Non-traditional players still contribute on the field

By Brent Hinckley

Thursday, Aug. 28, 2008 | 2 a.m.

For a majority of UNLV’s football players, their college career is centered on one thing - football.

For a small handful of Rebels, however, football isn't the top priority. Seniors Johan Asiata, Sifa Moala and Ryan Worthen are all married, while junior Justin McCrory, senior Jacob Hales and Worthen took two years off to serve church missions.

UNLV opens its season Saturday at Sam Boyd Stadium against Utah State as all five of the non-traditional athletes are expected to contribute.

Hales, 26, and Worthen, 25, are the two oldest players on the team. Hales said that gives him an edge against younger teammates and opponents.

"We'll be in the weight room, lifting weights, and I'm lifting more than everybody else," Hales, a defensive lineman, said. "They'll get jealous, telling me the only reason I lift more is I have old man strength."

Hales said being away from the game while on his mission hurt his skills. He has since turned into one of the Rebels' top players, recording 36 tackles and three sacks last year in starting all 12 of UNLV's games.

"(My mission) was a good experience but didn't really help me in football. It made things a lot more difficult, actually," Hales said. "You come back and have to get back into shape. I was lucky to come in on spring ball. So by time the season started I was all geared up, ready to go."

UNLV offensive line coach Keith Uperesa said the biggest benefit of having married players or returned missionaries is maturity. Asiata and Moala are offensive linemen.

"The maturity of what they go through, the challenges that come along with it, it kind of prepares them," Uperesa said. "You have a mature young man as opposed to an 18-year-old young high school kid."

The coach has seen both sides of players leaving for missions.

"It's a two-edged sword at times and I've seen this over the years. The young man comes back and is mature enough to decide football isn't a game for him," Uperesa said. "But you also have a young man with desire in him, and along with that you now have the maturity. To get that around and amongst the young kids we have is a big advantage."

Worthen, a tight end, has been married for three years, while Asiata got married in March and Moala was married shortly before the start of camp. Worthen said it was a unique experience being the only married player the last few years.

"They accepted her right away, but they're always telling me they think she's hot, so I have to get mad at them," he said. "I was glad to hear about Johan getting married. I've been telling him for awhile he needed to."

Being married to a football player isn't easy, Brittany Worthen said, mostly because of the time spent apart.

"He's gone for a month for camp, and then it's every weekend for the next four months," she said.

Both she and Kaylee Worthen, the couple's 15-month-old daughter, stay with family members while Ryan Worthen is in camp. The team stayed in the dorms the first week of camp, then spent 12 days in Ely.

Asiata said it was tough being away from his wife, Jana, and 2-year-old son, Auckland.

"There's up and downs in camp. You're surrounded by so much testosterone, you miss that sensitive part of your life, being with your wife. You just miss 'em," Johan Asiata said.

Ryan Worthen and Johan Asiata both said life became different once they tied the knot and no longer have the time to socialize with teammates.

"The guys already know you can't ask Johan to go out. He's got to go home and spend time with his wife," Johan Asiata said. "When you're around Johan and Worthen you can't be like, ‘Look at that girl over there.' They know we're married and faithful men."

The players are not allowed to work during the season, so they must rely on their scholarship money, family and savings to take care of their family. Worthen installed fireplaces this summer and worked three job last summer to save money.

"It's not tough, but some days you struggle more than others," Worthen said.

Uperesa said Worthen, who is also a member of the team's leadership council, exemplifies the benefits of serving a mission and being a family man.

"Ryan is a young man who walked on, got married that year then earned a scholarship," Uperesa said. "He's probably one of the most respected kids in the program by what he does and how he carries himself and the responsibilities he has."

Brent Hinckley is a reporter for the Home News. He can be reached at 990-2687 or [email protected].