Lineman Moenoa takes over as host with the most

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

University of Hawai'i offensive lineman Uriah Moenoa has withstood Fresno State's zone-dog blitzes and Brigham Young's power surges.

This weekend, he faces a different challenge.

Moenoa is serving as host to Kahuku High defensive lineman Jonathan Mapu, widely regarded as the state's top football prospect, during what UH coaches are privately calling, "Super Weekend."

UH coaches declined to release their recruiting plans, and Moenoa said Thursday, "I'm supposed to be showing around a lineman from Kahuku." But people familiar with the situation say Moenoa drew the assignment.

During recruiting visits, prospects meet with academic counselors and receive a tour of the campus and athletic facilities. The UH players serve as guides through the social scene, and Moenoa has emerged as an influential recruiter, succeeding former UH player Craig Stutzmann as the host with the most.

"It's his personality," said Stutzmann, who helped UH sign 14 recruits. "He makes you laugh. He makes you feel welcome. He has a great respect for the coaches and the school."

Offensive lineman Abu Ma'afala of Kamehameha Schools praised Moenoa's hospitality. Ma'afala committed to UH during his recruiting visit last week.

Moenoa was born in Honolulu, but moved to Long Beach, Calif., when he was 3. He returned to Hawai'i 11 years later, and attended Iolani School. The experiences enable Moenoa, a good student, to relate to local and Mainland recruits, as well as prospects from different academic backgrounds.

"I try to be on the same level as them," Moenoa said, "and I try to make sure they have a lot of fun here."

During the day, he said, "I'll take them to Waikiki Beach or Sandy's." At night, they will hit the clubs, although the specific ones "are a recruiting secret. I can't let other schools know my secret spots." Moenoa also has a knack for securing invitations to dormitory parties.

"I have friends all over the place," he said, laughing.

Moenoa said his own recruiting visits factored somewhat in the decision to attend UH. As a high school senior two years ago, Moenoa visited Colorado and, he recalled, his hosts "were focused more on them having a good time than me having a good time." His host at Colorado, by the way, was his cousin, defensive tackle Sam Taulealea.

Moenoa said he tries to help recruits feel at ease, and he makes a point of introducing them to other UH students.

He said he answers their questions honestly and does not try to put pressure on them — well, most of the time. "If they're friends," he said, "I'll say, 'You'd better sign (with UH) or I'll kick your butt.'"

• Need for speed: Although UH won a share of the Western Athletic Conference title in 1992, then head coach Bob Wagner realized changes were needed. It was becoming evident that UH could not match the overall team speed of several WAC rivals, especially San Diego State and Fresno State. With the game getting faster, Wagner believed, UH needed to keep pace.

That led to UH's recruitment of quick — although undersized — players such as Jason Vaughn and Russell Grant. Wagner's tenure at UH ended, in 1995, before the transformation could take place, and San Diego State was one of eight schools to secede from the WAC in 1999. But the belief that "speed kills," as well as wins games, always has been embraced by UH coach June Jones.

In 1999, his first season as UH head coach, Jones improved the team speed without drastically changing the roster. Cornerbacks became safeties, safeties became linebackers, linebackers became defensive ends, and ends became defensive tackles.

In recruiting, Jones' preference is to stockpile fast players. That is why the Warriors are willing to use a scholarship on wideout Omar Bennett, who has one year of eligibility remaining.

Even though UH knew wideout Ashley Lelie had decided to apply for the NFL draft in early December — he was advised to keep mum until two weeks ago — the Warriors already had planned to pursue fast wide receivers. While UH has a one-back offense (and the top two rushers and three redshirts will be back), another running back was pursued. The thinking is that speed can be transferred to special teams or the defensive secondary.

• They went that way: The number of schools aggressively recruiting here has dropped off, scouts say, with the belief that Hawai'i is over-recruited.

Instead, some schools, including UH, are turning to Samoa. Fresno State coach Pat Hill has praised the athletic talent in Samoa, from where the Bulldogs landed two players. Oregon, San Diego State, Nevada and, even, Western Kentucky, sent recruiters to Samoa this month.

"When you look at it, per capita, it's like how Hawai'i was 10-15 years ago," said assistant coach Rich Miano, who is UH's point recruiter in Samoa. "There are a lot of quality athletes there."

What is lacking is formal training. Only five high schools in Samoa field football teams. There are no Pop Warner or junior varsity leagues.

UH is bringing in five prospects from Samoa this week. Three years ago, UH recruited Isaak Sopoaga, an inexperienced player from Samoa. Sopoaga went to the College of the Canyons, where he was named to the 2000 junior college All-America team, and will play for the Warriors in August. He is taking classes at UH.

"June is very committed to recruiting in Samoa," Miano said. "He has very strong feelings about the place."