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DeLaura lifts Warriors Once in a while, Mel deLaura thinks back to more than a quarter century ago and wistfully ponders what might have been.
Hawaii's strength coach missed out
UH may play Alabama
on the NFL because of an injuryBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comBut he doesn't linger there and he isn't bitter. He knows the pulled muscle that probably kept him out of the NFL was his own fault.
"I was in top shape," said the former wide receiver who is now the Hawaii strength and conditioning coach. "But the week before camp I went waterskiing and I over-fatigued some muscles. The quad tore right off the bone. What hurt me is I went to camp injured."
The Atlanta Falcons still gave deLaura a chance to show what he had. But a pulled muscle doesn't heal quickly, especially when you are an undrafted free agent trying to make a team by impressing coaches with your willingness to play through pain.
DeLaura did get another chance later with the Washington Redskins, but his pro career ended before it began, on that Fourth of July waterskiing trip.
It's way too late for DeLaura, 49. But he uses what he learned the hard way to help the Warriors.
"I tell these guys all the time. 'Be careful what you do,'" deLaura said. "My deal is warm up, stretch and be careful."
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That's only part of what will be stressed at the Rich Miano Speed and Quickness Clinic this weekend at St. Louis School. UH defensive backs coach Miano, deLaura and former Kamehameha track and field coach Marshall Marumoto run the clinic. They will be assisted by UH athletes.The clinic is sponsored by Pacific Sports Care. Call 621-2220 for information on late registration.
DeLaura was a teammate of UH coach June Jones with the Rainbows and at Portland State. Jones hired deLaura in 1999, and the Damien graduate returned from Oregon to live in Hawaii for the first time in more than 20 years. DeLaura was a high school coach and a personal trainer to several pro athletes.
"Like anybody else, he would have liked to play the game at its highest level. I think he would have made it if he didn't get hurt," said Jones, who was a rookie with the Falcons the same year deLaura was in camp. "But now he's done what he had to do to become the best at what he does. There's nobody in the NFL in any conditioning or training program who does as good a job as he does. He's done an unbelievable job making kids quicker bigger and faster, motivating them to go the extra mile."
Players believe in him.
"He's the backbone of our team," said former Warrior linebacker and defensive end Joe Correia. "He makes it functional for what you are doing. It's not powerlifting, it's about making a football player."
DeLaura charts the progress of every player with strength, speed and agility tests. Get enough points and you are designated "Super Warrior."
"It's always good to see where you're at," said sophomore Chad Owens, who has the highest score among the receivers. "We were tested earlier before spring ball, and after a lot of training we were tested again. It's great to see all the improvement. It shows Coach Mel's workouts do help, and everyone wants to be that top guy. It makes you add that 10 pounds more to the bar."
Owens also appreciates deLaura's balanced approach.
"In high school I lifted a lot. Then it was all about who is the strongest, so we go heavy," Owens said. "I got here and learned speed was everything. Coach Mel helped me change my workout to more speed and endurance type deals."
Although he's old enough to be the players' father (1999-2000 letterman Davey deLaura is his nephew), deLaura can and does keep up with his charges.
"When he works out with you, it gives you that much more motivation," junior receiver Gerald Welch said. "And he's always available, here every day to help and answer questions."
When it comes to nutritional advice, deLaura doesn't give out much.
"Of course I do tell them to stay away from the illegal stuff like steroids," he said. "As for supplements, we get all kinds of protein stuff. I never was a Creatine guy, and I don't recommend it. I think the best supplement is milk. Milk is big-time.
"The problem with (protein) supplements is these kids don't have enough money to eat right and they start using the supplement to replace a meal," deLaura added. "They really don't have enough considering how much time they spend in here working out and out on the field."
Ashley Lelie is a former Warrior who can afford to eat anything he wants now, thanks partly to deLaura. Lelie worked hard to improve his speed and quickness, and was picked by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the NFL Draft last month.
"In his case you can really see the reward. Two or three months ago he was driving a moped with no lights down the street. Here he is on top of the world now," deLaura said. "He's already a great guy. Now we just have to watch and see if he will be a great NFL player."
As he watches, he might think of another receiver 25 years ago.
No one really knows if Mel deLaura would have made it as a pro if not for that torn quad. But at least he can watch Lelie -- and dozens of other college and pro players -- and know he had something to do with it.
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Jason Gesser is home now for a few weeks, but it's starting to look like he won't be for Thanksgiving. Alabama may sub
for WSU vs. UHThe Crimson Tide would replace
the Cougars on the football scheduleBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comThe Washington State quarterback thought he was going to cap his college football career against Hawaii at Aloha Stadium -- the same venue where Gesser led St. Louis School to two Prep Bowl victories and helped the Cougars to a 22-14 win over UH in 1999.
But that's changed, as WSU is trying to get out of its Nov. 30 island date because its game with UCLA was moved to the following week. Gesser said coach Mike Price met with him to ask the Heisman Trophy candidate what he thought about giving up his homecoming.
"He took me into his office and sat me down and told me the whole scenario, about how they're moving the UCLA game for national television," Gesser said. "He asked for my stamp of approval. I told him I'm disappointed, but I'm not a selfish guy and want to do what's good for the team."
Washington State is working on finding a replacement opponent with similar marquee value so that it doesn't have to play Hawaii, UH athletic director Hugh Yoshida said yesterday.
"They've got one team identified," said Yoshida, who would not name the school.
Indicators point toward that team being Alabama. As reported in the April 18 Star-Bulletin, Warriors coach June Jones had requested that UH schedule the Crimson Tide, and Alabama has an open date Nov. 30.
UH was also looking into scheduling Alabama to replace Virginia, which backed out of its game at Hawaii in 2003.
UH Athletics
