Q&A: Meskell perfect so far

The Hawaii football team is no longer perfect this season, but the Rainbow Warriors’ placekicker still is.

Through four games, redshirt junior Ryan Meskell has converted every field goal (4-for-4) and extra-point attempt (20-for-20) he’s taken.

UH has already matched its made field-goal total from last season (4-for-9).

“Mesk” is a former soccer goalkeeper at Lewis & Clark (Ill.) Community College who didn’t play college football until last season. After going 1-for-4 in his shared role on field goals last year (and not doing any extra-point attempts) the Australian won a five-way competition for the placekicker job going into his second season in Manoa.

Meskell answered a few questions from Warrior World this week leading into the Rainbow Warriors’ homecoming game vs. FCS opponent Duquesne on Saturday.

Q: How’s it been for everybody coming off the loss at Army?
A: It was a top effort from the boys there. It was a tough game, we were hoping to come away with a win. But it was good to see we stuck in there right to the end. Morale’s still high, everyone’s feeling confident about this weekend’s game and the rest of the season. Nothing’s changed. New week, new game to win.

Q: How are you feeling about your confidence, accuracy and not missing a kick yet?
A: Yeah, it’s been good. I’m going 100 percent, and I obviously gotta thank (punter/holder) Stan (Gaudion) and (long snapper) Noah (Borden) for good service and good holds. The boys, the line, they’re doing well. No one’s leaking through, so I just gotta focus on getting the kick off. I’ve just been going one kick at a time, really. I haven’t really been thinking about percentages or anything. It’s just focus on the kick, whether it’s PAT or field goal. Make sure I do the same thing every time. And I think taking the PATs this season has helped a lot with the field goals as well. Going out on the field now, I don’t feel like it’s new to me. It’s just what I do now. So, taking all the PATs has helped and just one kick at a time. Hopefully we get plenty of PATs this weekend. That’s the plan.

Q: Right, because last year you did some of the FGs and Alex Trifonovitch handled the PATs?
A: Trif did the PATs last year, and I was sort of just sent out there to do field goals here and there, depending on where it was on the field. Just found it tough getting a rhythm. This season has been better, taking all the PATs and now it’s just rhythmic, and hopefully we can keep it up.

Q: What’s the feedback been from special teams coach Michael Ghobrial?
A: Yeah, no, he’s happy. But he’s still pushing me to be better. You know, we can be better. There’s things we can tidy up. He’s forever trying to make us better players, which is good. He’ll give a compliment here and there, but he’s very stern in his ways. He’ll make you really work for it, which is good. I think that’s why we’re doing good on scoring field goals and PATs.

Q: So when he finally offers you something, you’re like …
A: Yeah, it’s nice. It’s nice, it doesn’t come often, and that’s fine with me. As long as I’m doing my part for the team, that’s all I’m worried about.

Q: Been keeping in touch with your family in Australia?
A: Yeah, been keeping in touch. They’ve been trying to watch the games. They’ve been having trouble watching so they’ve been listening on the radio. So, they’ll watch the highlights if they can, but my mom’s coming out in a couple weeks to watch (a game). My brother’s planning on coming out later in the season. So, it’ll be good for them to come out and watch a game. They love the American football now. They’re right into it. They’re all about the Rainbow Warriors, which is cool. And all my mates back home are, too. They’ve got all the apps, and they keep up to date with stats and stuff.

Q: What’s your brother Sam’s background in sports?
A: He’s a Rugby League player, still plays for the Tweed Heads Seagulls in the Queensland Cup. He’s played Rugby League his whole life, plays at a good level. He loves that sport but, now that I’m playing American football, he’s really getting into that and keeping up to date with it. … He never played soccer. I was the only one in the family who played soccer. I played soccer and Rugby League, he just played Rugby League. But yeah, he was a big role model for me growing up, an older brother (by two and a half years) and really good Rugby League player. You know, I learned a lot off him, in terms of commitment and that kind of stuff. He’s loving the fact that I’m over here playing American football. We got a real tight relationship, me and him, so it’ll be good for when he comes out to watch a game, it’ll be awesome.

Note: The brothers had a chance to meet up last year as well.

Q: Does he give more positive feedback than Coach Goby?
A: (laughs) Yeah, he’ll give you a compliment. But Goby does here and there. My brother’s proud of me so it’s good to be doing them proud. I’m sure if I keep going the way I’m going, Goby will (too). I’m sure he’s proud, but he doesn’t show it, which is fine. (laughs)