Hope erryboddy has a wunnah-ful day!

Acrobatic catches were the norm for the spindly Glenwood Springs High School graduate, a major cog in the Demons’ march to a state football title in 2008.

“He’s just a good athlete,” said former Glenwood quarterback Dakota Stonehouse, who’s tossed many a pass in Nicola’s direction in recent years. “He has all the tools and everything that you need to have. If I threw it high or I threw it low, he’d go get the ball. He had the ability to make the plays.”

The sure-handed receiver’s coordination and athletic ability certainly seized the attention of coaches at the University of Hawaii, where last month he successfully tried out and made the football roster as a walk-on.

“I originally went over there just for a high school camp,” Nicola said. “When I got over there, they said don’t even worry about the high school camp. I did seven-on-seven with the college guys — quarterbacks and receivers — for three days. I went into the coach’s office and talked to him and he said I made it.”

“I was really nervous about my size,” Nicola admitted. “Once I saw the guys, they weren’t too big. They were really fast. Once I got out there and started playing with them, it felt good catching the ball.”

Coaches assured Nicola that, once fully entrenched in Hawaii’s lifting program, the muscle will come.

Nicola brings plenty else to the table. And he’s been selling his qualities to Hawaii’s coaches for some time now.

“I continually kept calling the past year, keeping in touch,” he said, “making my name known.”

Hawaii’s been Nicola’s target for some time. The school offers his major of choice — marine biology — and a highly competitive football program.

BTW1 at the 20th, Allen was voted something like most celebrated/visible/popular classmate along with Dr. Ligaya Stice (former Miss Hawaii ’89 and NE Patriots Cheerleader).

BTW2 The “A-Bomb” also a great singer and once sang the National Anthem at a HS Assembly

BTW3 “Double A” was known more as Basketball and Football player in HS. Boys Vball wasn’t that big back then in HS.

The Beast’s Ring could have fit on ring and middle finger (taped together). Glad to catch up with him before he, bro, and sis had to depart.

Great to meet Mrs. Pestana and talk about her Alvis, Crash, Liko, and Chanteal..

I only wished I could have partaken in the feast… The fuud looked so ono I was thinking about it too much and missed the freeway entrance toward Waianae side and thus I had to drive all the way through Waipahu Town and caught every single light… I thought I saw Homey at every intersection (no not in a brokeback kind of way)..

Waterpark with NewWave was fun.. We went close ’em down..

Bulla and Ohana… See you in our Father’s House in a few hours..

Sorry I missed your post…lost power for a little while. About that Salmon, you got a deal my friend!

Also let me know when you want to go Salmon fishing in Alaska again so I can alert my son up there to take you with him on the Kenai.