Extra Work Pays off for Hanada

Definitely after practice. When a game is finished. Heck, even when a soccer match is being played on the practice fields, Hidetora Hanada was hard at work.

On a craft which was new to him just eight months ago. To a sport which was as foreign to him as he was to the United States. The sumo champion was determined to bridge the gap between himself and his teammates who grew up playing football.

Especially to see game action, which he finally did on a snowy Saturday night at Canvas Stadium. A nose guard, he entered in the second half and registered three assisted tackles against Air Force.

"I was so excited. That was fun," Hanada said. "That felt good. Really good."

He came to Fort Collins a bit of a novelty, having won an amateur national championship in sumo wrestling back home, being introduced to football less than a year ago. His athleticism was undeniable however, and getting a recommendation from a trusted source, Colorado State defensive line coach Buddha Williams was more than happy to take the chance.

Ever since, his teammates have been fascinated by his willingness to put in the work, take advice and then work some more.

"Hanada has become one of our brothers. We love Hanada,' safety Henry Blackburn said. "He works hard; he works as hard as anybody on the team, and it showed up this past game against Air Force, he was out there making plays, getting reps, and that's a tough game for an interior D-lineman to start in. He had a great game. It's showing up the work he's putting in. You can see it and he's our guy. We love him."

It's not just the work he puts in, but when he puts in the work. Late at night, possibly after team meetings. Saturday, after seeing his first game action, he was back on the field after many of his teammates were dressed and gone. He was in uniform, setting cones down on a snow-covered field in an effort to improve.

That wasn't the first time, either. Recalling the times, head coach Jay Norvell can do nothing but smile.

"He's just an amazing kid. Just being so far from home and really learning a new sport and playing American football," Norvell said. "Just his dedication, it's mind-blowing really. I've been around a lot of dedicated players. I was with the Oakland Raiders and Jerry Rice, and he used to be the last guy off the practice field all the time, but I've never quit seen anything like Hanada. I was up here a few weeks ago, and we're usually the last ones to leave on game day. He was on the practice field, I don't know, an hour-and-a-half, two hours after the game with his pads on, going through cones. Last weekend he was out there in the snow practicing. I've had several players tell me they get done with study table at 9:30, 10 o'clock at night and he'll be out there on the practice field with his cones, his helmet and his pads on doing drills. He's just such a unique kid, and he's worked very hard to make the transition to go to school here. He's just done a fabulous job."

That's part of the routine, taking the cones on the field and working on his footwork and mobility, doing swim moves – everything he's already done in practice. When the soccer team played its first match on the practice fields, as most of the crowd was looking west at the play on the field, Hanada was in his helmet up against the east fence, using the practice dummies as he put in a good hour of work while most in attendance took little notice.

He doesn't understand what it means to play "catch-up" but that's exactly what he's trying to do.

"I usually do a lot. I run the field, I do cone drills and try to improve my skills," he said. "Also, my agility. I usually do some work, some fundamental training.

"I have less experience with football. I have to do extra practice than other players."

Week by week, he's gradually improved, making it more tempting for the coaching staff to get him in a game. Norvell said the Air Force contest was nearly ideally suited for him, considering his sumo skills naturally keep him low to the ground to get under an offensive lineman.

Center Jacob Gardner has experienced it firsthand in practice.

"He has a lot of body awareness. He understands pressure points and where to put his hands and how to move, when to snag," Gardner said. "He's pretty talented. Like I said, he has great body awareness and as an offensive lineman, he kind of forces you to stick to your fundamentals and make sure you've always got your base under you."

Now Hanada has a base of his own, but he wants more. Which is why he was back on the field so long after the game ended.

He played 19 snaps in the game, giving aid to a defensive line which spent a ton of time in the trenches against an intricate run game. This week's contest with Wyoming will feature another team with an intent to pound on the Rams via the rush. It was his first game, which Norvell expects to be a starting point.

"I believe so," he said. "Now that he's got his feet wet a little bit, I think he's a guy we'll continue to use on defense."

And a guy who will continue to put in the extra work, even deep into the night.

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