UH pushing Manuwai for honor

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

BOISE, Idaho — University of Hawai'i offensive lineman Vince Manuwai's candidacy for All-America honors kicked off yesterday morning with the distribution of promotional pens and notepads at the Western Athletic Conference Football Media Preview.

"I wasn't raised to complain," says UH lineman Vince Manuwai, who has played with various ailments during his career. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

But left unmentioned is Manuwai's silent battle to even suit up.

"I wasn't raised to complain," said Manuwai, whose biography could be found in a medical dictionary.

Congenital nerve damage has reduced the vision in his right eye to a blur. During team film sessions, he admitted, "I get tired because I'm straining so much to see."

He also has sustained significant hearing loss in his left ear, the cumulative result effect of an ear infection incurred as a child.

Last season, Manuwai played despite a broken bone in his right hand and a ligament tear in his left thumb that makes it difficult for him to twist the lid of a jar.

"I want to keep playing," said Manuwai, who started every game last season. "That's something I learned at Farrington."

At the start of each practice at Farrington High, then-head coach Skippa Diaz implored his players to "bite down — to tough it out."

"You know Skippa," Manuwai said. "He's crazy. When he says 'bite down,' you bite down."

Manuwai once played an entire high school season with a hyper-extended left elbow. As a UH sophomore, there were questions whether Manuwai had slowed down. In fact, he was playing despite two pulled hamstrings.

"I hate to miss a game," Manuwai said. "I even hate to miss practice. Sitting on the sideline is the worst thing for me."

That determination has extended into the weight room, where Manuwai tied the team record by bench-pressing 500 pounds. In April, he went through the team's usual progression drill. After working his way up to three 455-pound lifts, Manuwai decided to bench-press 500 pounds, an amount only linebacker Chris Brown has successfully lifted.

Despite Manuwai's protests, UH strength coach Mel deLaura asked teammates to gather.

"He put me on the spot," Manuwai said. "I lifted it up, and I felt like yelling. I was so happy on the inside. But I acted like it was nothing."

Brown, who did not work out that day, soon was notified of Manuwai's lift. Brown then vowed to bench-press 510 pounds before the start of training camp in two weeks.

"I guess I ruined it for him," Manuwai said. "I wanted to mess with him, so I told him that 500 was kind of easy. I know he wants to get the record back."

Manuwai said the competition has unified the players, and reaffirmed his decision to attend UH. A week before the February 1999 signing date, Manuwai verbally committed to Utah. UH coach June Jones made a final pitch to Manuwai.

"I decided to change my mind and go to UH," Manuwai said. "I know I made the right choice."