Mau A Dominating Force On The Campbell Football Team
By Jack Danilewicz
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Del.icio.usDanny Mau never has to worry about whether or not younger brother Mason is in the right frame of mind to play football.
While the Campbell center may project a calming energy at home, his transformation on the football field to a cold-hearted warrior is unmistakable.
“He’s a real caring guy,” said Danny Mau. “He’s real sensitive to other people’s thoughts. He’s a big teddy bear.
“Once he puts on that helmet, though, he gets into what he calls the ‘beef mode.’ (On game day) he watches a lot of (Tennessee Titans linebacker) Ray Lewis on YouTube giving a pep talk to his teammates, and it gets him real psyched up.”
Added Mason: “When I see the guy on the other side, I want to bury him. It feels good to dominate.”
Mau has been a steady presence for Campbell’s offensive line since his sophomore year, when he was a First Team All-League selection by the OIA White Conference. He was a 5-foot-9, 230-pound lineman at that time, eating everything that wouldn’t eat him and seemingly on his way to a 300-pound plateau. That
was all fine with Mau, since NFL linemen are often in that weight range. As a youth, he gained status by being one of the bigger boys. He used to have to lose 10 to 15 pounds every August to make the weigh-ins to play Pop Warner youth football.
A visit to the doctor following his sophomore year soon changed his outlook, however. “He told me about how obesity leads to heart problems and that it can all catch up with you later, and that really scared me,” he said.“I want to live to see my grandchildren, and I want to live to be something in this world someday. I just decided to make a change.”
That change involved going on Tony Horton’s P90X fitness program.
“I used to love eating Korean fried chicken and real oily foods,” Mau said, “and potato chips - everybody loves them,” he added with a laugh. A year later, Mau weighed 100 pounds less for his junior season, which saw him earn all conference honors again. He added 20 pounds prior to this season to reach his current weight of 180, but the extra 20 were basically bulk for Mau, who looks like a body builder. Despite the loss in weight, he’s been no less effective as a lineman.
In fact, he’s playing the best football of his four years at Campbell.
“I feel way quicker now - like I had a bag of rice on my back. I can play fast now.”
And what has replaced Korean fried chicken and potato chips, among other items of interest? “I eat salmon three times a week,” he said. “I’ve come to like it. It’s lean, and it’s supposed to be good for the brain. I usually eat corn or green beans or asparagus with it. I’m allowed to have snacks, but it’s usually almonds or fruit.”
Mau hopes his dedication will allow him to play football beyond Campbell, but he’s positioned himself nicely for college already with his work in the classroom. With the exception of one class, he’s had straight A’s throughout high school, so an academic scholarship is well within reach.
Even so, football is still entrenched in Mason’s system.
“It’s mainly school and football for him,” Danny said. “He loves the game for sure. When we were younger, a friend of the family used to help us meet the pro players when they would come from the Pro Bowl. We would get signatures, and we got to know guys like Will Schultz, Chris McAllister, Junior Seau and Tony Gonzales.”
Added Mason: “I used to get a good feeling watching them, and I thought,‘I’d like to be like them someday.’ It’s everyone’s dream to make it to the NFL. Football has always been a big deal for me.”
Mason credits Campbell offensive line coach Derek Faavi, a former UH player, with aiding his development.
“He’s taken my game to a whole new level. I’m blessed to have him as a coach. I was always known for power and strength, but now I’m relying on technique, and most of it I’ve learned from him.”
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