RebelAzn
Nov 4th, 2007, 12:26 PM
I watched this kid played number of games this year and he is simply amazing. He hits like a mac truck and single handily caused two fumbles yesterday and had an INT. He also had a huge tackle against USF's running back where he picked the kid off the ground and threw him. The kid was was awesome. I hope he will make it to the NFL someday.
Mind, game success
Elyria native brings winning mentality to Bearcats
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Elton Alexander
Plain Dealer Reporter
At 5-10, 190 pounds, Haruki Nakamura, the starting safety for the Cincinnati Bearcats, does not proclaim to be the biggest or the fastest to play his position.
But Nakamura says mental preparation helps make him equal to the competition, or better.
"Sometimes, teams can be evenly matched, but you've still got to find a way to get an ad vantage," said Nakamura, a St. Edward High School graduate. "What I mean by a mental edge is going into a game being able to recognize different situations throughout the game -- whatever formation they're in, whatever tendencies an offense has.
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"I usually watch 10 hours of film a week, but if you don't know what you're watching, it doesn't help you. I think I look at the film differently."
Example: While watching video to prepare for the Sept. 6 game against Oregon State, Nakamura noticed that when the Beavers had the ball on a hash mark toward one side of the field, they tended to throw quick sideline passes to that sideline.
"They throw it early, and throw it often," Nakamura said. "We went into the game, and I told our defensive coordinator, if I see that formation, I'm jumping it."
The third play of the game, he jumped the route, intercepted the pass and ran it back 20 yards to set up a Bearcats field goal for a 3-0 lead. UC won, 34-3.
The Elyria native's brain power, as much as his muscle power, has made him the second-leading tackler on the team this season with 50. He also is third on the Bearcats (6-2, 1-2 Big East) with three interceptions.
Nakamura, a criminal justice major, comes from a family of high achievers. His late father, Ryozo, held an agriculture degree, he had a teaching degree, had the highest police training in Japan and was also a judo instructor.
Nakamura's brother, Yoshi, wrestled and attended the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton Business School. Yoshi said the entire family has used their brain power and muscle power to achieve much in athletics, and in their chosen professions.
" 'Ruki now really understands it," his brother said. "It's a balance of both. That combination and balance is unbeatable. He can comprehend the game in a way other people can't."
Another brother, Mako, is a high school teacher in Pennsylvania; a sister, Mitsue, is a math professor at the University of Houston. Another sister, Kimiko, is a freshman volleyball player at UC. Their mother, Karen, is an X-ray technician at Westlake's St. John West Shore Hospital and is not surprised at her son's outlook on the football field.
"The really neat thing about 'Ruki is, he wants to play professionally," his mother said. "So when he got his scholarship, he considered it like he was being paid to play right now, and the payment was his education."
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
ealexander@plaind.com, 216-999-4253
Mind, game success
Elyria native brings winning mentality to Bearcats
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Elton Alexander
Plain Dealer Reporter
At 5-10, 190 pounds, Haruki Nakamura, the starting safety for the Cincinnati Bearcats, does not proclaim to be the biggest or the fastest to play his position.
But Nakamura says mental preparation helps make him equal to the competition, or better.
"Sometimes, teams can be evenly matched, but you've still got to find a way to get an ad vantage," said Nakamura, a St. Edward High School graduate. "What I mean by a mental edge is going into a game being able to recognize different situations throughout the game -- whatever formation they're in, whatever tendencies an offense has.
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"I usually watch 10 hours of film a week, but if you don't know what you're watching, it doesn't help you. I think I look at the film differently."
Example: While watching video to prepare for the Sept. 6 game against Oregon State, Nakamura noticed that when the Beavers had the ball on a hash mark toward one side of the field, they tended to throw quick sideline passes to that sideline.
"They throw it early, and throw it often," Nakamura said. "We went into the game, and I told our defensive coordinator, if I see that formation, I'm jumping it."
The third play of the game, he jumped the route, intercepted the pass and ran it back 20 yards to set up a Bearcats field goal for a 3-0 lead. UC won, 34-3.
The Elyria native's brain power, as much as his muscle power, has made him the second-leading tackler on the team this season with 50. He also is third on the Bearcats (6-2, 1-2 Big East) with three interceptions.
Nakamura, a criminal justice major, comes from a family of high achievers. His late father, Ryozo, held an agriculture degree, he had a teaching degree, had the highest police training in Japan and was also a judo instructor.
Nakamura's brother, Yoshi, wrestled and attended the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton Business School. Yoshi said the entire family has used their brain power and muscle power to achieve much in athletics, and in their chosen professions.
" 'Ruki now really understands it," his brother said. "It's a balance of both. That combination and balance is unbeatable. He can comprehend the game in a way other people can't."
Another brother, Mako, is a high school teacher in Pennsylvania; a sister, Mitsue, is a math professor at the University of Houston. Another sister, Kimiko, is a freshman volleyball player at UC. Their mother, Karen, is an X-ray technician at Westlake's St. John West Shore Hospital and is not surprised at her son's outlook on the football field.
"The really neat thing about 'Ruki is, he wants to play professionally," his mother said. "So when he got his scholarship, he considered it like he was being paid to play right now, and the payment was his education."
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
ealexander@plaind.com, 216-999-4253