[ UH FOOTBALL ]
STAR-BULLETIN / OCTOBER 2002
Hawaii safety Hyrum Peters' play on the field has opened the eyes of quite a few people, including Fresno State coach Pat Hill, who offered Peters a job.
It’s Big Time
At 5-foot-8, All-WAC first-teamer
Peters is a little man who
casts a large shadow
BOISE, Idaho || A Hawaii safety, a Boise State quarterback of very recent vintage, and the Fresno State coach. Smiling, laughing and joking together.
It must be preseason.
Hyrum Peters, B.J. Rhode and Pat Hill shared table and tales here the other night. As the group broke up, Hill became serious.
"You interested in coaching someday? Why don't you come and apply to be one of my graduate assistants next year?" Hill asked Peters. "You know, it's good to see what another program does."
Peters said he would think about it.
Somehow, it's hard to imagine the consummate UH football player having anything to do with Fresno State, the Warriors' biggest Western Athletic Conference rival. The invitation was also intriguing because four years ago Peters wasn't exactly a hot item as a prospect coming out of Kahuku High School.
But Peters, one of the WAC's mightiest overachievers, has done everything possible to put himself in position -- as a player and a student -- to garner respect and attention ... and even a potential job offer from "the enemy."
At 5-foot-8 and 188 pounds, Peters is by far the smallest player in Boise for the WAC media days, where coaches bring some of their top stars to meet reporters who cover the league.
But the other guys know who he is -- especially those who play offense.
Boise State wide receiver Tim Gilligan was introduced to Peters last year by Broncos receivers coach Robert Prince a few days before their game against UH.
STAR-BULLETIN / OCTOBER 2002
Hyrum Peters and the UH mascot danced during introductions before a game last season. The All-WAC selection is heading into his senior season.
Peters had made a mark the first half of last season by intercepting three passes in the first four games. In case Gilligan looked more at heights and weights than NCAA leader stats, Prince wanted him to know the man covering him would be someone to reckon with.
"Coach put a picture of Hyrum in my locker, with a note on it pretending like Hyrum wrote it, saying 'See you on Saturday, hope you're ready,' " Gilligan said.
Boise State pounded Hawaii 51-38, but Gilligan left the game with lots of respect for Peters.
"He's a great athlete and one of the better defensive backs in our conference," Gilligan said. "He's a great competitor, not afraid of anything."
San Jose State quarterback Scott Rislov said the Spartans plan around Peters, who is the only defensive returnee from last year's All-WAC first team.
"He might not be the biggest guy, but he's definitely one you have to prepare for. When you put yourself in the right position like he does, it doesn't matter how tall you are," Rislov said. "There are certain players. A lot of times they're safeties. You just know they're out there ball-hawking, waiting for you to make a mistake so they can make you pay for it."
Hawaii defensive backs coach Rich Miano said Peters is one of the best all-around football players he has seen.
"He's the smartest guy out there, he's fast and he's quick," Miano said. "He can play the pass, the run, man coverage. There's nothing he can't do."
Peters and fellow starter David Gilmore are the latest in a long line of UH safeties -- beginning with Miano -- to walk on at Manoa and make their doubters look like dummies. Miano, who went from unwanted to All-WAC and 11 years in the NFL, provides inspiration and instruction.
He's helped hone Peters' obsessive desire for continual self-improvement, which has resulted in a scholarship and starting and starring role.
"I write a lot of notes (in meetings). Coach Miano mentioned it to me once that it's good to take a lot of notes. I try to improve each year. I try to get better each day at one thing," said Peters, whose totals in tackles (49, 76, 77) and interceptions (0, 1, 4) have gone up each season.
"I'm kind of in the same role (Miano) was. I was surprised to learn he was a walk-on. Hopefully I'll have a good year so I can go out with a bang and get drafted like he did."
Miano said if Peters were taller he'd be a first-round pick.
"I really believe that. His height is his only drawback," Miano said. "People have probably been telling him he's too short since Pop Warner. They probably will in the NFL, too. Hopefully, someone will get past that and draft him. If not, he'll be a steal as a free agent."
Peters also gets a push from the spirit of his older brother, Teave. Teave died in a car accident when he was 12 and Hyrum was 6.
"Sometimes I feel possessed by him, and everyone says I remind them of him," Peters said.
One of Hyrum's three tattoos is in remembrance of Teave. The others honor the shark (his aumakua, or Hawaiian guardian angel), and the ocean, sun and earth. Peters said he draws mana, or spiritual power, from nature.
STAR-BULLETIN / NOVEMBER 2002
Hawaii safety Hyrum Peters broke up a pass intended for Alabama's Dre Fulgham in a November 2002 game.
Peters also perpetuates his Hawaiian and Tahitian ethnicity through a summer job as a Polynesian dancer, and led the Warriors in a pre-game haka at the Hawaii Bowl last year (Peters missed the game with a knee injury).
He's solid in the classroom, making the WAC's All-Academic team in 2000 and 2001. Good grades don't keep him from being the class clown, though. When an assistant coach was asked what Peters' major is, he answered, "Tomfoolery" (it's actually sociology).
No one is immune from the stinging wit of Peters, who lists "my tongue" as his hidden talent. One of his favorite targets is June Jones' practice attire.
"Every day Coach Jones wears that same thing, over and over, those faded black sweats. I always tease him about that because he's rich, he doesn't have to wear that," Peters said.
Quarterback Tim Chang is another victim ("I always give him a hard time"), and Peters also delights in making offensive linemen laugh while they lift weights.
He gets away with it because his own stuff's always in order -- whether it be school or football.
"It's just about going to class. Sometimes it's hard because I'm tired from (morning) practice, and sometimes it's boring. But usually I like it. I'm a person who knows school comes first," Peters said. "I just like having fun when I do things, and I hope my friends and teammates are having fun. But first you have to take care of business.
"Be in the right place at the right time."
Walking (on) tall
These players began their UH careers without football scholarships and worked their way to All-WAC first- or second-team honors as defensive backsRich Miano: 1st team, 1983 and 1984
Mike Tresler: 2nd team, 1988 and 1989
Tony Pang-Kee: 2nd team, 1990
Eddie Klaneski: 1st team, 1996 and 1997
Nate Jackson: 2nd team, 2000 and 2001
Jacob Espiau: 2nd team, 2000
Hyrum Peters: 1st team, 2002
