Thursday, Oct. 9, 2003 | 10:12 a.m.
UNLV nose tackle Howie Fuimaono is an example that good things come in not-so-small packages.
At a fraction over 6-foot and weighing 320 sturdy pounds, Fuimaono takes up about as much space as your average refrigerator. But despite the fact he displayed Pac-10 type of ability at Bonita Vista High School in Chula Vista, Calif., many schools backed off recruiting him because he wasn't quite big enough for their tastes.
You read that right ... not big enough. Fuimaono apparently was a couple of inches too short for the big Division I-A schools to recruit.
"A lot of Pac-10 schools saw me on film and liked what they saw," Fuimaono said. "Then when they would come by the school to visit and they would see how short I was and that was it."
That opened the door for schools like UNLV, BYU, Utah, San Diego State and Northern Arizona. And the Rebels, thanks to some early recruiting by linebacker coach Steve Johns, ended up signing Fuimaono last February.
Any questions about Fuimaono's size have been quickly put to rest. He has already started four games for the Rebels this season even though he just turned 18 last week. And despite playing arguably the toughest position for any true freshman to come in and play at the Division I-A level, Fuimaono has acquitted himself very well against very physical offensive lines from schools like Wisconsin and Toledo.
"I think that it is quite an accomplishment for him to do that," UNLV coach John Robinson said. "When I was at USC, Gary Jeter was the only one that I remember that came in and started as a freshman like that."
No one was more surprised by that fact than Fuimaono.
"When I first saw (senior) Joe Oniwar I thought I'd redshirt," Fuimaono said.
But Oniwar injured his knee at the end of fall practice and Fuimaono suddenly found himself in the starting lineup against a veteran and physical Toledo offensive line that had simply manhandled the Rebels a year earlier in the Glass Bowl.
"Howie was pressed into (the lineup) with the injury to Joe Oniwar," Robinson said. "He's gone in there and, even with some injuries himself, has just kind of moved along and played credibly. He's quick. I think as he gets more maturity he's going to be a really outstanding player."
Oniwar returned to the starting lineup last week at Nevada-Reno but the two figure to split time at the physically demanding position the rest of the season.
"It feels good because I didn't expect coming up here to play right away," Fuimaono said. "It's taken a lot of hard work and I've also been lucky to play with a really good nose guard in Joe Oniwar. We teach each other things to make each other better."
Fuimaono already bench presses 430 pounds and has tree trunk-like legs. His lack of height may actually be a plus at nose guard where he is frequently the target of double-teams.
"A lot of people say it is better to be shorter at that position because you have a lower center of gravity," he said. "It makes it easier for you to get under pads and gain leverage."
Fuimaono and Oniwar figure to play key roles on Saturday afternoon at Air Force trying to slow down the Falcons' vaunted triple option attack. They will be partially responsible for trying to take away the fullback dive part of the option.
"Joe and he together have got to hold up in the middle," Robinson said. "That's a big issue because if the fullback gets going, then that opens up the other parts of the option against you."
Fuimaono knows he will have his work cut out for him in the Mountain West Conference opener.
"This week feels harder than any other week in practice because Air Force (cut blocks) a lot," he said. "I think it's an easier assignment for the nose guard in the option because we basically try and keep as many people that are in front of you off the linebackers so the linebackers can come up and make plays. This game Adam Seward and Ryan Claridge will make the majority of the tackles for us inside."
Fuimaono says he holds no grudges against the schools who deemed him too short to play for them. There aren't any told-you-sos.
"Nah, I just used that as extra motivation to do better and become a better football player," he said.
So far, so good.
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