When University of Hawaii running back Joey Iosefa was growing up in American Samoa, there was an English word for conditioning drills.
“Chores,” Iosefa said, smiling.
Every sweltering summer day, Iosefa made the 30-minute walk — uphill — to his family’s farm, where they raised such crops as taro and bananas.
Often he was asked to gather coconuts … from the treetops.
“Climbing the coconut tree takes a lot of energy,” Iosefa said.
Is it any wonder Iosefa refused rest offers during a 35-carry, 191-yard performance against Navy on Saturday?
“He kept telling me he was OK,” coach Norm Chow recalled.
Iosefa said he responded truthfully.
“I thought I could do more,” Iosefa said.
Iosefa said playing football pales to the chores of his youth.
“Back home, we didn’t have any weights,” Iosefa said. “We farmed a lot. We worked. We did chores every day. It was the way we lived back in Samoa.”
Iosefa said he did not lift weights until he began playing football in high school. In team testing, Iosefa, who was a quarterback, topped the strength charts.
Iosefa, who is 6 feet, weighed 195 when he enrolled as a part-time UH student in August 2009. It was his grayshirt year, and he was restricted from working out with his future teammates. The following fall, during which he redshirted, Iosefa learned “a lot of people were stronger than me.”
It was then Iosefa decided to add iron to his diet.
“I lived in the weight room,” Iosefa said.
Iosefa led UH in rushing as a second-year freshman in 2011 and, after missing the first four games because of a foot injury, started seven games last year.
Iosefa was poised for a breakout 2013 season. He weighed 233 pounds, and was capable of benching 445 and squat-lifting 595. He credited teammates Craig Cofer and Brenden Daley with providing encouragement during offseason lifting sessions.
“Prior to the season,” Chow recalled, “I thought about what was coming, (and) I told myself: ‘The only guy we couldn’t lose was Joey.’ And we lost him.”
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All available seats to Hawaii football games will be priced 50 percent off, beginning at 9 a.m. today. The offer includes the Rainbow Warriors’ games against San Diego State on Saturday and against Army on Nov. 30. Tickets can be purchased at hawaiiathletics.com, by calling 944-BOWS or by visiting the box offices at the Stan Sheriff Center or Aloha Stadium. The print-at-home fee will be waived for those buying online. In addition, the online ticket purchase fee will be 50 percent off. |
Iosefa was performing an agility drill while training in July. He lost his balance, nearly falling to his right, then tried to compensate by trying to brace on his left foot. That foot curled inward, and he heard a “pop.”
He was diagnosed with a fracture in his left foot. He chose non-surgical rehabilitation. He returned for UH’s fourth game, against Nevada on Sept. 21, when he felt another “pop” during his first offensive series.
This time, Iosefa had a procedure in which a pin was inserted to stabilize the area. Rehabilitation involved elevating his foot while resting or sleeping, wearing a medical boot, and drinking milk.
Last week, Iosefa received medical clearance to play. Iosefa’s tough running opened the way for the Rainbow Warriors’ controlled passing.
“We did our blocks and made holes, and he was really helpful in just falling an extra 4 yards,” offensive lineman Kody Afusia said. “Open a small hole, and he’ll bang it wide open if it’s not open enough.”
Iosefa said he felt no discomfort.
“The pin really helps,” Iosefa said. “Basically, it stabilizes the fracture. It doesn’t bend anymore. Sometimes there’s a little bit of tingling, but it’s solid. I’m OK.”
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Read Steven Tsai’s Warrior Beat at staradvertiser.com/warriorbeat
