Right place, right time
Right place, right time
(Reposted from WarriorsHaka.com, 6/18/2007)
(Reposted from WarriorsHaka.com, 6/18/2007)
I had just completed my Statement of Objectives for the PhD program in Exceptionalities from the Department of Special Education. What a long and draining process that was...And I was expecting a break after completing my M.Ed. in Guidance and Counseling?! Who was I kidding?!
I felt bad not being around the football office. After all, I was given the chance of a lifetime. I will be a Graduate Assistant for the Warriors this season! It still seems surreal just to say that! In any case, I hadn't been in that office for a good week, as I focused on getting my application in by June 15. I knew it had to be good. I WILL get into the program.
I took the 5 minute stroll down to lower campus after receiving a friendly message from Coach Jeff Reinebold, asking me where the heck I was?!
"Do you still love football?" Jeff asked me.
"Jeff, you know I love football! I was busy getting my application in to the PhD program."
"B, you know you're gonna get in, don't even worry about it! Just get your ass down here so we can get better!"
With that, I knew I had been away for too long! I missed seeing my friends, my buddies, the Warrior ohana. I immediately see Coach Dennis McKnight, exiting his office, which has a curtain made of wood stranded together.
"Hey buddy nice to see you, haven't seen you in ages!" Dennis says to me.
We shook hand and I found my way into Jeff's office. "Hey, look who's here! Boy, B I thought I would have to call the Missing Person's office to come find you!"
We exchange pleasantries and we sit and look at some video on a potential recruit. "Boy, that guy can lay some major wood," I said to Jeff.
"Yep, he's definitely a player!"
Kekoa, Jeff's son, comes in. "B! My main man. How are you doing?! I haven't seen you in ages!"
Okay, I definitely WAS away too long....
Na Koa was having a fundraiser that night. I had no plans to go, I thought I'd enjoy a quiet night at home. "Hey B, are you going to this magic show tonight?"
"No, I wasn't planning to go."
"Why don't you come along with me," Jeff says, "all the coaches are going."
"Okay, I'll make it down there!"
Right about that time, Kekoa remembers how fun my office is at upper campus, one that I share with a professor, Dr. James Skouge, in Special Education. The office looks feels like a different realm, as there are no high lights on, only simple lamps with artwork from the Pacific decorating the walls. In the office we have a gaming system, which rarely gets used, except during the summer months. Kekoa asks if he can come back to my office with me.
Approximately 30 minutes is spent with him trying to convince his dad that he would be fine if he wasn't dropped off at home before the fundraiser. Of course, Kekoa wins the battle. Children have an uncanny ability to make illogical things seem like perfect sense!
Kekoa and I spend the rest of the afternoon having a grand time being kids! I enjoy his company and he views me as a "big brother," which is cool since I've always wanted a brother but ended up with twin-sisters (who are great, by the way!).
.....................
The fundraiser was a great experience. There were so many Warrior fans there, who are so very passionate about this team, this ohana! No other program inAmerica
During the mixer before the magic show in the Magic of Polynesia showroom by John Hirokawa, Jeff and I sit and enjoy pupus together. A young man comes up, and introduces himself as the pastor of a church in Kapolei. He mentions something to the effect of enjoying the story that was in the newspaper about Jeff, Coach Jerry Glanville, and I last December. It really impacted him to see how much of a friendship and genuine love for one another we shared, and how fortunate we both were. Jeff and I could not have agreed more.
Then the pre-show began. Coach June Jones showed a DVD that he shares with recruits that highlights the pounding we put on BYU a couple years ago. Chad Owens was truly "Mighty Mouse" on that day, Nick Rolovich could not make a bad throw, and Pisa Tinoisamoa made the BYU QB wish he hadn't set foot on Aloha Stadium's turf. The crowd cheered as they watched this video on a screen.
Chicken skin!
The video ends and Coach Jones starts introducing the next DVD, and he stops and says, "Where's Brian? Come up here, B." I make my way up to the front, weaving through the crowd, as Coach Jones introduces me, ending with "Brian will be a GA with us this year." I still haven't got used to hearing that! The audience enjoyed a little highlight video of the 2007 recruits, which I produced using highlights from each recruit. It was surreal watching this video in front of fans, who cheered as new Warriors showed what they could do this year and years to come.
Chicken skin!
