The 2010 Nicholls State football team looks to provide its own Hawaiian punch this year.Offensive line coach Keith Uperesa, junior running back ‘Olu Naone, junior center Pio Adams and junior linebacker Pa’a Kamauoha all come from similar backgrounds.
Naone comes to Nicholls by way of Nanakuli, Hawaii, while Adams is from Waimanalo, Hawaii. Kamauoha is from Waianae, Hawaii and Uperesa’s hometown is Honolulu, Hawaii.
“My affiliation with Coach Stubbs is what led me here,” Uperesa said. “He and I have crossed paths years ago at Brigham Young University. There’s a lot of familiarity between understanding his offense and knowing what he’s trying to get done.”
Uperesa is a Samoan from the South Pacific, which is five hours south of Hawaii.
Uperesa explains that there are similarities between his culture and the three players’ culture.
“The language is the same,” Uperesa said. “It’s strongly based in family values and strongly based in respect. These young men, based on their family values, give the upmost respect to their elders. Their families are strong in their bond. There’s a trust factor that is put on myself from their families from when I went to recruit these kids. They built their faith in us and we’re going to take care of them.”
Adams starts at center for the Colonels and takes his Hawaiian pride onto the field with him.
“I take pride into the game,” Adams said. “Coming onto the field, I know I represent my family and my community back home especially because of where I’m from. Back home not too many kids get out of the community and go to college.”
Kamauoha is a six foot-four inch, 200 pound linebacker that describes Hawaii as “the most beautiful place on earth.”
“It’s beautiful out there, everybody knows that,” Kamauoha said. “It’s different out here. It’s a little bit hotter and more humid. The people are cool out here just like the people at home though.”
Naone started 26 of 28 games at fullback for Mt. San Antonio Community College. Naone summarizes the Hawaiian spirit which carries over to the football field
“In Hawaii, everybody has heart,” Naone said. “That’s why games are exciting in Hawaii. The games are always loud.”
These four members of the football team see a lot of similarities between the people of Thibodaux and the people in their home state.
Coach Uperesa just enjoys the fact that he can wave at people and they will wave back.
“I like the people,” Uperesa said. “They’re very friendly and very warm. It’s nice to go down the street and just wave and say hello to people. Being in Las Vegas and Los Angeles, you don’t get that. It’s about welcoming people into your family and into your community.”
The Colonels will go on the road again this week as they travel to Mobile, Ala. to take on South Alabama at 4 p.m.
Offensive line coach Keith Uperesa from Honolulu, Hawaii, supervises Saturday’s game against Western Michigan. (Ashley Falterman)
