CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Hawaii safety David Gilmore worked hard in the offseason, and his reward is more playing time this year.
‘Happy’ to be here The construction is seemingly endless in "The Quarry" at the University of Hawaii.
David Gilmore has molded himself
By Cindy Luis
from a walk-on to a legit D-I player
cluis@starbulletin.comThe $1.7 million Cooke Field track renovation, with a mondo surface and eight lanes painted in rainbow colors, is a little behind schedule due to rain. But it should be up and running, as will the Wahine track team, by the end of the month.
There are new batting cages going up at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
And then there's the ongoing project of junior safety David Gilmore, who has built himself into a Division I defensive back.
He was a walk-on in 1999, June Jones' first season, a nondescript 6-footer who hung in on the scout team and answered to the name of "Happy." As in "Happy Gilmore," the title character in a movie starring Adam Sandler.
In one way, Gilmore was more like Sandler's character in "The Waterboy." Bobby Boucher turned into quite a performer once given a chance to play.
Gilmore made that chance happen, gaining strength, speed, quickness and weight. He became a disciple of strength coach Mel deLaura, adding 25 pounds of muscle and countless amounts of confidence.
"He didn't miss a day of Mel's program," said secondary coach Rich Miano. "He did all the running, all the lifting, and he's transformed his body. You wouldn't believe the physical difference.
"There's been a real transformation. Some guys stay here for five years and nothing happens. He's a 'Before and After.' He came in looking like a regular guy, not a football player and not a Division I football player. Now he looks the part and he's starting to play the part."
Gilmore saw his most playing time in a Warrior uniform last Friday at BYU. In front of his parents and older sister, who had flown up from Albuquerque, N.M., the safety/special teams player was in on three assisted tackles and had five solo tackles, including one where he sacked BYU quarterback Bret Engemann for a 31-yard loss.
"It was a lot of fun being there and we were excited to see him get an opportunity to play," Gilmore's father, John, said in a phone call from New Mexico. "I've caught his games on satellite, but this was the most I've seen him play because this was the most playing time he's had.
"I took the kids out there the summer before David's senior year and I think he was off the plane maybe a minute before he fell in love with Hawaii. He wanted an opportunity to play Division I football and Hawaii was willing to have him walk on. It's a long way from home, but he wanted to give it a shot."
David Gilmore's love affair with football began at age 12. At El Dorado High School, he played quarterback as a freshman, then, as a two-way player, moved over to slotback and defensive back.
He also settled in at second base for the El Dorado baseball team, which went 24-0 and won the state title his senior year. But football was his first love.
"Football is where my heart is," Gilmore said. "I've always loved the excitement of the game. I love baseball, too, and I go to all the UH baseball games. But my heart is with football.
"I just want to play and I'll play wherever they want, do whatever they tell me to do. I'm a team player. Special teams, 10 snaps on defense, 10 snaps here and there ... I'll just keep working hard and see what happens."
When practice resumed this week, Gilmore was in the mix at safety. During the short-field drills, he juggled the ball then made the interception before hitting the fence. In the one-on-one segment, he kept receiver Ross Dickerson turned to the outside and nearly made the interception.
During a break he and fellow DB Hyrum Peters shared thoughts on getting back on the winning track.
"We were catching up with some of the checks for this coming game," Peters said. "Our position is in the line of fire. You have to be able to take the heat and step it up. I told him to study (the playbook) hard because when they're ready to put you in, you gotta know your plays."
In UH's defense, the safeties are calling the plays to the corners and sometimes the linebackers. Learning is not a big problem for Gilmore, a travel industry management major who made the all-Western Athletic Conference academic team in 2000.
"He's a smart player," said Jones. "He's a backup, but when we had an injury last week, he did some good things. He's got to improve in some areas, but he'll hit you. He's worked very hard in the offseason. He's much quicker and faster, and he's smart."
And Gilmore is a "good guy," according to teammates and coaches.
"He's a smart football player," said safety Leonard Peters, who is sidelined with a bruised liver and is being replaced by Gilmore in certain situations. "He's a good player and he's smart. He's good in school and that shows on the field. And he's a good guy."
Said Miano: "He's one of our stories. He understood that in order for him to get on the field, he's going to have to outwork everybody. It's one of those things where he went from a Division II guy to a Division I-AA guy to, physically, a Division I guy.
"I saw his (recruiting) tape. I saw the potential. Plus, he's an outstanding person. He's just one of those kids that you want your son to be like."
John Gilmore is happy to call him "son."
"He had this dream to play Division I and I believed in his dream," he said. "It was a big adjustment, but he's done it with maturity and patience. His brother (Steven) played last year at New Mexico State, but he isn't playing this year. He didn't have the love of football David does."
David Gilmore also loves Hawaii.
"It's my second home," he said. "I love the people here and all the guys on the team. They're like my second family.
"Last week was my first time I was in for a lot of plays in a row. It was kind of like my first dance in Division I. There's so much to learn still. I watched the films and hopefully will get better. It definitely felt good to get in the mix and play a lot of football again."
Notes: Left tackle Wayne Hunter split open his chin early in yesterday's practice and went in to get stitched up. He was replaced in the lineup by freshman Derek Faavi, who played center. Starting center Lui Fuata moved over to Hunter's position. Fuata is familiar with the spot, having started 21 games at left tackle the past two seasons. ... Slotback Chad Owens attended practice in his jersey and shorts, but did not participate due to illness. ... Quarterback Jason Whieldon is taking time away from football due to a "family problem," Jones said. ... Defensive tackle Tala Esera's redshirt status is probably over. The freshman from Kahuku joined the two-deep defensive unit this week.
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