If you’ve tried humble pie before, then it must’ve came from Jordon Dizon’s mom, Darla Abbatiello. The University of Colorado freshman is as humble as they come and he learned early on that being modest is the biggest attribute that
If you’ve tried humble pie before, then it must’ve came from Jordon Dizon’s mom, Darla Abbatiello.
The University of Colorado freshman is as humble as they come and he learned early on that being modest is the biggest attribute that will take him far in life.
Dizon has a chance this Saturday to make history for the Buffalo football squad, which until Dizon, didn’t have a true freshman start for them at the inside linebacker position for the season opener.
The former Menehune multi-talented athlete also carries a hefty load of smarts on his side. As a scholar-athlete with a 3.5 GPA in the prep ranks, Dizon took a lot from his high school days.
“Coach Jon (Kobayashi) and the other Waimea coaches advised me to be humble, never become arrogant, and never stop learning,” Dizon said.
Going into his first college football game this Saturday against in-state rival Colorado St. in Boulder, Dizon feels nervous, but at the same time, looks forward to just playing at the division I level.
“I just want to get over it (the first game) and I’ve watched games at Folsom Field before and now I want to play on it myself,” Dizon said.
What makes it easy for the Kaua‘i boy is having great coaches like Brian Cabral, and players from Hawai‘i to make him feel at home.
“My roommate is from Campbell High School, so it’s good to have someone who knows what I’m going through and the coaches have been awesome,” Dizon said.
Even coach Cabral, who has Hawai‘i ties and is probably the main reason why Dizon is at Colorado, thinks that he’s a very special player by touting him as one of the best young players he’s seen since he’s been at Colorado.
There’s a reason though, why the former Waimea standout is good as he is. You can certainly look at his supporting cast, his family. With a mom that’s a narcotics officer, it would be hard to not keep a clean act.
“My mom’s really excited and proud of me and she’s just been really supportive,” Dizon said.
However, Officer Abbatiello has always been tough on her only son, as a homecoming visit won’t allow Jordon some wheels.
“I called him up one day and said that I’d be able to make it up for the homecoming game on October 9 and the first thing he asked was if I’d still be able to get him a car,” Abbatiello said.
Instead, Dizon, according to his mom, will have to perform on the field to get a car. “I told him that if he wants me to buy him a car, whenever there’s a fumble, he’ll have to pick up the ball and score a touchdown,” Abbatiello said.
A small feat for a car, but Abbatiello has always instilled in Dizon’s mind that in order to get something, you certainly have to work for it.
With the weather cooling down in Boulder, Dizon was also glad to see his girlfriend (Rumi Masumura) of almost a year at UNLV.
“She’s the greatest thing that’s happened to me and she’s been able to straighten things out for me,” Dizon said.
With a puka shell necklace and lots of other Hawaiian memorabilia, Dizon stays true to his home.
“For an ESPN shoot, some of the Hawai‘i players and I wore lava-lava’s and of course I had to wear my puka shell necklace,” Dizon said.
With the island of Kaua‘i always in the back of his mind Dizon definitely thinks that being on an isolated island doesn’t translate into not having the talent for the next level.
“I just want the people of Kaua‘i to know that they can make it too, I just want to be an example and pave the way for them because there are lots of talented (Kaua‘i) players who can do the same things that I’ve been doing,” Dizon said.
As Saturday comes around, Dizon will make history for his accomplishments on the field, but it will be his great, humble attitude that will take him farthest in life.
