Posted on: Friday, December 5, 2008
No regrets for career on bench
By Stephen Tsai
HawaiiWarriorBeat.com Editor
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Offensive lineman Nathan McKay and 34 Hawai'i teammates will play their final regular-season game tomorrow night against Cincinnati.
RICHARD AMBO | The Honolulu Advertiser
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GAME FACTS
WHO: Cincinnati (10-2, 6-1 Big East) at Hawai'i (7-5, 5-3 WAC) WHEN: Tomorrow, 6:30 p.m. WHERE: Aloha Stadium TV: Live, ESPN2 RADIO: ESPN 1420 AM
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Nathan McKay
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Popular belief is that each snowflake, like a fingerprint, is unique.
And, it appears, there is no college football player quite like Hawai'i's bleach-skinned Nathan "Snowflake" McKay.
At the end of Saturday's regular-season finale against Cincinnati, McKay, one of 35 UH seniors, will take a bow on a career that has been mostly dress rehearsals.
McKay, an offensive lineman, is UH's career leader in DNPs, having appeared in two games — both on special teams — in five years. He has not played a down in 2007 or 2008.
"I said I would play for the University of Hawai'i," McKay said, smiling. "I practice for the University of Hawai'i."
But McKay, who has never been invited to a UH training camp nor broken into the first three strings, has been an enthusiastic member of the scout team that competes against the starting defense.
"That's the mentality you like to see from our look squad," said defensive end David Veikune, who competes daily against McKay. "Some guys are kind of angry when they're on scout team because they're not getting any playing time. But he doesn't take anything for granted. He doesn't let it get him down. He works hard, and he gets me ready for the game."
McKay said: "It's fun going against Dave and C.J. (Allen-Jones). It's fun to know that I practiced against these guys before they made it big. When Dave Veikune makes it to the Hall of Fame, I can say, 'I played against him.'"
McKay was a star lineman at powerful Lake Oswego High School in Oregon. He received offers to play for small colleges in Oregon, but was drawn to UH. That was partly because his mother, Patty, is a Kailua High graduate.
"I came out here my junior year to visit (UH)," McKay said. "I didn't want to leave. I knew I was coming back."
McKay said he sent his highlight video to Rich Miano, who coordinates the Warriors' walk-on program. "The rest is kind of history, I guess," McKay said.
But history is not always kind. McKay redshirted in 2004 and practiced but did not play in 2005. As a second-year sophomore in 2006, he was on the kickoff-return unit against Nevada-Las Vegas and Eastern Illinois.
"I was on for a couple of kickoff returns, then I got booted off of that," McKay said.
And that should have been that. When the training-camp rosters were posted in 2007 and 2008, there was no name between "Mahaley" and "Meatoga."
"It was a numbers game," UH head coach Greg McMackin said of McKay's omission the past training camp.
McKay and McMackin then met.
"He told me how important football was to him," McMackin recalled. "I told him what his role would be, and he was OK with that. I let him on the team. I thought, if it means that much to him, we'll work it out."
McKay said: "I love football. Even though it's just practice, I enjoy it."
Mel deLaura, the strength and conditioning coach, said McKay never misses a training session.
"He works hard in everything he does," deLaura said.
While McKay has had bouts of frustration, he has no regrets.
"I didn't want to play at a small school," McKay said. "I wanted to see if I could make it in Division I. I didn't, but now I know. I would have kicked myself my entire life if I had gone to Southern Oregon or something."
McKay said Warrior membership comes with privileges.
"The way I look at it, I get to go to football games for free, I met a bunch of cool friends, and I got to hang out on Bourbon Street (at the Sugar Bowl) for a few nights," McKay said. "Most of all, I love Hawai'i. And my teammates are my friends, my brothers. I have no regrets. I'd do it again."
McKay said he has "huge loans" to pay for school. He also has worked as a delivery man for Papa John's Pizza. "It's a great job," McKay said. "I drive around and listen to music."
He also waited for The Call.
"There's this one fabled story," McKay said. "The people who own John Deere, their kid lives in Kailua. He'll drop a hundred bucks on you (for a tip). I never got the big fish."
As for his unique nickname, it came from former UH head coach June Jones. It was based on McKay's fair complexion.
"I've never been able to tan," said McKay, who often goes to Makapu'u to bodysurf. "I go from red to white to red to white."
McKay was in his "white" period during a video session.
"Coach (Jones) goes, 'Hey, Snowflake, no white socks,' " McKay recalled. "After that, everyone started calling me Snowflake."
SENIOR ROLL CALL
Here's this year's senior class, with comments from McMackin:
Keith AhSoon: "He's very talented. He's humble. He's a great person. It's great to have him back (from an injury) to finish his senior season."
