By JOE FERRARO Stephens Media ADVERTISING It was the University of Hawaii football team’s last 2012 full-ride scholarship, according to Cliff Walters. New Warriors coach Norm Chow used it for one of Walters’ players, and the Konawaena football coach said
By JOE FERRARO
Stephens Media
It was the University of Hawaii football team’s last 2012 full-ride scholarship, according to Cliff Walters. New Warriors coach Norm Chow used it for one of Walters’ players, and the Konawaena football coach said Hawaii won’t regret its decision.
Wildcats senior defensive end Mike Andrade, the Big Island Interscholastic Federation Division II Defensive Player of the Year, verbally committed to play for the Warriors on Monday.
Andrade, who had 86 total tackles and 36 sacks for a Konawaena football team that won its first Division II title in three years last season, will sign a National Letter of Intent once the school receives signing documents from the football program, Walters said.
“I think for every kid in Hawaii, it’s their dream to be a Warrior,” Walters said. “I was happy for him.”
After the 2011 BIIF football season, Walters sent game film of Andrade to Hawaii. Since then, he and members of the Warriors’ staff had phone conversations regarding the 6-foot-2, 272-pound defensive tackle. The most recent one happened on Monday, and Walters handed his cell phone to Andrade while the two sat in Walters’ vehicle at Konawaena. There, Chow gave Andrade the scholarship offer he wanted along.
“I was excited,” said Andrade, who will major in forestry at Manoa. “I’d rather play for Hawaii than any other school. To me, Hawaii is just the best choice for me. I never wanted to leave Hawaii, so I wanted to stay in Hawaii.”
Walters said Hawaii also considered offering the scholarship to an offensive lineman on the mainland but gave it to Andrade instead.
Andrade, also a three-time Hawaii High School Rodeo Association boys all-around state champion, received full-ride scholarship offers from Division I Utah State, NAIA school Eastern Missouri, and junior colleges Eastern Arizona and New Mexico Military College. Also, Washington expressed interest, encouraging Andrade to join the Huskies as a walk-on.
At Konawaena, Andrade was known for being a fierce pass rusher, and he routinely faced double- or triple-teams. In the Wildcats’ 23-6 loss to Lahainaluna in the Hawaii High School Athletic Association Division II state tournament, he recorded six sacks.
Because Andrade can consistently apply pressure on the quarterback, Walters said, he might have the opportunity to play as a true freshman on passing downs.
“Hawaii’s going to get 272 pounds, a (4.7-second 40-yard dash) and a motor that won’t quit,” Walters said. “(With Andrade, it’s) show me the ball, and I’ll seek and destroy. Every coach likes that kind of attitude.”
Andrade credited Walters, Wildcats defensive coordinator David Karratti and the rest of the Konawaena coaching staff for molding him into a future Division I football player.
“They were a big part of me staying as good as I did,” Andrade said. “I think they’re the best coaching staff on this island.”
