The former University of Hawaii football player who launched a thousand nightmares for opposing offensive coordinators could not contain his emotions.
His eyes moistened, Al Noga whispered: "I’m humbled. Very humbled."
At the end of Thursday’s UH practice, Noga was introduced as the honorary captain for Saturday’s homecoming game against Colorado State at Aloha Stadium.
"UH is the reason I saw the world," said Noga, a Farrington High graduate. "When the scholarship was given to me, that was the best thing that ever happened to me in my life. All the other things afterward happened because of the scholarship."
Noga was named to the Associated Press’ All-America first team in 1987. He was the Minnesota Vikings’ third-round pick in the 1988 draft, and played seven seasons in the NFL.
UH coach Norm Chow said that during his 40-year coaching career, Noga was one of three opposing defensive linemen who forced Chow’s staffs to change their usual blocking schemes. Chow said Dwight Freeney and Noga’s older brother, Falaniko "Niko" Noga, were the other two.
"You couldn’t block them the way you would normally block a scheme," said Chow, who faced Noga as Brigham Young’s play-caller.
After a one-sided loss, UTEP coach Bob Stull said the Miners were "Noganized."
Fullerton State coach Gene Murphy noted that Noga appeared to be from another planet.
Told that, Noga said, "I’m from Planet Kalihi."
Noga is proud of his Kalihi roots and his older sibling, who was the first of four Nogas to earn a UH scholarship.
"My brother Niko is the one I give all the glory to," Noga said. "The school never would have gone after the rest of us."
Noga recalled growing up in a public-housing project in Kalihi. He said he had to walk past people drinking alcohol or using drugs.
"You see that every day," Noga recalled. "You just say, ‘Hello, how are you doing?’ And you move on. Growing up in housing made me work even harder."
Despite his older brother’s success, Noga said he did not imagine he would one day attend college.
"I wanted to do the best I could do in high school," Noga said. "The next level is just extra credit from the man upstairs. It’s hard to get a scholarship. I give thanks to (former UH) coach (Dick) Tomey. He’s the reason the Noga brothers played here."
Noga came back to earn a bachelor’s degree in 2005.
Despite his football success, Noga has not been inducted into UH’s Circle of Honor. But after Thursday’s practice, he was honored in the middle of a circle of UH players.
"I love this school," Noga said.
Schroeder gets nod
As expected, Chow named Sean Schroeder as the Rainbow Warriors’ starting quarterback against Colorado State.
Chow said there will be roles crafted for quarterbacks Ikaika Woolsey and Taylor Graham.
