As the University of Hawai‘i football program evolved into mid-major Division I status, its history became shaped largely by local players who were not even offered scholarships out of high school.

They included kids who had standout high school careers, but did not quite fit the physical profile of other top recruits.
But current UH associate head coach Rich Miano goes so far as to say Hawai‘i’s walk-on program “is the fabric of who we are.
“To me, it’s the best walk-on program in the United States.”
Miano, who played 11 seasons in the NFL, should know:
After all, he is a former UH walk-on himself.

HAVES VS. HAVE-NOTS

Nelson Maeda was an all-star defensive back at Kailua High School in the mid-1970s, and decided to join Hawai‘i’s fledgling DI program even without the benefit of a scholarship.
“I was just grateful for the opportunity to be playing at home,” Maeda said. “But right away, you were very aware of who was on scholarship and who was a walk-on. Basically, it was the difference between the ‘haves and the have-nots.’ ”
But by his senior year, Maeda earned a scholarship and eventually cracked the starting lineup at safety.
“It was such a gratifying feeling,” Maeda said.
Maeda, now in his 13th season as head coach at Castle, said his walk-on experience has had a big influence on the way he treats his players.
“You enter coaching with a different perspective,” Maeda said. “You know how it is to have to work your way up.”

PASSION, HEART

Miano’s is perhaps the ultimate walk-on story.
He was an all-star defensive back at Kaiser, but did not receive a single scholarship offer.
“None. Nobody,” Miano said.
But at UH, he literally worked his way into the starting lineup and became an All-Western Athletic Conference safety before embarking on a lengthy NFL career.
“Hawai‘i kids can’t always measure up when it comes to size or stats, but we’re passionate and play with a lot of heart,” said Miano, who now runs UH’s walk-on program. “And the walk-ons are usually the hardest working guys on the team.”

BUILDING CHARACTER

David Stant was an all-star defensive lineman at Kahuku in 1980, but at 5 feet 10, 195 pounds, he had zero scholarship offers.
So he entered the work force for a short time before serving a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Stant then resumed his football career at Yuma (Ariz.) Junior College, earning all-conference honors.
“But I wanted to come home,” Stant said.
As a UH walk-on, like Maeda, Stant started at the bottom of the depth chart and quickly learned the social hierarchy of scholarship players vs. walk-ons.
“You’re not treated like a blue-chipper, you have to put up with so much more,” Stant said. “But it makes you so much stronger, it builds character, because you’re either going to quit or become a better man. They put me on the o-line, scout team, and we had to go up against guys like (All-American nose guard) Al Noga.
“But we never backed down.”
Stant said working so hard without concrete rewards tested his patience, and “a couple of times I wanted to quit.
“But I didn’t, because I loved football so much.”
His senior year, 1989, UH suffered several injuries on the defensive line, and defensive coordinator Rich Ellerson told Stant, “If you wanna play, here’s your chance.”
Stant, by then a chiseled 236 pounds, earned not just a starting position at defensive tackle but a scholarship as well.
“When my break came, I was ready, and all my hard work paid off,” Stant said. “It was like a dream come true.”
Stant is now the head coach at Kamehameha, where he tries to instill the values he learned as a walk-on and give opportunities to players who work extra hard.
“That’s how our philosophy is,” Stant said. “We have players who maybe should be starting but are not because they’re not hungry, and we have players who maybe wouldn’t be starting but are because they are hungrier.
“So long as you work hard, we’ll find a way to get you some playing time.”

‘A DREAM FULFILLED’

Coming out of Hilo High in 1985, Sean Saturnio was bound for small college football and ended up at Division III Beloit (Wisc.) College.
But after two relatively successful seasons, he “had an itch” to come home and play for Division I Hawai‘i.
As a 5-7, 169-pound slotback, however, Saturnio had to start out at the bottom as a walk-on.
“On the scout team, you don’t even get a real jersey — you get a yellow practice jersey,” Saturnio said. “Nobody knows who you are, nothing is given to you. It really teaches you humility and appreciation, and perseverance.”
Saturnio never did earn a scholarship, but by his senior year he did earn a spot on the game roster, an experience he describes as “a pinch-me moment.”
“Coming from the Big Island, it was every kid’s dream to be a part of UH football,” Saturnio said. “So the first time I saw my white jersey with the green number (39) hanging in my locker, it was a dream fulfilled.”
Saturnio now is the head coach at Waipahu, where he preaches the virtues of hard work, teamwork and compassion.
“Being a former walk-on allows me to have a more empathetic view,” Saturnio said. “It makes it a lot easier for me to relate to that kid who barely made the team, who doesn’t get to play much but tries hard anyway.”
Like Stant, Saturnio said his own walk-on experience has helped shape his life.
“Going through that route, it helps me in anything I do.”

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456. Read his blog on high school sports at http://preptalk.honadvblogs.com