars in the offseason.
He's by no means an advocate of street racing.
"That's pretty crazy," Jackson said. "People should take it to the tracks. There are a lot of places where you can go, keep the racing off the road. "I knew a lot of people who passed away in road-racing wrecks. I knew too many guys in Waianae who passed away from road racing and just plain reckless driving. My racing stays on the track."
Until he's done playing football, Jackson won't race much, period, he said. He does hope to test his souped-up '95 Nissan pickup truck on an oval at some point. But his true automotive passion is tinkering with engines.
"I love working on my truck," he said. "It doesn't have all that electronic computerized stuff. To me, I'd rather work on the basic stuff, the nuts and bolts, the gaskets. No computers, no wire harnesses. Basically raw power. That's what it's about."
That's what his bone-crunching tackles are about, too. Raw power.
He has made 292 career tackles, and his 88 this season are third most for the Warriors and 10th in the Western Athletic Conference. The two-time All-WAC performer is first-team all-whack.
Ask Fresno State quarterback David Carr about Jackson's penchant for punishing. Jackson's blindside sack and forced fumble of the Bulldogs' star set up UH's 38-34 upset of FSU, and was Hawaii's biggest defensive play of the season.
But where does Jackson's power come from? He is 5-foot-10, 171 pounds. As a freshman three years ago, he was 148 pounds.
"I've never seen someone that skinny in college football. I call him the twig," fellow senior safety Jacob Espiau said. "But hey, looks are deceiving."
Coach June Jones wasn't impressed at first viewing.
"But then I saw him hit," Jones said. "He hit big."
Defensive backs coach Rich Miano explains it in one word: Waianae.
Yes, the Leeward Coast high school has produced generations of hard hitters, going back to Kurt Gouveia and Nate Fletcher and before. But never in such a wiry package.
Jackson (who still lives in Waianae and goes to the high school to talk to students) said it is about attitude, one he developed after his all-state days with the Seariders.
"My sophomore year here, something told me, 'You've got to start hitting.' The light bulb went off and I said it's time to go out there and start really hitting people. Before I'd lay a few hats when I had the chance, but the main thing was make sure I made the tackle and they didn't get past me.
"Once in a while I take a chance and it doesn't work and it turns into a big play. You just have to not get down on yourself, but you do have to pick and choose your hits and your interceptions," he said. "We have to take chances. That's what our defense is based on."
Jones said Jackson has a chance to play in the NFL despite his size. He has no problem with Jackson's risk-taking. The benefits are worth it.
"A lot of it is the scheme we're playing. It puts him in position more to make some hits," Jones said. "We demanded some things out of him and he answered the call and stepped up and been the most natural free safety I've seen in a while."
NATE JACKSON was born on Christmas Day of 1979 on Kauai. But the sad reality is that his biological parents didn't consider him to be a gift. He was adopted by Nathaniel and Margie Jackson of Waianae, who did, and whom he considers his true parents.
"She's the one who dealt with all my adversities and she's the only mother I've known," Jackson said of Margie. He feels the same way about Nathaniel, who died when Nate was 14.
"He's my dad, he's the only one I knew. It was pretty rough when he died. I didn't know whether to keep playing football or sit out," he said. "It was hard on me, but they say life moves on."
Nathaniel was a mechanic in the Air Force and is the source of Jackson's passion for working on cars. He also passed on the enthusiasm for sports; Nathaniel was a football player and boxer.
Nate figured Nathaniel would want him to keep playing.
"I don't know who my biological father is and I really don't care, because I've known the father who was with me 14 years. That's my father," Jackson said.
He grew up with seven sisters and two brothers. Now, he also has a hundred more brothers -- his UH football teammates, the brothers he takes the field with one more time, Saturday against Brigham Young.
Nate Jackson is known for many things. His tattoos, his long hair, his baseball ability and his lack of girth are among them. Then there are the important things: his good grades and the way he takes care of his son, Nate, Jr.
Then there is his toughness, which has become legendary. Jackson played with a broken foot last season. He played against Fresno State this year despite deep cuts on his leg suffered during a motorcycle accident five days before the game.
