These are indeed brighter days for Hawaii running back Faga Wily.
He is relatively healthy. He is participating again in the Rainbow Warriors’ spring practices. And Easter Sunday is the due date for he and his wife’s first child.
"I’m excited," Wily said. "Everything is going good."
Things were decidedly darker last fall. As a true freshman, Wily played in the first two games of 2013, starting one, before suffering a concussion.
"Afterward, it went downhill," Wily recalled. "I started getting mean headaches."
He said he had difficulty concentrating on school work. He eventually withdrew from classes.
"I couldn’t study or focus," Wily said.
For the next few months, the headaches persisted. He often stayed indoors, with the lights off. Sunlight was worse. Even the glare from computer screens created problems.
He rested often, and took aspirin.
As late as December, he had occasional headaches. "But they were going away slowly," Wily said.
In January, he resumed taking classes. He also participated in the offseason conditioning program and unsupervised workouts.
He reported to spring training. He recently received permission to miss practice to take care of family matters.
On Thursday, he was back in full pads.
With star running back Joey Iosefa held out of most contact drills and Jason Muraoka recovering from a hamstring injury, Steven Lakalaka, Diocemy Saint Juste, Penitito Faalologo and Wily split reps during Thursday’s team drills.
Wily showed the first-step quickness and power moves that helped him earn distinction as the state’s offensive player of the year as a Kahuku High senior in 2012.
"He did some good things," Chow said.
Wily said: "I’m trying to get back into it. It feels good to be back. I have to get back into shape, and move forward."
Wily and his wife live on the North Shore.
He said he awakens at 4 every morning.
"It’s been hard driving from the North Shore and back," Wily said. "It’s really tough, but it’s worth it to still live out there."
Wily said he expects to be busy in the coming months.
"There will be school, football and the baby," he said. "It’s going to be hard. I know that. But it’s going to be exciting."
