Feature article on C.J. Hawthorne

NOLA = New Orleans Times-Picayune

About how he and his wife will miss Hawaii, Hawthorne said:
"Tina teared up more than I did. But we were both a little sad about leaving because we know how much we're going to miss Hawaii. I see a lot of aspects of life totally different now." (NOLA)

NOLA Note: "C.J., a senior wide receiver for Hawaii, his wife Tina and almost 2-year-old son Kobe were all aboard the Warriors' team plane, which left late Tuesday for New Orleans, arriving Wednesday morning in preparation for the Allstate Sugar Bowl on Tuesday night at the Superdome. Fortuitously enough, the Warriors' bowl trip brings them almost home as well. They are from Ocean Springs, Miss. Tina and Kobe won't be returning to Hawaii, having sold or given away everything that couldn't be packed into four suitcases. Tina will be enrolling in nursing school in Mobile, Ala. C.J. will go back to play in the Jan. 12 Hula Bowl, but then he'll be coming to the mainland to prepare himself for the NFL draft combine."

About the different lifestyle in Hawaii, Hawthorne said:
"Everybody here is so laid back and stress-free. It's so good to be around people who love each other as much as they do here. It's unbelievable, both for athletes and families in general." (NOLA)

NOLA Note: "Into what he calls "doing a lot of silly stuff" while growing up in Mississippi, Hawthorne has matured, first because of the responsibilities of family (Kobe was born Jan. 5, 2006, three days before C.J. left for Hawaii) but also because of a different lifestyle on the islands."

About how C.J. has become a better person in Hawaii, Tina, his high school sweethear (St. Martin High) and wife since last December, said:
"He's become a lot more church-oriented. He looks more into the future and doesn't live in the present so much. All of his decisions now reflect on his family. He's a much better person." (NOLA)

NOLA Note: "In Honolulu, the Hawthornes belonged to the Tree of Life Church where he became active in youth work."

About the changes in him, Hawthorne said:
"First, I had to learn how to become obedient to God and how to show His love. I got to where I really enjoyed talking to kids. Even just giving an autograph can make a difference. We get so wrapped up in things that we forget about the important things in life." (NOLA)

NOLA Note: "As a player, Hawthorne has developed from a lightly recruited prospect from Mississippi Gulf Coast Junior College, to a someone used on defense and special teams last season because the Warriors were overstocked at wide receiver, to an integral part of the nation's most prolific passing game."

About how Hawthorne scares defenses with his speed, Colt said:
"A lot of attention goes to our two inside guys. But C.J. and Jason (Rivers) are the reason they can't double up on our inside receivers. C.J.'s the fastest guy on our team, and on deep vertical routes he really scares the defenses. If they come up and press too much, he's going to blow by them." (NOLA)

Praising Hawthorne, JJ said:
"C.J. has really come on strong. I really wish he had another year in our system because he could be really, really special." (NOLA)

NOLA Note: "Hawthorne came to Hawaii basically on a whim, taking an official visit because the other schools recruiting him -- Troy and Marshall -- weren't exactly glamour spots."

About how he wasn't serious when he initially went on his recruiting trip to UH, Hawthorne said:
"I figured it was a chance to see Hawaii. But then when I got out there, it was so beautiful I couldn't believe it. I came back home and talked to my coaches. They said it's a great place and they want you while everybody else is just toying around with you. I'm glad I listened to my coaches." (NOLA)

About how he learned to read coverages when he played CB last year, Hawthorne said:
"On every play, we have to read coverages, and I learned all about different kinds of coverages, especially man to man. My speed helped me make up for what I didn't know." (NOLA)

About UH's offense, Hawthorne said:
"This is an offense like no other. We don't call that many plays specifically designed for one person, so 98 percent of the time you have a chance to catch the ball. Now we're all competitive about catching the ball, but that drives us to be even better. It's just a great feeling to be a part of something like this." (NOLA)

About how he loves the big family that the Warriors are, Hawthorne said:
"They have a very family-oriented culture that's full of love and strength. That makes for a great football team." (NOLA)

NOLA Note: "Hawthorne spent his first season at Hawaii without Tina and Kobe, but they joined him last December, just in time for their wedding."

About how she didn't like being in Hawaii at first, Tina said:
"At first I didn't like it and wanted to go back to Mississippi. But people were so kind and helpful. The fans are wonderful. They'll want their picture made with C.J. and kids will tell him that he's their role model. He can't believe that just his signature can put a smile on people's faces like that." (NOLA)

NOLA Note: "But all things come to an end, and now the Hawthornes are back at home, Tina and Kobe for good, C.J. in another couple of weeks. In addition to preparing for the Sugar Bowl, C.J. said he plans to play tour guide this week. But there's one thing he's a little embarrassed about -- the beaches of the Mississippi Gulf Coast pale in comparison to those in Hawaii."

About how the beaches in Hawaii are far better than the ones in Mississippi, Hawthorne said:
"The water in Hawaii is so blue, the sand has a different texture and the waves are so powerful. We don't have any waves like that in Mississippi. Our beaches look like a big pond sometimes. Even if I make it in the NFL, life is never going to be like it was for us in Hawaii." (NOLA)