Maybe he's not as fast as before, because of the injuries. The fury remains, between snap and whistle. Espiau said he will miss Jackson, and not just because of the great plays.
"We just pretty much fly around. We have fun back there. Even when the game is on the line, we always find something to laugh about," Espiau said. "That's the name of the game. It's always fun playing with him."
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Every college football player begins his career believing -- almost assuming -- he will become a starter, just like he was in high school. 1 more game for
Williams, UH seniorsBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comLonnie Williams was an all-district player at Eastern Hills High School in Fort Worth, Texas, when former Hawaii assistant Tom Williams recruited him. In his five years as a UH student and linebacker, Williams never played much, except on special teams. He started only one game.
As the clock ticks away to Williams' final game, Saturday against Brigham Young, he admits he is disappointed. But he refuses to let the situation embitter him.
"Everyone has dreams in high school, but it doesn't always work out that way for everyone," he said. "I learned you've just got to go with the flow, you can't let it get you down. Things didn't work out as planned for me, but I'm glad for the learning experience."
At Sunday's award banquet, coach June Jones told his players that as time goes by, they won't think about who played and who didn't play. They will think more about the relationships they developed as teammates, regardless of roles, he said.
That process has already begun for Williams.
"I'll always remember my teammates. I've been here since 1997, and I still think of those guys from earlier years, who are gone, almost every day," he said. "Once I'm gone, I don't think I'll be back here, but I'll always remember my teammates. That's what I'm going to miss the most, my teammates. The WAC championship (of 1999) and my teammates."
Only 10 of Hawaii's 21 seniors started games this season. But all found ways to contribute over seasons that saw huge swings in on-field success.
Williams put his heart into playing on the kickoff team, practice and his few game-time opportunities at linebacker.
"I didn't get much of a chance, but I still know what I can do," he said. "Kickoff is what I do. That's where I get my pride and joy."
Saturday's game is the last in the UH careers for the following seniors. They will be honored after the game in the annual Senior Walk:
Tui Ala (running back, Waianae): Special teams standout and one of the team's most popular players.
Brett Clowers (defensive tackle, Vista, Calif.): Solid contributor in defensive line rotation with 11 tackles in 11 games and a fumble recovery.
Joe Correia (defensive end, Pearl City): Played through foot injuries all season, starting five games.
Jacob Espiau (safety, Kailua): All-WAC second team in 2000, honorable mention this season.
Jared Flint (quarterback, Irvine, Calif.): Decoded opponents' signals in two games.
Robert Grant (safety, Oakland, Calif.): Former running back played three different defensive positions and played well on special teams.
Channon Harris (receiver, Culver City, Calif.): Small but tough, hands improved as season progressed.
Mike Iosua (defensive tackle, Seattle): Former tight end named team's Most Inspirational Player after battling through shoulder injuries all season.
Nate Jackson (safety, Waianae): All-WAC second team in 2000 and 2001.
Manly Kanoa (guard, Honolulu): All-WAC first team after strong senior season.
Kalae Lee (defensive tackle, Kailua-Kona): Played in three games this fall after scout team duty last season.
Bronson Liana (linebacker, Waianae): Began UH career as quarterback, made six tackles in seven games this year.
Bobby Morgan (linebacker, Benicia, Calif.): Anticipated reverse pass on Tulsa kickoff return to key big play for UH.
Chris Riccardi (defensive back, Redwood City, Calif.): Hard-hitter's final season cut short by broken ankle.
Nick Rolovich (quarterback, Novato, Calif.): Hawaii has won seven of eight games he started this season.
Karman Saulsberry (defensive tackle, Coldwater, Miss.): Added depth to banged-up defensive line.
Brian Smith (center, Thousand Oaks, Calif.): Second-year starter made the line calls for blocking schemes.
Craig Stutzmann (receiver, Honolulu): Offensive captain kept chains moving with clutch third-down receptions.
Sione Tafuna (defensive tackle, Kolomotua, Tonga): Former offensive lineman was with team off-and-on since Bob Wagner was coach.
Tafiti Uso (wide receiver, Honolulu): Two touchdown catches against SMU helped turn around season.
Lonnie Williams (linebacker, Fort Worth, Texas): Hard to block on kickoff coverage.
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