Feature Story on Brashton Satele

About serving as a counselor at the Game Plan Academy last week, Brashton Satele said:
"When I was in camp, I was always trying to impress the coaches, trying to get looks and get opportunities to play football -- and I got it from UH." (HSB)

HSB Note: "It wasn't so long ago that Satele was among the eager youngsters participating in the Game Plan Hawaii Football Academy. He returned to the camp at Aloha Stadium last week, this time as a counselor passing along tips on playing linebacker and insight on the path to college ball."

HSB Note: "Satele comes from a line of UH athletes, as his father, Alvis, played linebacker in the 1980s, and his mother, LeeAnn (Pestana), won two national titles with the Rainbow Wahine volleyball team. With the close-knit family forming his foundation, Brashton plans to take a rare break from his summer training today -- after all, it's mom's birthday."

About taking a break from training today because it is his Mom's birthday, Brashton said:
"(Family) means everything to me. I'd be lost without her." (HSB)


About sprinting after cars ever since high school as part of his speed training, Brashton said:
"I just race them like I'm chasing a running back or receiver." (HSB)

Asked what kind of reaction he gets from the cars he chases, Brashton said:
"They look at me kind of weird sometimes. Some of them do (get scared). That's good, though. When they push on the gas, that's better for me." (HSB)

HSB Note: "His days this summer often begin with a lifting session on the UH campus at 6:30 a.m., followed by running with his Warriors teammates. Three afternoons a week are devoted to 7-on-7 drills. When that's done, he'll often take his work home. He might go for a mile run, turn the living room into a personal exercise center, or chase passing motorists in a 30-yard sprint up the incline fronting his family's house."

About her son Brashton, LeeAnn Satele said:
"He cannot keep still. From the time he gets up in the morning, he's working out. Before he goes to sleep at night, he's running or jumping rope or doing something." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Entering his fourth year in the UH program, Satele has no shortage of fuel for his 'round-the-clock routine. For one, there's the ticking of his collegiate clock. Since coming out of Word of Life in 2005, Satele redshirted his first year and contributed primarily on special teams the past two seasons, his progress at linebacker hampered by a string of nagging injuries. He registered five tackles in 12 games last fall while nursing hamstring and shoulder ailments, but enjoyed a healthy run at spring drills while backing up Solomon Elimimian at inside linebacker. He's also picking up tips on playing the outside spots this summer in hopes that his versatility will lead to a more prominent role in a deep linebacker corps come fall."

About how he's been waiting for playing time, Brashton said:
"I've been waiting -- hopefully this is my time to get out there and make some plays in front of the fans. Two more years, I have to show what I've got. ... That's why I keep busting my butt every morning." (HSB)

Impressed with Brashton's hard work between their Sugar Bowl game and the start of spring practice, Mack said:
"I saw him just work out constantly. He worked to get faster, he worked to get stronger, he worked to improve his body. This is something that's important to him. I think (UH defensive coordinator/linebackers coach) Cal Lee has done a great job of coaching him and having him grow as a linebacker. ... He's one of our top linebackers right now, so we have to get him on the playing field." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Thoughts of the Warriors' season-opening meeting with Florida also bounce Satele out of bed each morning. The Gators are, after all, the nation's top-ranked team -- according to several preseason publications -- led by Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow."

About how the Florida game motivates him, even though it is nearly 2 months away, Brashton said:
Though the afternoon of Aug. 30 in the sweltering Swamp remains nearly two months off, "it's a couple days away to me. I just feel like it's coming up really fast. When you think you can't run any more, you have to push through. You want to be dying in workouts, not during the game. Every morning I think, 'What are Tebow and the Gators doing?' It wakes me up every day, just keeps me pushing." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Over his first three years at UH, Satele has had to push through numerous physical aches and the accompanying frustration. But he has ready resources in dealing with the ups and downs of college athletics. His parents each carved out a successful career in Manoa. His dad, Alvis Satele, was a standout linebacker in the 1980s. LeeAnn, then Pestana, won two national championships with the Rainbow Wahine volleyball team."

About Brashton, LeeAnn Satele said:
"We want him to create his own identity and he is. He takes on a lot of traits of his dad, real friendly, a people person, works hard. He really respects his dad and what he has done there. But at the same time his dad pushes him to create his own identity." (HSB)