Moenoa vows to 'put a little mean streak' into game

By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer

Uriah Moenoa has always been a jokester, but the sophomore guard has vowed to take football more seriously and "put a little mean streak into my game." Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser

As one of the funniest guys on the University of Hawai'i football team, Moenoa serves as comic relief in practice.

But that's about to change.

This spring, coaches challenged the talented sophomore right guard to ditch the laugh track and become a leader on a young offensive line that is projected to start two second-year freshmen.

"He's a holly jolly guy all the time," offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh said. "I want to see the guy get dead serious."

Moenoa's engaging personality has endeared him to teammates, fans and the media, and has landed him the position of recruiting host.

This spring, Moenoa vowed to "put a little mean streak into my game," but the 6-foot-3, 327-pound Iolani School graduate still suffers from giggle relapses in practice.

"Just put it this way, I'm not too serious," Moenoa said. "I got to work on that. I always laugh at things, especially when I get yelled at.

"It's kind of hard because I've been joking around my whole life. I just have to learn when to laugh and when not to laugh. I've been working especially hard the last couple of days, because we haven't been doing too well as a unit."

Moenoa, who chose UH over Oregon and Colorado, has started his first two years at right tackle and has a chance to become a rare four-year starter for the Warriors. This season, Moenoa will move to right guard, a position that became open with the departure of All-American Vince Manuwai.

"I don't know about filling his shoes," Moenoa said. "I'm bringing my own pair this season. I'll try those out, and make my own name at guard and see how I'll do."

Moenoa has tried different positions before. Last spring, he practiced at center.

"I think by playing center, it kind of geared me up to play guard this spring," Moenoa said. "Once you play one spot, you have to know the rest of the line to be all on the same page. I pretty much know what I'm doing, it's just a matter of going out there and doing it."

Moenoa said he enjoys playing guard because he's flanked by jumbo-sized teammates.

"When you play tackle, you're sitting out there on the end with basically no help," Moenoa said. "When you play guard, the center is always there and you can't go too far outside because the tackle is right there. I like that a little better."

Cavanaugh is banking on Moenoa to fill a leadership role held by departed seniors Manuwai and center Lui Fuata.

Moenoa is also being heralded by UH coaches as an NFL prospect.

Three former UH offensive linemen — Adrian Klemm, Kynan Forney and Kaulana Noa — have joined the NFL since June Jones arrived in 1999, and three more — Manuwai, Fuata and Wayne Hunter — are expected to join NFL teams this season.

"The guy has got a lot of talent," Cavanaugh said of Moenoa. "He's smart and athletic. He's got toughness.

"It's real important that he steps up in roles in the weight room and in conditioning to be our leader. Uriah is a guy who has got to step up and take control of our offensive line."

Jones said Moenoa has "a lot of potential." In his collegiate career, Moenoa has averaged 12 pancake blocks a season.

"Not many guys are four-year starters," Jones said. "He has a chance to play at the next level. But he's got to decide if that's what he wants to do. He has to get serious about it. He's smart, powerful, physical. He has all the intangibles that you need."