The unknown venture to TCU has turned into an incredible Horned Frog life for Paka Davis, a 2014 Kamehameha graduate.
The unknown venture to TCU has turned into an incredible Horned Frog life for Paka Davis, a 2014 Kamehameha graduate.
The senior fullback and his brother Pono Davis, an SMU defensive tackle, have never been on opposing sidelines. After all, the brothers were gridiron late bloomers. Paka first started as a Warriors freshman and Pono in the eighth grade.
They’ll be first-time foes when No. 20 TCU (2-0) hosts the Mustangs (2-0) at 9:30 a.m. Saturday in a game on ESPNU (channel 1221/221), in one of college football’s classic rivalries also known as the Battle of the Iron Skillet.
The two Texas rivals, TCU from Fort Worth and SMU from Dallas, are in different conferences. The Horned Frogs are in the Big 12, and the Mustangs are in the American Athletic Conference but have played annually since 1996. TCU has won 16 of 19 meetings, including nine of the last 10.
“The fact that my brother Pono is now an SMU Mustang is indescribable,” Davis said. “When I came to TCU in 2014 and caught my first glimpse into the Battle of the Iron Skillet, Pono was still a senior at Kamehameha. I could not have guessed that one day Pono would be on the other side of this historic rivalry between two great universities and Division I football programs, and I am incredibly proud of him for all that he has done so far.”
Pono Davis, who has three tackles on the season, couldn’t be reached for comment. The sophomore defensive tackle is in his first year at SMU after playing at Tyler junior college in Texas.
The brothers will have their own cheering section with parents Kevin and Donna Davis, sister Kacie (Davis) Borg, who played Division I water polo and swam at Saint Francis (N.Y.) College, her husband, their newborn, and his parents.
“Our parents declared this as a must-attend game as soon as Pono got offered from SMU,” Davis said. “I talked to my dad this week, and he told me that if he had to swim from Hawaii, he would still come to the game. So, we obviously have the best support we could ask for. One of our sisters, Kacie Kaheakai Borg and her husband Steven Borg, their newborn daughter Keeley Kanani Borg, and my brother-in-law’s parents, Rick and Laura Borg, will be in attendance.”
Davis got on the field in the season-opening 63-0 home victory over Jackson State on Sept. 2 before 42,709 fans at TCU’s Amon G. Carter Stadium. As a junior and sophomore, he didn’t see any game action.
That doesn’t mean there hasn’t been any growth, quite the opposite. One of Davis’ enduring qualities is his forward-thinking attitude. Put him on any of those “Survivor” television shows, and he’ll make the best of any situation.
“Life at TCU has been incredible. I had no idea what TCU had in store for me when I left Hawaii after graduating from Kamehameha in 2014,” Davis said. “TCU has been a place that has challenged me to improve in every aspect of my life, and although it has rarely been an easy road, I can’t imagine my college years anywhere else. I am very honored to be here on academic and merit-based scholarships.”
TCU message
On an inspirational level, Davis scored a touchdown with TCU coach Gary Patterson, who’s in his 17th year and is the winningest coach in school history with a 151-54 record, including six conference championships.
His non-profit Gary Patterson Foundation is dedicated to the support of economically disadvantaged children as well as other charitable causes. It focuses on education, life-skills, and health and family issues.
“A common message from our head coach Gary Patterson is that our program is about, ‘40, not 4.’ TCU’s football program aims to prepare young men to be successful for at least the next 40 years of their life, not just the four years that they are in college,” Davis said. “The lessons we learn on and off the field should translate to something much more meaningful than wins and losses. I am incredibly thankful for that.”
Davis is a sociology major with a minor in environmental science. He plans to have a career in sustainability but wouldn’t mind trying his hand at music. His band Kuokoa won Hawaii’s Brown Bags to Stardom for its song entitled, “Hello.”
Busy home life
His days are nonstop at TCU. Davis is president of the TCU Hawaii Club after two years as vice president. He’s the founding member of TCU’s all-male A cappella group (The Horned Tones will compete in the International Championship for Collegiate A cappella), a member of the TCU Frog Corps (all-male choir), and a member of TCU Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He also works on campus.
“Someone I know hangs a quote by J.J. Watt on their wall, and the quote says, ‘Success isn’t owned. It’s leased, and rent is due every day.’ If you truly want to play NCAA Division I sports, you have to realize that it cannot be something you strive for every now and then. It has to be something that you strive for on a daily basis,” Davis said. “When I was in high school, I did not know that I would be where I am today. However, I had been working to get to where I am today for years before I even got to high school, and I did not even know it at the time.”
When he thinks about his appreciation for TCU, he mentions the school’s mascot, the endangered Texas horned lizard, which is actually a reptile with scales, claws and horns.
“Horned frogs are incredibly resilient, though few in number, and scientifically marveled. Their many characteristics are a source of pride for members of TCU’s Horned Frog Family,” Davis said. “TCU’s mission statement is, ‘To educate individuals to think and act as ethical leaders and responsible citizens in the global community.’
“TCU is a place that can very easily become somewhere you call home, even if you are actually from a place thousands of miles away.”