Feature on Mana Silva, WAC Defensive Player of the Week

HSA Note: "Associate head coach Rich Miano rehashed Silva's high school nickname of "Detour." Silva earned that handle as a Kamehameha-Hawaii quarterback who often scrambled out of bounds."


About how Tony Tuioti used to call him "The Imposter", Mana Silva said:
"Earlier in the season, I wasn't making any plays, and Coach Tony said there was someone wearing my jersey who looked like me and acted like me but didn't play like me. He called me 'The Impostor.' That got me fired up." (HSA)


HSA Note: "Once the focus of comic routines, Silva is now making interceptions routine. Silva has five interceptions in the past five games, giving him 11 for his NCAA career. He is one pick short of the school's career record set by Kelvin Millhouse and Keone Jardine."


About how the coaches have been trying to get them to play tougher in the secondary, Silva said:
"Coach Miano emphasized being more of a physical safety. In the beginning of the season, Coach Miano said (the defensive backs) were as soft as butter. We've been trying to show we're tougher." (HSA)


About his collection of B.J. Penn T-shirts (the MMA fighter and Silva are from Hilo), Silva said:
"I wear his T-shirt, and guys give me problems and issues with that. I don't think I look like him at all. He's a pretty bald guy, and I've got some hair on top. ... But I like to watch him fight." (HSA)


About how they constantly tease Silva, Rich Miano said:
"We kind of chide him a lot. We talk about B.J. Penn being from the Big Island, and how tough people are from the outer islands. We're constantly on him, challenging him to be tougher, and Mana has responded. Give him credit. He's playing at a very high level." (HSA)


Kenny Estes said that Silva:
"can hit. He makes big plays." (HSA)


About how Silva started his college career at Oregon State as a QB before moving to defense, Mack said:
"He's got such a gift for going for the football that you can't teach. He watches the eyes of the quarterback. He goes for the ball like he's a receiver. ... He's really improved at being physical." (HSA)


About how he doesn't wear gloves during practices, Silva said:
"Practicing without gloves helps a lot. When you put on the gloves, it makes it better. You get your new pair of gloves before every game, and, hopefully, they can do something magical for you. They've been working for me. It's great to have those gloves, with the brand-new smell." (HSA)


About appearing to get turned around and run in the wrong direction during his interception return against Idaho, Silva said:
"I think I get too excited.  We call it a hokey-doke. That's what we call quarterbacks when they don't really have moves and they just juke. That's what I did. I wanted to reverse fields. I looked, and didn't see an opening at all. I think I got a couple of yards." (HSA)


About teasing Silva about his interception returns, Miano said:
"He's going to set the record ... for minus return yards. We tease him about his returns. But that means he's making interceptions. He's creating opportunities for our offense. We're happy with everything he's doing for us. He's become a very good player." (HSA)


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