UH's Herbert tops the charts at right slotback
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
University of Hawai'i football player Clifton Herbert believes he has the ability to play on Sundays.
Cory Lum • The Honolulu Advertiser
It was an ambition fueled this summer, when he served as promoter and host of hip-hop shows on Sunday nights.
UH slotback Clifton Herbert, who said "music is my second love, behind football," has recorded several hip-hop and club songs.
"Right now, music is my second love, behind football," said Herbert, who hopes to perform at one of his shows. He already has recorded several of his songs at a Pearl Ridge studio.
"They're hip-hop and club songs," Herbert said. "I'm not going to keep it 'street.' I want to combine a lot of things. I'm from everywhere. I've lived in California, Virginia and Colorado. I want to use all of my experiences."
Between football workouts during the summer, "I walked the streets of Waikiki handing out flyers to the shows," he said. "Then I would host the party. I'm into the music scene."
His goal is to create a theme song for the receivers. "We'll see how it goes," he said. "I might have to put that on hold for the season. I have to focus on football."
At the end of spring practice in April, Herbert was listed as the likely successor to right slotback Craig Stutzmann, who completed his college football eligible last December. He spent the summer in Honolulu, participating in daily unsupervised workouts at UH.
"If I am No. 1, I didn't want to relinquish that," Herbert said. "If I wanted to be the guy — after all, Mr. Stutzmann has hung up the jersey — then I had to work hard this summer."
Herbert amassed the team's 10th best score in 11 strength and conditioning disciplines this summer. He opened training camp as the starter at right slotback.
"I don't want to get my hopes up," Herbert said. "I'll find out at game time if I'm No. 1. If I come out of the tunnel and the announcer says, 'Clifton Herbert, receiver,' that's when I know I'm No. 1. Until then, I'll keep working."
Herbert is competing against Gerald Welch, who was one of the most prolific scorers in Hawai'i high school football history, and Nate Ilaoa, who was named the Washington Post's Metro Player of the Year in 2000.
"Gerald and Nate are talented and they have big credentials," Herbert said. "I know I have talent, too. Coach (June) Jones wouldn't have brought me here if I didn't have talent."
Jones personally recruited Herbert after watching a highlight videotape. At Quartz Hills High in Palmdale, Calif., Herbert was an option quarterback as a senior in 1999.
"I moved to receiver when I got out here," he said. "It took a little adjusting."
But Herbert, who can run 40 yards in under 4.4 seconds, has improved his ability to read defenses, and has become one of the Warriors' deep threats.
"I wouldn't be out here if I wasn't worth a darn," Herbert said. "I think they still believe in me. I'm going to keep my spirits high."
