Forney's wait is over

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

As Saturday turned into Saturday night and then into Sunday morning, former University of Hawai'i football player Kynan Forney wondered if the empty feeling would ever go away.

Then yesterday afternoon, on his family's poultry farm outside of Nacogdoches, Texas, Forney learned that the dreams he dared to dream really can come true.

"I got the call," Forney said of his selection by the Atlanta Falcons in the seventh — and last — round of the National Football league draft. "Yes, sir, I got my first job in the NFL."

Prayers also were answered for:

• Kansas State defensive lineman Mario Fatafehi, an All-State player at Farrington High in 1996, who was the Arizona Cardinals' fifth-round pick. At Farrington, he was known as Mario Palehame.

• Tevita Ofahengaue, a former Kahuku High and Brigham Young tight end, who was the last player chosen in the draft, also by the Cardinals.

• Former UH running back James Fenderson, who signed a free-agent contract with the New Orleans Saints. Fenderson will report to mini-camp on Thursday.

Fenderson said he also received an offer from the Minnesota Vikings to serve as a special teams player, but chose the Saints because he was promised a better chance to be used as a running back.

"I'll do anything to get on the field," Fenderson said. "I'm glad it turned out this way. God blessed me."

Forney, speaking for the rest of the players with Isle ties, said, "We want to represent Hawai'i in the best possible way. It's an honor to get a chance in the NFL."

The 6-foot-2, 313-pound Forney was projected to be picked in the middle rounds as a guard. He played right tackle at UH.

Emotional time

As the fourth round and then the fifth passed, Forney went through the stages of grief: Denial, anger, acceptance.

"For a little while, I was like, 'What's going on?' " he recalled. ESPN draft analyst "Mel Kiper had his list of the top 20 available players, and I wasn't on there. I saw different names, names I didn't know. It was nerve-racking. For a while, you're wondering, 'Dang.' I went back into my room and played video games with my brother."

Things turned worse. His brother, Erik, was winning in Gamebreaker 2001, a video football game. "He was getting 30, 40 yards," Forney said. "Then the telephone rang."

Atlanta head coach Dan Reeves was on the other end, asking, "How would you like to be a Falcon?"

"It still hasn't hit me yet," Forney said, seven hours after the call. "I guess I'm just as thrilled as anybody right now."

Contract talk

Forney said he has not been told when he will report to mini-camp. After receiving a monthly $200 scholarship check for the last three years, Forney does not anticipate any delays in signing a contract.

"Not for a seventh-round guy," he said, laughing. "I haven't really thought about it. But even the minimum (NFL) salary is some nice money. But I don't really care about the money. I have enough clothes. I have a truck here at the house. I don't really need material things."

Forney said he even plans to continue helping his father with the poultry farm, which the family bought in 1997. Forney is in charge of picking up dead chickens, monitoring the coops and preparing the chickens for sale.

Then he laughed, recalling a conversation with his agent.

"From chickens to Falcons," he said. "He told me, 'You'll be working with feathers, one way or another.' "

NFL calendar

July 22 — Signing period ends at 4 p.m. EDT for unrestricted free agents who received June 1 offer.

Aug. 6 — Pro Football Hall of Fame Game.

Sept. 9-10 — Start of 2001 season.

Dec. 31 — Regular season ends.

Jan. 27, 2002 — Super Bowl, New Orleans.

Feb. 3, 2002 — NFC Pro Bowl, Honolulu.