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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Wednesday, August 30, 2006

UH senior defensive end
Ikaika Alama-Francis

Video Inteview: Ikaika Alama-Francis

Defensive end Ikaika Alama-Francis gained weight sensibly, following direction of Mel deLaura, UH's assistant strength coach. He's now about 290 pounds.

RICHARD AMBO | The Honolulu Advertiser


An All-State basketball player from Kalaheo, Ikaika Alama-Francis spent his first year at UH on the basketball team. But he made the switch to a sport in which his father, Joe (backup to Bart Starr at Green Bay), excelled and has never looked back. He has gradually added bulk to his 6-foot-6 frame, going from 215 to 290 in three seasons. Last year, he recorded 10.5 tackles for losses and five sacks. He's hoping his senior year will have a bigger payoff.


How did you manage to gain weight? Also, do you regret switching sports from basketball to football?


"Not much to it, just eat. They put me on this diet where it is all you can eat. Eat everything in sight. I stuck with coach Mel (deLaura). I tell you what, he's the man who got me to where I am at. I worked out with him, lifted weights, stayed on top it. He just told me 'Keep eating, cause that's all you can do.' And gradually, as the years went by I gained X amount of weight, maybe about 15, 20 pounds every year.

"It was a blessing, and one of the hardest things I've ever done in my life. Honestly, I'm glad what weight I'm at. I try to stay away from the fried foods, eat a lot more proteins and stuff, because my body needs it because I'm always breaking down. On the opposite side, I have to eat a lot of carbs too. Pastas, rice, to keep my weight up. It's another challenge in my life that God's put in front of me, and I'm just going to try my best with it.

(On switching sports)

"I don't regret the switch at all because it happened for a reason. Like I said, 'God works in mysterious ways.' I never thought, coming to college, that I would play football, ever. I never played in high school. I don't regret the switch at all.

Going down the line, it's unbelievable.

(On the defensive line)

"I think our defensive line is going to be amazing this year. We got me, Mel, seniors, and we have a nose (Michael Lafaele) in there who is a wonderful guy to watch on film and in real life. He's a great guy and we have a lot of seniors back on defense so that is going to help us out a lot. Leonard Peters is back, he got his extra year, so it's going to be exciting."


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