There are so many possibilities today for a talented, hard-working young football player.
Division I opportunities are still limited, but more far-reaching now than they were just five or 10 years ago. Just ask Pono Choy, the Kamehameha safety who committed to Eastern Illinois last weekend.
Ask Hawaii Prep offensive lineman Shane Brostek, who is weighing several offers, including those from Oregon, Washington and Hawaii.
Or just ask Chad Owens.
He walked on to the University of Hawaii after playing three sports at Roosevelt High School, became a record-setting slotback and eventually broke more records with the Toronto Argonauts.
Everything on the field, however, happens only with dedication off it.
"The No. 1 thing is your grades. You’ve got to be college eligible and get your GPA and SAT up as high as possible," Owens said. "In high school, I had some hard lessons I learned as a freshman, not being able to play a game because of a bad grade. From then on, I made sure to get the best grade check possible every week."
Owens graduated from UH with a degree in sociology. In addition to his pro career, he is part of Hawaii Optimum Performance in Waipio, a training facility that recently expanded to 4,000 square feet.
"It’s a new venture for me. I’m preparing for life after football," the speedster said.
Former Farrington offensive lineman Shawn Lauvao took a slightly different route. After a late-blooming career as a Governor, he accepted a scholarship offer to Arizona State, continued his ascent and is now playing for the Cleveland Browns.
His advice to young student-athletes is the same.
"I trust in God, first and foremost, and in football, if you’re passionate about it, that’s great. But you’ve got to get your education first so you have something to fall back on," Lauvao said. "Can you see this as a steppingstone?"
With so many local seniors ready to sign their letters of intent on Wednesday, at least one was happy to get acceptance news this week. Punahou defensive end Luke Kaumatule was accepted into Stanford, but his plan was to keep mum until signing day. Instead, word leaked out and found its way online. The bottom line, though, is that he kept plugging away at his SAT until he cracked the requirement.
"It’s a stressful time. They’re young kids and it’s a process," Lauvao said. "This is a decision that’s about you and what program fits you. I don’t want to sound selfish, but choosing a college is about you."
Going away to school has become the norm for Hawaii athletes, possibly one of the state’s biggest exports.
"Recruiting is an inexact science," Lauvao said. "People can say what they want. They get so crazy with it in the media, so caught up."
For Lauvao, going away to Arizona State felt right.
"They don’t teach you about this stuff. You need to plan for it," Lauvao said. "I respect people being optimistic, but things aren’t necessarily the way you want them to be. I had my mind set on leaving. I love Hawaii. I was raised here. I just wanted to venture out and compete with the best."
In 2012, Hawaii is under new leadership in Norm Chow. Would a younger version of Shawn Lauvao stay home for college?
"It’s almost like, what do you have to offer that’ll get me more exposure to the next level. With Coach Chow, that’s a definite upgrade. He’s been around the block," he said.
Chow’s ability to recruit skill-position players, Lauvao added, will directly affect line play.
"What helps offensive linemen is having good skill players. It makes our job easier."
Owens still bleeds green.
"It’s all about preference. Some kids just want to experience things on their own, but if you’re a local boy, I’d hope you’d want to stay home. It’s a good coaching staff. Norm Chow has the brain. He has the experience and connections," Owens said.
Not a day goes by when he’s home in the offseason that he’s not reminded of those glory years.
"I miss playing in that stadium. There’s nothing like the black and green," he said. "I know it’s a tough decision for recruits. I’d still pick UH. You can set yourself up for later, getting a job, making a name for yourself in Hawaii. There’s advantages. That’s what I know now that I’m older."
Even Owens, a diehard Warrior, wouldn’t rule out the merits of passing up a chance to play for Chow — if it meant walking on at UH versus accepting a scholarship on the mainland. That’s an option more available today than a decade ago. Last week, Choy accepted a scholarship to Eastern Illinois, turning down opportunities to walk on at other schools.
"It depends on your situation financially. It’s hard to pass up a free education," Owens said. "Especially as a parent of a student-athlete, that makes things a lot easier."
Owens spent part of his Saturday morning at a Madden video game tournament to help Pacific Islands Athletic Alliance raise funds.