C.J. Allen-Jones, defensive end: "He's been a linebacker, and this year he's played defensive end. He's an excellent pass-rusher. He has great speed. He's tough. He's a family man. He's very smart. He's a class person with a great family."
Aaron Bain, right slotback: "He's very consistent. He's very humble. He's a great person who has made a lot of plays."
Alonzo Chopp, running back: "He's been an excellent member in his Warrior career. He's a good person."
Jameel Dowling, left cornerback: "He's a hard-working, great athlete. He has a super attitude. He's having a very successful season. And he worked hard in the classroom."
Solomon Elimimian, linebacker: "He's an outstanding leader and player, with great passion."
David Farmer, running back: "He's big, physical. He's a great blocker and a good runner. He's an excellent leader and person."
Guyton Galdeira, defensive back: "It's good to have Guyton back (following his acting/dancing career). He's a great contributor. He has a big heart. He's tough. He's a true Warrior."
Tim Grasso, punter: "He's another MVP type. He's been outstanding in giving us good field position. He's smart. He's a team leader."
Tyler Graunke, quarterback: "Tyler has contributed greatly to the winning ways of Warrior football in the past five seasons. He's very talented, and he's a good person."
Jake Ingram, long-snapper: "Jake Ingram is another one of our best athletes. He can play many positions on our football team. He's going to play in the NFL for years. You can always depend on Jake, and he's a great leader."
Tyson Kafentzis, outside linebacker: "He comes from a great family tradition. He's made many contributions in his career."
Dan Kelly, placekicker: "Dan has won many games for us with his kicking. He's very smart. He's a good athlete. He's been an outstanding Warrior."
Fale Laeli, defensive tackle: "Great contributions to Sugar Bowl and Hawai'i Bowl seasons. He's tough, aggressive. But he's very humble, and he has a great sense of humor."
Adam Leonard, outside linebacker: "Adam Leonard is a big-time playmaker and person."
Josh Leonard, defensive tackle: "Tough, hard-nosed, physical, quick. He's a big-time producer in the past two years."
Daniel Libre, running back: "He's been a solid running back who has made many plays for us in the last two years. He's tough, physical and quick. He works hard. He's a great person."
Dylan Linkner, wideout: "He's been a valuable member of our football program, and he's a great person. He's a leader. He's helped us to two bowl games."
Francis Maka, defensive tackle: "I'm glad the NCAA allowed him to play. He has a great heart. He never gave up in trying to play his senior season. He's been a big-time contributor the last two years. And he's a great person."
Keao Monteilh, safety: "Keao is a very instinctive, quality person. He's a big play-maker. And he has a great family."
Ryan Mouton, defensive back: "He's the best athlete on the team. He's a great person. He's very tough mentally. And he's smart."
Nate Nasca, slotback: "He has great speed. It's unfortunate he had only one year (of UH eligibility). He's been a valuable member of the team."
Khevin Peoples, running back: "Khevin Peoples has made a great contribution to the success of our program on special teams, offense and overall leadership."
Ryan Perry, cornerback: "Ryan is a true Warrior. He has helped any way he can to get the Warriors ready to play on Saturdays. He's an excellent leader, and an excellent scholar. He's someone fellow players and fans can look up to."
Dane Porlas, safety: "Dane Porlas is an excellent athlete who has contributed the Warriors' success ever since he's been here. He's really a good person."
Calvin Roberts, right cornerback: "He's an over-achiever who has reached excellence in his game. He's an excellent student, and a super person."
Erik Robinson, safety: "E-Rob is a physical, strong, excellent player, and a great person."
Jake Santos, quarterback: "He's a quality guy, and a leader in his own right. He's a very good athlete. He'll be a good coach in the future."
Keoni Steinhoff, right tackle: "Keoni is very consistent, very steady. He started the last two years in bowl seasons. He could be the most consistent player on the team."
Desmond Thomas, safety: "He's an outstanding player and family man, with great character. He makes big plays."
Clarence "Lafu" Tuioti-Mariner, right guard: "Lafu has been very consistent, and hard-working. He's quick. He's had a great season."
David Veikune, defensive end: "He's had the best season in 2008. He's going to play for many years. He's a big-time player, with a big-time motor. He's a class act. He's very humble."
Michael Washington, left slotback: "He's patient. He's made big plays. He's helped improve us this year to Hawai'i Bowl standards."
Keala Watson, defensive tackle: "Tough, physical, smart. He's an outstanding person."
Visit Tsai's blog at http://warriorbeat.honadvblogs.com.
Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.
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