Nate's doing great

With the end of his Hawaii career in sight, productive running back Nate Ilaoa is happy he picked UH

Hawaii slotback Nate Ilaoa played his first college football game in 2002 against Eastern Illinois, the Warriors' opponent Saturday at Aloha Stadium.

"I scored my first touchdown, a good memory," he said yesterday.

The good memories at UH as one of the guys have been many for Ilaoa, one of the Warriors' most popular players among his teammates.

Eastern Illinois at Hawaii Where: Aloha Stadium When: Saturday, 6:05 p.m. (Stadium gates open at 3 p.m.) TV: Live (and rebroadcast at 10:30 p.m.) on pay per view (Dig. 255). Call 625-8100 on Oahu or (808) 643-2337 statewide. Delayed free on Sunday, 10 a.m. on KFVE (Ch. 5). Radio: KKEA, 1420-AM Internet: espn1420am.com Parking: $5. Lot gates open at 2:30 p.m. Alternate parking at Leeward Community College (free, $2 shuttle), Kam Drive-In ($5, free shuttle). Shuttles are from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and approximately 1 hour after game ends. Parking also at Radford High School ($3, no shuttle). No tailgating at alternate parking sites. Stadium security: Fanny packs, purses and backpacks and handbags will be permitted subject to check. No illegal contraband, weapons, fireworks, coolers, cans, bottles, air horns, noisemakers, umbrellas, outside food and/or beverages are allowed inside the stadium gates. Tickets: $5-$30. Available online at hawaiiathletics.com, by phone at 944-2697 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., or at the Stan Sheriff Center, Aloha Stadium, UH Campus Center, RainbowTique at Ward Center and Windward Community College's OCET office. Student buses: Four free buses will pick up students in front of Gateway House (2653 Dole Street), leave for the stadium at 4:30 p.m. and return 30 minutes after the game ends.

He still has 10 or 11 games to add to them, but there haven't been as many on the field as were predicted for Ilaoa, who coach June Jones has said is the Warriors' most gifted football player -- on one of the most physically loaded squads in the program's history.

Four years since that first game -- after surgeries for shoulder and knee injuries, questions from his coach about his dedication, and a position change -- Ilaoa, now UH's starting running back, is still here.

He had his choice of Top 25 programs out of high school, but Ilaoa has no regrets.

"Hawaii was the perfect place," he said.

And now, he's living up to the promise the highly regarded recruit arrived at Manoa with in 2001, after he was named the Washington Post's Metro Offensive Player of the Year.

The NCAA granted Ilaoa an additional year of eligibility because injuries knocked him off the field for almost two full seasons. He's made the most of it so far, with a team-high 376 all-purpose yards for the 1-2 Warriors. He leads UH in rushing with 199 yards in 25 attempts.

Jones said Ilaoa could've been a running back from the beginning.

"He had the capability to, but I knew he'd be a great slot. He was a great slot. He played very, very well," Jones said. "He's a great runner."

Last year Jones challenged him publicly to get in better shape. Ilaoa has since proven he's effective as a running back at 5-feet-9 and 254 pounds.

Ilaoa was courted by schools all over the country after his stellar high school career at Stafford, Va. His first choice was Oklahoma.

He had lived there when he first started playing football, and was a Sooners fan.

Ilaoa's father was a Marine whose office was at the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. Filipo Ilaoa knew many of the 168 people who died from the massive explosion there April 19, 1995.

"He was a recruiter for that entire area of the country. Luckily he was on the road that day," Ilaoa said. "He lost some friends in there."

When the family was re-stationed in Virginia, Nate Ilaoa's football heart remained with the Sooners.

"I was ready to go to Oklahoma. I had an offer on the table and was close to verbally committing, but I wanted to take all my visits and I didn't want to commit early. By the time my visit came up, they pulled back the scholarship and said they had enough receivers. That was my first choice. After that I really had to start looking for a school," Ilaoa said.

"The kid who committed ended up going to Kansas State and then Tulsa. The guy took my dream-school scholarship and didn't even use it."

Miami and Virginia Tech were among those providing firm offers, but Ilaoa chose UH, partly because his father would be stationed at Kaneohe.

It wasn't because of the ocean.

"I don't go to the beach at all. Not unless we're barbecuing or something," Ilaoa said. "I don't like the water. I think all humans should stay on land. When you see a shark walking around Dole Street, let me know."

That sense of humor is why quarterback Colt Brennan asked Ilaoa to be his roommate for road games.

"I kind of like the pressure being taken off me. I like to enjoy myself and be relaxed. He definitely brings that atmosphere," Brennan said. "You sit around laughing for a day-and-a-half and before you know it it's game time.

"My one goal is to tackle Nate," Brennan said. "I try, countless times, to tackle him when he's not looking. He said it only counts on the football field. When we're practicing I try to get him, and I haven't yet."

Brennan isn't alone. Opposing defenders have had their difficulties, too. Ilaoa's average of 8.0 yards per rushing attempt is among the best in the nation.

"He can make guys miss, he can run through you," Jones said.