Posted on: Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Vili the Warrior's son to play for Utah
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
The son of the University of Hawai'i mascot might root-root-root for the home team but he apparently will play football elsewhere.
Whitley Fehoko — whose father Vili performs as the face-painted "Warrior" at UH football games — has made a verbal commitment to play for the University of Utah in 2006, according to his mother, Linda Fehoko.
"Mom and Dad want him to stay home," Linda said of her son, a 6-foot-2, 298-pound lineman, "but we have to let him make his own decisions."
Whitley, who is traveling in Utah, could not be reached for comment.
Linda said her son, who will be a senior at Farrington High School in the fall, also received offers from Southern California, UCLA, Tennessee, Washington and Colorado. UH has not made a scholarship offer, following its usual practice of waiting until a prospect makes a recruiting visit.
But the UH coaches are familiar with Whitley, who often performs as a drummer or dancer at football games and men's volleyball matches.
Linda said every time Whitley received a recruiting letter from a Mainland school, Vili put a UH sticker on his son's bedroom wall. She said Whitley's room is covered with UH stickers.
"Hawai'i is our pride and joy," Linda said. "They were the first school to get a (highlight) video of Whit."
Whitley drew interest after competing at the Nike-USC, Utah and All-Poly camps. He can bench press 185 pounds 45 times and 225 pounds 24 times. His maximum bench press is 405 pounds.
He has a 3.2 cumulative grade-point average, and he already achieved an NCAA-qualifying SAT score.
"He's a good student, and a very hard worker," Farrington football coach Randall Okimoto said. "He's in the weight room every day."
Last season, Whitley was aligned at left guard.
"He pulled on many plays," Okimoto said. "He's dependable in that we can move him around to center or tackle. He's not limited to one position."
At last week's Utah camp in Salt Lake City, Whitley played defensive tackle, amassing two sacks and eight tackles during a scrimmage. He was named the camp's most outstanding lineman on offense and defense.
The past weekend, Whitley received — and accepted — a scholarship offer from the Utes.
Told of the offer, Linda recalled, "I'm yelling at him. 'What did you say?' We have to let it go."
She said the Colorado coaches insist they will continue to recruit her son. She said her son remains faithful to UH.
"No matter what," she said, "we will support the Warriors. Hawai'i will always be home. We want him to know that. Wherever he goes, Hawai'i will be home. He grew up in the UH program, and it will always mean something to him."
Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8051.
