Aussie player a quick study

Three years ago, Scott Harding couldn’t even put on football pads correctly.

Now, he might be Hawaii’s most dependable player.

Following the path of former Hawaii punter Alex Dunnachie, Harding gave up his career playing Australian football to try his hand with the American version.

He showed up on the UH campus as a 25-year-old, with no knowledge of the American game or even what positions there were.

"It was a crash course really to American football," Harding said. "When I introduced myself to the team, all of the freshmen had to say their name and where you’re from and what position you’re playing.

"I said ‘I’m Scott, I’m from Australia, and I have no idea what position I’m playing.’ "

From no position in 2011 to three in 2014, Harding hasn’t just learned how American football is played. He’s excelled at it.

He was strictly a punt returner as a freshman, before becoming a punter as well the next season. It is a rare combination for a Division I college football player. By the end of his junior season, he had molded himself into a reliable receiver; he will hold down all three starting spots in his final campaign with the Rainbow Warriors.

"I think it’s shown how much I can learn and how quickly I can pick things up because now I’m a guy who is showing other players how to do things," Harding said. "I’ve gone from somebody who had to get a locker buddy to help me because I didn’t even know where the pads went or what went on first to now being a leader on the team."

Special teams coach Chris Demarest says dependability is what he looks for most from multi-position players. It’s a big reason why Harding holds so many job titles.

"Scotty is an older guy and he’s played that professional rugby over in Australia," Demarest said. "He brings that maturity to the field, is dependable, and is a guy you can really rely on."

Part of that comes from playing six seasons of football in Australia. It’s the most popular sport in the country, with kids routinely turning pro straight out of high school and playing in front of massive crowds.

"I was playing in front of 40 or 50 thousand people every week," Harding said. "You get thrown into it right away."

Aloha Stadium hasn’t seen crowds that big since the Sugar Bowl year in 2007.

UH hasn’t played in a bowl since the season before Harding arrived, losing to Tulsa in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl in 2010.

"Going to a bowl game is one thing I haven’t been a part of, so a winning season and playing in a bowl game is what I want for the team," Harding said. "We were so close winning some really big games last year that I want to win those games. It’s almost tougher losing those games than if you’re getting blown out all of the time."

One trend that Harding says will continue this season is his punting style.

Harding was messing around after practice one day and Demarest saw the unique rugby style kick Harding was practicing. Almost immediately, he tried scheming some plays around it.

Not only does it allow for his coverage to get down the field farther before the return man can field the ball, but it opens up the fake on running plays and makes it tougher for teams to field the ball cleanly, resulting in potential fumbles and quick changes of possession.

"Coach Demo said we could use that and we started doing it and it’s worked out for me," Harding said. "It’s helped us out a lot at times."