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Tigers shake off loss, focus on
Tualatin
NHS boys take home third-place
Buckaroos take care of opposition,
claim pair of wins
Bucks rock Mountaineers, 54-14
Tigers remain undefeated in Pac-9
Chehalem team to vie for waterpolo
championship
| Getting
into the big time |
Former NHS player Joe Hernandez is adjusting to
life as a college student-athlete |
By B. Scott Andreson, Newberg
Graphic sports editor
E-mail Scott at banderson@eaglenewspapers.com
|
 If there’s one thing Joe Hernandez must do, it’s become a little
meaner.
As a graduate of Newberg High School last year, the 6-5, 305-pound offensive
lineman for the Northern Arizona University football team has been working to get into a
full-time position at left tackle. The soft-spoken Hernandez said that coaches are trying
to change him a little to that end.
“It’s not high school anymore,” he said. “You just
can’t take crap from anyone and you’ve got to be a lot meaner. You can’t
just push, you’ve got to drive (defensive linemen).”
Hernandez was an imposing threat to defensive lineman last year as a Tiger.
After suffering a foot injury early in the season, he came back and was rewarded with
second team all-conference honors for his play. But with Hernandez living in a new town
and playing on a new team, there are adjustments to be made.
“As any freshmen coming in there’s a huge leap to the collegiate
level,” said Chris Wiesehan, the NAU offensive line coach. “Joe, physically, is
a very capable person. As his techniques and fundamentals continue to develop, his
progress will go along that rout.”
On Saturday, Hernandez, who said he continues to keep in contact with
Newberg’s football team, and his Lumberjack teammates traveled to Portland to take on
the Portland State University Vikings, the No. 22-ranked team in NCAA 1-AA football. NAU
dominated the Vikings and handed Portland State its first home shutout since 1989 with a
23-0 shutout. Coming in, NAU opened its season with a 44-3 win over St. Mary’s, but
then suffered a loss to the Pac-10 Conference’s Arizona State, 34-14.
Hernandez didn’t play in the squad’s first two games, but got on
the field on three different drives with less than eight minutes remaining vs. PSU.
Hernandez had planned to redshirt this season, but with a lack of depth at
his position and the team’s starting left tackle, Sean Funke, injuring his knee,
Hernandez won’t be able to redshirt this season. Now, he’ll be prepared to play
regular minutes.
“I should (play more) now because I burned up my redshirt tonight
because the left tackle kind of tweaked his knee, so I’ll be playing probably more
now that they know they can just use me whenever,” he said.
Moving from Newberg to Flagstaff, Ariz., wasn’t as big of a jump as
Hernandez thought it would be. Newberg, with an approximate population of 19,000
isn’t much different than the city of Flagstaff, a town of almost 46,000 residents.
“It’s not that bad,” he said. “Flagstaff is a lot bigger,
but it’s kind of like a small town.”
Getting used to the new city is one thing, getting used to the new style of play is
another. Hernandez said in practice, playing against guys who are older and know more
tricks of the trade is a something he’s getting used to.
“It’s not that bad,” he said. “They’re like older
brothers. When we’re playing against each other, it’s a little harder because
they have a lot more experience than I do.”
But with more and more time, Hernandez is gaining invaluable experience.
Wiesehan said he’s already noticed an improved focus in film work, detail work,
technique and pass protection from Hernandez.
“He’s come to understand the idea of being focused,” Wiesehan
said. “I think his level of competitiveness has really come out. Every drill at this
level you have to go all out. He’s a very physical young man that has made great
strides all ready.”
Wiesehan said Hernandez has the tools to be an impact player.
“The future is what Joe makes of it,” he said. “He’s got
the work ethic to be a great player.” |
|
From Sept. 24,
2003, Newberg Graphic
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