GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Hawaii safety Hyrum Peters, who did a dance in front of smoke as he was introduced before Saturday's game against Eastern Illinois at Aloha Stadium, looks forward to facing the team his parents wanted him to play for, Brigham Young.
On a Mission It's homecoming for Hyrum Peters, and Nate Ilaoa gets to live out a childhood dream.
Lifelong BYU fans are
Frazier working phones to fill '03 schedule
looking forward to the chance
to beat the Cougars
By Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comThey're going to play football at Brigham Young University.
Relax, Hawaii fans.
The strong safety and inside receiver who had big games last week aren't transferring to UH's most bitter rival. They want to beat the Cougars on Friday as badly as the rest of the Warriors do.
It's just that Ilaoa and Peters have a special connection with the Provo, Utah, college. They are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, of which BYU is the educational flagship. So are seven Warriors who aren't on this week's trip: defensive backs Leonard Peters and Matt Manuma, defensive linemen Mel Purcell, Peivi Tauiliili and Tala Esera, offensive lineman Samson Satele, and linebacker Anapati Mailo (quarterback Inoke Funaki and running back Orlando Wong are on a Church missions).
Hyrum Peters, born and raised mostly in Hawaii, lived in the shadows of BYU just a few years ago. He played varsity football as a sophomore at Mountain View High School in nearby Orem. Peters' parents, Richard and Claudine, still live in Taylorsville, a suburb of Salt Lake City that was incorporated in 1996.
Peters returned to Hawaii as a high school junior and graduated from Kahuku in 1999.
"My parents were hoping I'd go to BYU. They wanted me to be closer, and it's a Mormon school. But I chose to stay here. Nothing beats Hawaii," said Peters, who walked on to the UH football team, but has since earned a scholarship. "It will be good to go back to where my parents live and play in front of family and friends."
Peters considers himself fairly religious, but said he never felt pressured to go to BYU because of that.
"As long as you go to church, follow the book, that's what's important," Peters said. "It's how you live your life, and beyond that the Lord only asks for three hours every Sunday. I try my best. My parents remind me, they tell me to be thankful every day."
Ilaoa, the son of a career Marine, moved around often as a child. One constant in his life was Cougar football.
"Growing up as a member of the church I was always somewhat of a BYU fan wherever we lived. I always wanted to play there," said Ilaoa. "A lot of it had to do with the mission issue, but other colleges have come around on that and that opened up the choices for me when I was choosing a school."
So did his talent. Ilaoa was considered one of the top players in Virginia, and top schools like Miami and Virginia Tech were seriously interested in the wide receiver.
It came down to UH and BYU, even though Hawaii got in the running late.
"I wasn't really recruited at first by UH," Ilaoa said. "I think when my parents moved out here that made a big difference. My dad talked to the coaches and I made my last visit here."
Ilaoa said June Jones' passing attack made Hawaii attractive. That was something he always liked about Brigham Young, too.
Peters and Ilaoa distinguished themselves in Hawaii's 61-36 victory Saturday against Eastern Illinois.
Peters, in his first game at safety after starting at corner last year, made nine tackles including a sack, and returned an interception 28 yards for a touchdown.
"Hyrum could play six positions for us. He does play four. He could play anywhere in the back," defensive coordinator Kevin Lempa said. "He's intelligent, savvy. But the best thing is he knows how to have fun. He's joking and laughing every time he's on the football field, but he takes care of business."
Ilaoa, making his debut after redshirting last year, caught four passes for 38 yards, including a 13-yard TD, and rushed twice for 11 yards. He hopes to put up bigger numbers Friday.
"I'm anxious," Ilaoa said. "This is something I've always wanted to do, play at BYU."
Warrior fans are just happy he's not doing it wearing blue and white.
Warriors vs. Cougars
Who: Hawaii (1-0) at Brigham Young (1-0)
Where: Edwards Stadium, Provo, Utah
When: Friday, 1 p.m. Hawaii time
TV: ESPN
Radio: 1420-AM
Last week: UH beat Eastern Illinois 61-36; BYU beat Syracuse 42-21.
Series record: BYU has won 18 of 26 meetings.
Last meeting: Hawaii won 72-45 on Dec. 8, 2001.
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