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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, February 7, 2007

Alama-Francis stays pleasant, positive

By Ikaika Alama-Francis
Special to The Advertiser

Ikaika Alama-Francis

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PLEASANTON, CALIF. — Hey, everybody, I'm out here training in Pleasanton, which is by the San Jose area.

Pleasanton is a nice little area, very, uh, pleasant. It's beautiful, nice.

I'm staying in a hotel area. The training facility is close by. I have a little transportation. It's like an SUV type. Big guys need SUVs.

Right now, I train basically all day. I do a lot of running and leg lifts. I'm getting ready for the NFL Combine.

I'm just happy to be working out. During the Hula Bowl, I tore a pec muscle. I remember being in the locker room after that, and it was such a tough time. Nobody wants to get hurt, and I get hurt in an all-star game. I guess things happen for a reason.

There wasn't anything I could do but be positive. I had a problem and I had to fix it. I stayed positive and I worked at it. That's all I could do.

After the surgery, I didn't want to keep my arm in a sling. It was the type of deal where the more movement you have, the faster it will heal. You've got to get the blood flowing real good. There's still a little pain, but it's not too bad. I don't mind a little pain.

The best part about the rehab is I got to help out with the "Refuse to Use, Refuse to Lose" anti-drug program. The kids were fantastic. I felt thankful to be asked.

I came up here last week. I work out with Enoka Lucas of Oregon. He's a really good guy. We help each other out. He makes everything easier.

We're using the training facility my agent uses. A lot of top athletes use it.

My agent is Frank Bauer. It was a tough process finding an agent. Like anything else, you want the best for yourself and your family. He's perfect. He's a guy who cares about his athletes. I thought he was right for me. He's a man of his word. You need to have trust, and I trust him.

We're always trying to figure out what the NFL thinks about us. I heard one service thought I would be picked on the first day.

I'm hoping my name will be called. It doesn't matter if it's the first, third or seventh round. It doesn't matter if it's as a free agent. I just want the opportunity to play at the next level. That would be good.

Join us for an inside look as former University of Hawai'i football players prepare for the NFL. As many as seven could be NFL bound. We will provide diaries of their experiences all the way until the NFL Combine Feb. 22 to 25.