Islanders' Miller has caught on

By Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writer

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What: arenafootball2 game Who: Bakersfield Blitz (2-1) vs. Hawaiian Islanders (2-1) Where: Blaisdell Arena When: 6:30 p.m. tonight Admission: $25 lower bowl (reserved); $15 upper bowl sidelines (reserved); $10 upper bowl end zones (general); $7 youths. Parking is $5 Radio: 1500 AM Special promotions: Family FANFest from 4:30 to 6:15 p.m. in Blaisdell parking lot. Free. Appearance by Team High Performance Yo-yo Enthusiasts. Law Enforcement Appreciation Night; $1 from every ticket sold will be donated to "Friends of Malu" (officer Roger Napoleon)

"He's a guy who wants to learn as much as he can about the game," Arceneaux said. "Anybody that wants to learn and stay and talk football, that's great. He doesn't only do it on the field, he does it off the field and watches tape with us. You like guys who put in the work to get better."

Miller, 24, is tied for second on the team with nine receptions and is third with 128 receiving yards heading into tonight's arenafootball2 game against the Bakersfield Blitz. Kickoff for the Western Division game is set for 6:30 at Blaisdell Arena.

"He has no problems about where you put the ball, just put it in the area so he can make a play on it," Arceneaux said.

When asked if he was surprised by his early success, Miller said: "Not really. I've been working really hard for this opportunity and I knew when I came here I was going to make the most of it. I come out here every day and work hard."

He came here after talking with a former Islander back home in Long Island, N.Y.

"Last year there was a guy named Mike Funaro who's from my hometown," Miller said. "He hurt his back in the second or third game last year and I happened to run into him back home and he gave me some information, gave me the coaches' numbers and I made some calls and ended up out here."

Long Island is home of the Arena Football League's New York Dragons, who are owned by the father of Islanders owner/operator Kimberly W. Dey.

"I think to go home and play for the Dragons in front of my friends and family, that would be a definite opportunity I would look forward to," Miller said.

Former Islanders fullback/linebacker Josh "Zeus" White made the jump to the Dragons after last season.

Miller, a self-described "film junkie," is one of the few Islanders rookies to get consistent playing time this season, and he's come up with some clutch catches.

"He can catch the ball real well and he's made some key third-down grabs for us that kept drives alive," offensive coordinator Vince Passas said.

Miller, who is 6 foot 1 and 195 pounds, hadn't played football since undergoing back surgery at Glendale Community College (Ariz.) in 2001.

"After that I took some time off to refocus and get back into playing shape and give it another shot," he said.

Miller's work ethic has impressed Passas.

"He's done a great job of pushing himself, working out before practice and after practice and doing whatever he can to get better," Passas said. "He'll do anything, whatever it takes to play."

Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8041.