Feature on walk ons Quentin Beaver and Les Soloai

HA Note: "Two opposites have been attractions during the University of Hawai'i football team's offseason conditioning sessions. Defensive tackle Quentin Beaver and defensive end Les Soloai have drawn raves for their workouts. The Warriors open spring training March 31. Both players have polar backgrounds. Beaver played for Kahuku High, one of the state's football powers. Soloai said the next game of organized football will be his first. Beaver recently completed a 2 1/2-year church mission in Boston. Soloai was born in New Zealand and raised in Australia. Beaver speaks in a soft voice. Soloai speaks with an Australian accent. But both have demonstrated enough raw skills that will enable them to compete for playing time."

About how he regularly lifts 405 pounds (and reportedly bench pressed more than 500 pounds), the 6'1", 330-pound Beaver said:
"I haven't maxed out for a while." (HA)

HA Note: "During last month's tryouts for walk-ons, he benched 225 pounds 32 times."

About how he was limited to push-ups and crunches during his mission, Beaver said:
"Mostly, it was cold, so we didn't want to go out and run. I came back a little out of shape. I'm working to get it back." (HA)

Beaver chose UH because:
"I wanted to stay home, play in front of my family and friends. And it's cheaper." (HA)

HA Note: "Soloai, who is married, walked away from a basketball scholarship to join the Warriors as a walk-on. Soloai, who is 6 feet 4 and 290 pounds, was recruited to play for the Brigham Young-Hawai'i basketball team. But he suffered a knee injury, and while undergoing treatment, he spoke with a doctor who also helped the UH football team. After hearing about the Warriors, Soloai decided he wanted to try out. At first, Soloai was prepared to compete on the offensive line. But yesterday morning he worked out with the defensive ends."

About how Soloai is a great athlete, Mel deLaura (who is coordinating UH's offseason conditioning program) said:
"Physically, he can play any sport." (HA)

About how Soloai is amazing at all of the various Super Game competitions, deLaura said:
"All of those games we play, he's the MVP. Water polo, dodgeball — you name it, he can do it. He's a big-time athlete, and he's getting bigger and stronger." (HA)

HA Note: "Associate head coach Rich Miano likened Soloai to former UH defensive lineman Colin Scotts."

Praising Soloai, Rich Miano said:
"What you're looking for in an athlete, he possesses all of those things. It's Ikaika Alama-Francis all over again. This guy is a good athlete. He has a chance." (HA)

About how he played rugby but not football in Australia, Soloai said:
"I'm just learning the game. I've seen it on TV before." (HA)

HA Note: "When he first arrived in Hawai'i last year, he admitted to "not knowing a thing about" football."

About how he didn't know much about football, Soloai said:
"I knew it was big with fans here. I didn't know much at all about it." (HA)

About how teammates have been helpful in teaching him about the game, Soloai said:
"It's coming along." (HA)

HA Note: "Most of all, it has been an adjustment for his wife, who still attends BYUH. The couple lives in a UH dormitory, and his wife makes the roundtrip commute every weekday."