Noa's patience rewarded
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
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University of Hawai'i outside linebacker Karl Noa, who will make his first college start in Saturday's football game against Eastern Illinois, admittedly had been waiting for what seemed like forever for his chance.
"I was so nervous," Noa recalled of his summer of anguish.
He finally worked up the courage and asked his girlfriend's father for permission to propose. After a pause, the father gave his blessing. Soon after, Noa and Kehau Wong were engaged to be married.
"It wasn't the easiest thing," Noa said. "It was very nerve-racking. It took me a while. It was the third time when I actually asked him.
"The other two times, I felt it was bad timing, and I was nervous, too."
Noa and Wong had been classmates at Kamehameha Schools since the ninth grade.
"I knew of her, but I never got to know her until we had a class together during my senior year," Noa said. "We wrote up a paper together. She's really smart."
Wong attended Cornell University, earning a degree in three years. She is preparing for veterinary school.
The past couple of years, Noa worked several jobs to earn enough money to buy an engagement ring. "I was trying to pick up side money wherever I could," he said.
He proposed shortly before the start of last month's training camp.
"It wasn't perfect," he said of his stumbling proposal, "but at least I did it."
Noa has had to be equally patient in waiting for an opportunity to contribute regularly to the Warriors.
He redshirted in 2003, after which he was awarded a football scholarship, but was used sparingly as a defensive end in 2004 and 2005.
"Honestly, it was getting a little frustrating," he said. "Work out five, six, seven days, doing those little things (but not playing), it got frustrating. But my family and friends told me to stick it out.
"Good things come to those who wait upon the Lord. That's what my grandma always taught me. My family taught me to put God first in everything I do, in the good times and the bad. In times of trouble, I'll always look to God. That's what brought me through. Before, I used to question 'why this' and 'why that,' but ultimately there's nothing I can do but to accept my role on the team. It took me a while to accept it. I'm glad I did."
Noa, as it turned out, was miscast as an end in defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville's 3-4 scheme. The defense requires ends built like tackles. At 6 feet 4 and 240 pounds, Noa was swallowed by double blocks.
During spring practice, Noa was moved to outside linebacker. "He's a better fit over there," Glanville said.
Noa had to learn to drop into pass coverage. Even his best skill, rushing from the edge, had to be altered. Linebackers pass-rush from a standing position.
Last week, Noa ascended to No. 2 left outside linebacker, behind Tyson Kafentzis.
During pre-game warmups, Kafentzis suffered a chipped bone in his right ankle. He started, but lasted only two plays. Noa finished with 10 tackles against Boise State.
Kafentzis won't play against Eastern Illinois, opening the way for Noa to start.
"He's earned the chance to play more," Glanville said.
Before leaving for Boise, UH released a travel roster in which Noa was inadvertently omitted.
"It's OK," he said. "I'm not comfortable in the spotlight."
NOTES AND UPDATES
"We're going to play the best guys," UH coach June Jones said. "If Ross is the best guy, he'll start (at right slotback)."
"I'm feeling better," he said. "It's not an injury that goes away overnight. It could get worse. There's always that one cut, and you could hurt it again. But I want to get back on the field. Everybody knows I want to play."
"It was tough at first," Funaki said. "I'm still getting used to it."
Funaki said he is working on meeting UH's snap-to-place goal of 1.2 seconds.
Funaki had been listed as the backup to Milne during the first three games, but "I never took a snap in practice. Once (special teams coordinator) Mouse (Davis) told me to go take a snap, but coach Jones told me to get out of there. That was the closest I came to taking a snap in practice."
Long-snapper Jake Ingram said: "It's a little different because it's a new guy. I'm trying to teach him a little. He's pretty good. He's got good hands. He can do the job."
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UH FOOTBALL WHAT: University of Hawai'i (1-2) vs. Eastern Illinois (2-2) WHEN: 6:05 p.m. Saturday WHERE: Aloha Stadium TV: Live on Oceanic cable pay-per-view digital. Call 625-8100 on O'ahu or (808) 643-2337 statewide. Delayed on KFVE Sunday 10 a.m. AUDIO WEBCAST: espn1420am.com VIDEO WEBCAST: Available through Hawaiian Telecom and KFVE. Tickets available for single game at $9.95, a full season for $39.95. Go to www.hawaiiantelmedia.com RADIO: Live on ESPN 1420, with warmup show at 4 p.m. Neighbor Island simulcasts on KAOI on Maui/Kona, KPUA in Hilo and KQNG on Kaua'i GATES OPEN: Parking lot 2:30 p.m.; Stadium gates 3 p.m. TICKET PRICES: $30 sideline, $27 South end zone, $22 North end zone (adult), $17 North end zone senior citizen, $17 North end zone students 4-18, $5 UH students. TICKET SALES: Available online at hawaiiathletics.com, by calling 944-2697 (BOWS) between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or at Stan Sheriff Center, Aloha Stadium, UH Campus Center, RainBowtique at Ward Centre and Windward Community College's OCET Office during business hours. Convenience fees may apply. (FOR EASTERN ILLINOIS) PROMOTION: "Family Night" ticket discounts will be $15 each for sections in the north and south end zones. A minimum of four tickets must be purchased. Maximum is 12. PARKING: $5 ALTERNATIVE PARKING (no tailgating): All shuttle service runs from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and approximately one hour after the game ends. SECURITY: Only fanny packs, purses, backpacks and handbags will be allowed into stadium (subject to check). TRAFFIC ADVISORY: Sports Radio 1420 will provide traffic advisories and updates before each UH football home game. BUS SHUTTLES: Roberts Hawaii is offering round trip "air conditioned" shuttle bus services to Aloha Stadium for $6 from three O'ahu areas. Bus No. 3 will pick up at the Hawai'i Kai Park n' Ride at 4 p.m., at Bank of Hawai'i at Kahala Mall at 4:15 and proceed to the stadium. Bus No. 2 will pick up at the Kailua District Park, Kainalu Avenue at 4:15 p.m., at Windward Mall Shopping Center on Alaloa Street facing Sears at 4:30 and proceed to the stadium. Bus No. 1 will pick up at the Mililani Mauka Park n' Ride at 4:30 p.m. and go directly to the stadium. Reservations are required and service is first come, first serve. Call Roberts School Bus at 832-4886 for reservations and additional information. City bus service The FootballExpress offers 17 pickup locations throughout O'ahu. The first trip from each location leaves approximately three hours before kickoff and the last trip leaves approximately 90 minutes before the game. Return trips leave as soon as the bus is full, with the final trip leaving 30 minutes after the game ends. Honolulu pickup locations are at Ala Moana, downtown, Hawai'i Kai, Kahala Mall, Kaimuki, Palolo, Waikiki and the University of Hawai'i. Leeward pickups are at 'Ewa Beach, Kapolei, Mililani Mauka and Village Park. Windward pickups are at Kalaniana'ole Highway and Kailua Road, Kailua Road at Keolu Drive and Hele Street, Kailua Road at Hahani Street, Kane'ohe Bay drive at Mokapu Boulevard and Kane'ohe Bay Drive at Makalani Street. Rates are $3 one way and $6 roundtrip. Passes and transfers are not accepted. For information, go to: http://www.thebus.org
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Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.
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