The Big Chief

Growing up on the Big Island, David Kekuewa was known by two names.

David, his English name, and Kelii, his more commonly used Hawaiian name, were the two ways to identify the Kamehameha-Hawaii alumnus.

Take a walk with him around the Bowling Green campus now and something new will ring out.

"I’m known as ‘Chief’ around here," the Bowling Green offensive lineman said. "When they were recruiting me, I told my O-line coach that my name, Kelii, means Chief, so they started to call me Chief.

"I’ve gotten used to it, but then no one calls me Kelii now, so I’m trying to get everyone to call me Kelii again."

The man with multiple names has one identity on the Falcons football team. Since arriving on campus after transferring from Arizona Western Junior College, Kekuewa has carved out a spot as the team’s starting center for 21 consecutive games.

He beat out the incumbent, a fifth-year senior, last season as a transfer and has started every game since, helping Bowling Green to a 13-8 record and 9-3 mark in the Mid-American Conference.

"I didn’t transfer not to play," Kekuewa said. "The coaches told me when they recruited me I had the potential to play, so I came here saying I would win the position."

Basically ignored out of high school at Kamehameha-Hawaii, Kekuewa has established himself as a legit Division I starter. He was named to the preseason watch list for the Rimington Award, which is given to the best center in college football.

He was elected team captain for the Falcons despite only being in the program for a little over a year. He is set to graduate in December and hopes to continue his career playing professionally in the NFL.

"I’m hoping to make it to that next level," Kekuewa said. "I’ll graduate in December and then hopefully I’ll come home for a bit, after a bowl obviously, and then work out all spring getting ready (for the NFL Draft)."

The Falcons are poised to head back to a bowl after starting 5-3 this season. BGSU had its first eight-win season since 2007 last year and played in its 10th bowl game in school history, losing to San Jose State, 29-20, in the Military Bowl.

Kekuewa’s presence has helped establish a rushing attack that has led to many of the wins.

After totaling at least 200 rushing yards in a game only once from 2009 to 2011, the Falcons have done it eight times with Kekuewa under center, winning all eight.

"We suffered a very big loss to Mississippi State which we could have won, and then we lost to our rival Toledo, another big loss, but we still control our own destiny," Kekuewa said. "We can still win the MAC East and have the opportunity to win the MAC as a whole, so we’re looking forward to the rest of the year."

Bowling Green was 5-1 when it lost by a point to Mississippi State, 21-20, in Starkville, Miss.

Toledo handed BGSU its first MAC loss on Saturday. Bowling Green rallied from a 21-0 deficit to take a 25-21 lead, only to give up the game-winning touchdown with less than two minutes remaining in the game.

The loss dropped Bowling Green to 3-1 in the East, but if they win out, which would mean beating Buffalo (4-0 in league) and Ohio (3-1), they would play in the MAC title game.

It’d be one of many huge games Kekuewa has been able to play in.

His first Division I start for the Falcons happened in Gainesville, in the Swamp, against Florida. He’s also played in Blacksburg, Va., against Virginia Tech and played in the bowl game at RFK Stadium, former home of the NFL’s Washington Redskins.

"Every day I wake up, I think it’s crazy," Kekuewa said. "I never thought I would be in Ohio. Ohio is the last place I thought I’d be.

"But to play football, to experience these things, it’s a blessing, that’s all I can say. It’s a blessing."