BSU’s Ako BOISE, Idaho >> This is supposed to be a payback game for the Hawaii football team, which lost to Boise State last year. But one Broncos player views tomorrow's meeting with the Warriors as an opportunity to get some revenge of his own.
motivated
against UH
The Hauula-born linebacker
wanted to be a Warrior
but wasn't recruitedBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comSenior Chauncey Ako has found a home in Boise, and there's no bitterness in his voice. But Ako -- who was born in Hauula and returns to the North Shore every summer -- makes it clear he wanted to go to UH and become a Warrior.
"I look at it as a really big game. All my relatives will be watching in Hawaii," said Ako, who counts former Kahuku star Vai Natoa and ex-UH running back Afatia Thompson among his cousins. "It's kind of a vengeance thing. I wanted to play for UH, so I'll just have to go on the field and show them what they missed."
Ako and fellow BSU linebacker Andy Avalos lead the Western Athletic Conference with 11.2 tackles per game. Ako, who had one stop as a reserve in Boise State's 28-21 victory at Hawaii last year, has made 10 or more tackles in all four games this year.
Last year, he had his best game in the Broncos' upset of eighth-ranked Fresno State, when he had seven tackles including a sack.
"Chauncey's a great kid. I really fell in love with him in the recruiting process," BSU coach Dan Hawkins said. "He was a little bit undersized (listed now at 5-feet-11, 222 pounds), but that didn't really matter to us. We just think he works tremendously hard, shows up every day and gets his stuff done."
Ako spent most of his childhood from age 4 in Northern California, but he can speak pidgin like he was raised in Hawaii. After an all-area prep career at Rancho Cotate High School, Ako went to Santa Rosa Junior College, where he was all-state and all-region.
"They nevah," Ako said when asked if UH recruited him. "I met (one of the coaches) after my freshman year (at Santa Rosa), you know, introduce, so they know my name. But I didn't hear from them."
Boise State has a long history of players with Hawaii ties. The most notable was running back David Hughes, a Kamehameha graduate who went on to play for the Seattle Seahawks.
Kalaheo graduate Loa Emmsley will likely get some playing time tomorrow; he is the first backup to defensive end Julius Roberts.
"One of our big boosters is a guy from Hawaii named Lenny Chow," Ako said. "He said their used to be plenny local guys. It kind of died off a little bit, but I think Coach Hawkins is trying to get it going again."
Who: Hawaii (3-1, 2-0 WAC) at Boise State (3-1, 0-0) UH football
When: tomorrow, 2:05 p.m., Hawaii time
TV: KFVE
Radio: KKEA 1420-AM
UH Athletics
