Fa‘avi named Warriors’ MVP

Hawaii’s undersized center wins the Waterhouse Trophy with his leadership and dependability

Like most sports, football on its surface is a game of numbers. But the heart of the game is leadership and players' relationships with their teammates.

Derek Fa'avi: The 6-foot, 271-pound center was UH's only healthy team captain this season

That's why someone like UH's Derek Fa'avi can be the most valuable player of a team, as he was named last night. He received the Alec Waterhouse Trophy at Hawaii's season-ending banquet at the Ilikai Hotel.

Fa'avi is barely 6 feet tall and is listed at 271 pounds -- small for an offensive lineman. But the Campbell High School graduate was a four-year starter for the Warriors at center and wrapped up his career Saturday with a 49-38 victory over San Diego State.

His consistency on the field and leadership as the Warriors' only healthy team captain after Leonard Peters was lost for the season with a knee injury helped UH to a 5-7 record when many had predicted much worse during a rebuilding year.

"Even though he was on offense, he saw it as being captain of the entire team and did whatever he could to encourage people in every phase -- defense, special teams and offense," offensive line coach Wes Suan said. "His personality, being so well-liked, the kids responded to him in a positive way."

They knew how hard Fa'avi worked to start 32 games in his career for UH. Every training camp, Warriors coaches talked about replacing him with a bigger, faster, more athletic prospect. But Fa'avi responded to the challenge each time.

"Like all undersized people, they find other ways to be successful," Suan said. "Technique, fundamentals, execution, assignment. It showed on the field. Maybe not the most outstanding player if a layperson is looking. But if a coach is evaluating film, he realizes he's the most consistent and dependable lineman. That's the kind of player coaches really want."

And he's the kind of center quarterbacks want.

"We got backed up once (Saturday) and I was thinking, 'We better have a good snap.' Then it was, 'Why am I worrying about that? It's Derek, ' " sophomore quarterback Colt Brennan said. "He really helped me all season with his solid confidence. He's a great player and an incredible person."

When Hawaii won 45-38 at San Jose State with a fourth-quarter drive, Brennan and other players and coach June Jones said Fa'avi was the biggest reason UH got the victory.

Jones said Fa'avi was the offense's MVP to that point.

"So much better, so much stronger," Jones said after the game. "He has probably been our most valuable player on offense. He's worked harder and he's so smart."

Other honorees:

» Defensive tackle Melila Purcell received the Ben Yee Most Inspirational Player award.
» Cornerback Kenny Patton won the scholar-athlete award.
» Captain's Awards went to Fa'avi (offense), safety Lono Manners (defense) and Dane Porlas (special teams).
» Slotback Davone Bess (offense), outside linebackers Kila Kamakawiwo'ole and Tanuvasa Moe (defense) and Timo Paepule (special teams) garnered Warrior Club awards.
» John Estes (offense), C.J. Tausaga (defense) and Joshua Rice (scouts) won the Scout Team awards.

Made to be broken: Brennan set two school single-season records Saturday.

» Completion percentage: Brennan completed 350 of 515 attempts for 68 percent, breaking the mark of 60 percent set by Tim Chang last year (358-for-602).
» Passing yards per game: Brennan averaged 358.4 yards per game, eclipsing the mark of 336.1 set by Nick Rolovich in 2001.

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