The magic show was great. John Hirokawa did an amazing job in providing a wonderful variety of entertainment, combining magic with Polynesian traditions, like hula, Tahitian dance, and fire knife dancing.
After a long day, I finally got home and took time to reflect upon my day. I was at the right place, at the right time, again.
I felt bad not being around the football office. After all, I was given the chance of a lifetime. I will be a Graduate Assistant for the Warriors this season! It still seems surreal just to say that! In any case, I hadn't been in that office for a good week, as I focused on getting my application in by June 15. I knew it had to be good. I WILL get into the program.
I took the 5 minute stroll down to lower campus after receiving a friendly message from Coach Jeff Reinebold, asking me where the heck I was?!
"Do you still love football?" Jeff asked me.
"Jeff, you know I love football! I was busy getting my application in to the PhD program."
"B, you know you're gonna get in, don't even worry about it! Just get your ass down here so we can get better!"
With that, I knew I had been away for too long! I missed seeing my friends, my buddies, the Warrior ohana. I immediately see Coach Dennis McKnight, exiting his office, which has a curtain made of wood stranded together.
"Hey buddy nice to see you, haven't seen you in ages!" Dennis says to me.
We shook hand and I found my way into Jeff's office. "Hey, look who's here! Boy, B I thought I would have to call the Missing Person's office to come find you!"
We exchange pleasantries and we sit and look at some video on a potential recruit. "Boy, that guy can lay some major wood," I said to Jeff.
"Yep, he's definitely a player!"
Kekoa, Jeff's son, comes in. "B! My main man. How are you doing?! I haven't seen you in ages!"
Okay, I definitely WAS away too long....
Na Koa was having a fundraiser that night. I had no plans to go, I thought I'd enjoy a quiet night at home. "Hey B, are you going to this magic show tonight?"
"No, I wasn't planning to go."
"Why don't you come along with me," Jeff says, "all the coaches are going."
"Okay, I'll make it down there!"
Right about that time, Kekoa remembers how fun my office is at upper campus, one that I share with a professor, Dr. James Skouge, in Special Education. The office looks feels like a different realm, as there are no high lights on, only simple lamps with artwork from the Pacific decorating the walls. In the office we have a gaming system, which rarely gets used, except during the summer months. Kekoa asks if he can come back to my office with me.
Approximately 30 minutes is spent with him trying to convince his dad that he would be fine if he wasn't dropped off at home before the fundraiser. Of course, Kekoa wins the battle. Children have an uncanny ability to make illogical things seem like perfect sense!
Kekoa and I spend the rest of the afternoon having a grand time being kids! I enjoy his company and he views me as a "big brother," which is cool since I've always wanted a brother but ended up with twin-sisters (who are great, by the way!).
.....................
The fundraiser was a great experience. There were so many Warrior fans there, who are so very passionate about this team, this ohana! No other program in
During the mixer before the magic show in the Magic of Polynesia showroom by John Hirokawa, Jeff and I sit and enjoy pupus together. A young man comes up, and introduces himself as the pastor of a church in Kapolei. He mentions something to the effect of enjoying the story that was in the newspaper about Jeff, Coach Jerry Glanville, and I last December. It really impacted him to see how much of a friendship and genuine love for one another we shared, and how fortunate we both were. Jeff and I could not have agreed more.
Then the pre-show began. Coach June Jones showed a DVD that he shares with recruits that highlights the pounding we put on BYU a couple years ago. Chad Owens was truly "Mighty Mouse" on that day, Nick Rolovich could not make a bad throw, and Pisa Tinoisamoa made the BYU QB wish he hadn't set foot on Aloha Stadium's turf. The crowd cheered as they watched this video on a screen.
Chicken skin!
The video ends and Coach Jones starts introducing the next DVD, and he stops and says, "Where's Brian? Come up here, B." I make my way up to the front, weaving through the crowd, as Coach Jones introduces me, ending with "Brian will be a GA with us this year." I still haven't got used to hearing that! The audience enjoyed a little highlight video of the 2007 recruits, which I produced using highlights from each recruit. It was surreal watching this video in front of fans, who cheered as new Warriors showed what they could do this year and years to come.
Chicken skin!
The magic show was great. John Hirokawa did an amazing job in providing a wonderful variety of entertainment, combining magic with Polynesian traditions, like hula, Tahitian dance, and fire knife dancing.
After a long day, I finally got home and took time to reflect upon my day. I was at the right place, at the right time, again.
