After completing his freshman season at Fresno City (Calif.) College, Bryant Moniz was at a crossroads in his football career. He needed to support his newborn daughter Cali, meaning football would take the backseat to financial stability.

When faced with the decision of football or work and family, Moniz chose the latter.

So Moniz focused on his career. He left California because he wanted to make sure his daughter was raised in his native Hawaii. There, he worked and took a limited number of credits at a community college.

But his passion for football never wavered. Moniz’s defensive coordinator at Leilehua (Hawaii) High School, Mark Kurisu, would often see Moniz at the school gym.

Kurisu encouraged Moniz to make the best possible decision for his family. But when Moniz and his friends from the Leilehua football team decided to play in a flag football league, Kurisu recognized a change in Moniz.

‘He said, ‘I think I want to go to school,” Kurisu said. ‘And I said, ‘If you want to go to school, go to school. We’ll support you in every way we can.”

Moniz proceeded to walk on at Hawaii, though his core value of family remains the highest priority in his life. He spread his time between delivering pizzas for Pizza Hut, doing school work, spending time with his family and playing football. And in his sophomore season, Moniz took over the starting quarterback job. He hasn’t given it up since, and Hawaii is 3-2 this season.

When Greg Alexander sustained a knee injury in a game against Louisiana Tech on Sept. 30, 2009, Alexander was lost for the remainder of the season, and Moniz never looked back.

He earned a scholarship, and in his first full season last year as a junior, Moniz led the nation in passing yards (5,040) and touchdowns (39). But ‘Mighty Mo’ has much more riding on his career than the average quarterback. He carries the weight of the state of Hawaii on his shoulders each time he takes the field. As one of the few quarterbacks to be born and raised in Hawaii, he’s at the forefront of a proud football tradition.

‘It means a lot to me because you grow up and you get to see all the guys that come through UH,’ Moniz said. ‘Being from over here, it’s kind of like playing for your hometown high school. You get to play for your state, and it’s a bigger deal, and it means a lot to me.

‘It’s exciting every week I get to suit up as a University of Hawaii Warrior. Not too much of the other local kids, quarterbacks, have played for University of Hawaii.’

Offensive coordinator Nick Rolovich defines Hawaii football as a staple of life out on the island. He said the people in the community feel invested in the team because, more than anywhere else, the players are rooted in the culture. The fans are passionate because many of them have personal relationships with the players.

And that’s why there is a lot of pressure for Moniz to succeed. As a homegrown player, the Hawaii spirit is ingrained in him. His play represents the opportunity for other players in the state.

‘You need each other to make this island run, and you rely on each other more than most places I’ve been,’ Rolovich said. ‘I don’t think he would change anything if he could.’

Today, Moniz also coaches and mentors the quarterbacks at Leilehua. He recognizes his roots and wants the youth in the community to believe they have the chance to be in the position he is right now.

For each home game, Moniz runs out of the tunnel with the Hawaiian flag on his shoulder. He plants the flag in the middle of the field, representing the pride that the players have in their community.

It’s the same sense of pride that head coach Greg McMackin preaches to his players.

‘Coach says you play for Hawaii, and that’s the name on the front of our jersey, and we play for our family, which is the name on the back of our jersey,’ Moniz said. ‘There’s a lot of pride in that. I think the biggest thing about being a local and a Hawaiian quarterback is that I hope to inspire a lot of the youth, so that they believe if I can do it, then they can do it.’

Each time Moniz steps on the field he plays for his daughter and his family. A few years ago he may have never stepped on the field again. But through five games this season, Moniz has thrown for 1,578 yards and 15 touchdowns. Now, his goal is to make a living in the NFL.

‘I think that I represent more than myself,’ Moniz said. ‘I don’t want to disappoint anybody or let anyone down.’

adtredin@syr.edu

Published on October 12, 2011 at 12:00 pm