Kehano Thrives At Weber State
By Jack Danilewicz
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Del.icio.usAs with everything football-related, Shaydon Kehano is a quick study in new surroundings. For example, the Weber State freshman and former Castle star recently rode his skateboard five miles to catch a train from Ogden to Salt Lake City.
“It was hard, but it was also mostly downhill,” he said. “I was just cruising. Every day, I woke up in the summer and skateboarded from my dorm to the (Stewart football) Stadium to do my work-out. When it starts getting cold, I won’t be able to skateboard though, so my dad bought me a used car.”
Even so, Kehano is on a roll. He made the 60-man traveling squad (there are 85 on scholarship per NCAA limits) when Weber State opened its season Sept. 4 on the road at Boston College, playing both slot back and wide receiver. He scored a touchdown on his very first catch in a college game, covering 24 yards on a pass from quarterback and fellow Islander Cameron Higgens. Kehano added another catch later, giving him a pair of receptions for 50 yards on the afternoon.
While they lost the game 38-20, the play was a personal triumph for Kehano, who is once again seeing his hard work pay off.
“I just ran my route and did my job. Cameron was scrolling out, and I was just trying to get open for him. He threw it up, and I got it.”
At Castle he was OIA East Red Offensive Player of the Year and made First Team All-Star on both sides of the ball.
Until Weber State pursued him, he seemed destined to walk on at UH. Now he’s looking forward to 2012, when Weber State plays UH at Aloha Stadium.
He’s adjusting, meanwhile, to Division I football, as well as being away from parents Ralph and Susan Kehano and older sister Sierra.
“That’s been the hard thing - I haven’t seen my family since June 8, but I wanted to experience new things. I set goals for myself - like making the travel squad - and they’re all falling into place.
“It was a challenge at first because of the speed and stuff, but I got used to it,” he added of making the leap to DI football. “Everyone is good at this level. When you compete with them, it makes you better.”
Technology has helped Shaydon’s family follow his career: They watched a radio Internet broadcast of the Boston College game for $10.
“It was crazy,” Ralph Kehano laughed. “My wife and daughter and I were huddled around a tiny speaker from the computer.” Ralph now plans to install a dish to catch games not on local cable.
This week, they all reunite in California at a Sacramento State game. “I haven’t seen my son in three months,” said Ralph. “He wanted to get on campus early and learn the plays as quickly as he could.”
The family, which is making its fourth trip to Weber State since late winter, also keeps in touch with Skype Internet software, allowing them to see and talk to each other via computer screen.
“That’s been helpful,” Kehano said. “It’s like I’m there with them, although I’m not. I get to see my dog (Sadie), too.”
Added Ralph: “My wife cries because she misses him so much, but thank God for the computer.”
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