Kamakawiwo'ole on move again
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
How fast is University of Hawai'i football player Kila Kamakawiwo'ole?
Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser
In 16 months, he has sped through four positions.
New St. Louis School football coach Delbert Tengan, left, was an interested observer at yesterday's UH spring football practice.
"I'm used to moving around," said Kamakawiwo'ole, who switched to defensive end during spring practice this week.
At Kaimuki High, Kamakawiwo'ole played wide receiver, defensive back and "everywhere else." Last season, his first at UH, he was a linebacker. But that changed Monday, when he was asked to train with the defensive linemen.
"It's kind of confusing," he said, "and right now, I'm not strong enough." He can bench press 225 pounds 15 times, but would like to increase the repetitions to at least 20.
UH coach June Jones said Kamakawiwo'ole, who will be an 18-year-old redshirt freshman when the season opens Aug. 31, has the frame — 6 feet 2 and 228 pounds — to mature into a skilled defensive end.
"He can run, he's athletic and he's filling out," Jones said. "He has a lot of potential."
Kamakawiwo'ole also has shown he can handle responsibility and deflect fame. Kamakawiwo'ole, who is the father of twin sons, is a cousin of the late musician Israel Kamakawiwo'ole.
• Catching on: Once a prized recruit, Mark Tate is only now starting to develop into a dependable receiver as he approaches his third year at UH.
"Now is the right time to make the push, to really jump for it and get it," said Tate, who redshirted in 2000 and did not catch a pass in eight games last season.
Much of Tate's problems could be traced to his belt size. Although he admits to being about 10 pounds overweight, the 213-pound Tate said: "Everybody says it, but I actually have big bones. And I look really big when I'm wearing pads."
Tate, who was raised in California, said he will remain in Hawai'i this summer to work and train. Although he is a sure-handed receiver, he often is erratic in his routes and tends to lean awkwardly when reaching for passes.
"I need to work on those things, but at least I have a great teacher in J.C.," said Tate, referring to senior wideout Justin Colbert.
Each summer, UH receivers and defensive backs are asked to run the dreaded 220's, so named because it is the round-trip distance between the goal line of one end zone and the back line of the other. Those position players must cover 220 yards within 40 seconds. Colbert, safety Sean Butts and former UH receiver Ashley Lelie were the only Warriors to cover the distance in less than 30 seconds last year.
"I made it right at 40 (seconds), just staying alive," Tate said. "My goal is to improve my speed."
• Snap decision: By the end of spring practice, UH coaches are expected to name the successor to long-snapper Brian Smith, who completed his eligibility in December.
The leading candidate, it appears, is Tanuvasa John "T.J." Moe, a 5-foot-11, 222-pound redshirt freshman from St. Louis School.
Moe has mastered the chiropractor's nightmare of launching a football backward while preparing to move forward. Adding another degree of difficulty is college rules, unlike in high school, permit a snapper to be fair game.
"I had to learn to keep my head up and snap," Moe said.
Moe said he decided to learn to long snap while playing youth football. "I thought, 'If it helps me get on the field, this is what I'll do,' " he recalled. "I taught myself. The one thing I learned is there are no secrets. Like anything else, it's all about practicing. If you work on it every day, you'll get better."
