By Stephen Tsai

Copyright staradvertiser

Every Big Three has a Larry Fine, Jan Brady or Tanner Haworth.

Caleb Freeman appears to be a key but unheralded middle man of the Hawaii football team’s snap-hold-kick, field-goal unit.

While kicker Kansei Matsuzawa has earned national recognition for converting 11 consecutive field goals to open the season, snapper Jack Mowrey and holder Freeman have been important contributors. Japan-reared Matsuzawa, in self-taught English, has repeatedly praised both specialists.

“It’s like a three-way relationship, and we all have confidence in each other,” Freeman said. “I think that’s what makes us so good. Kansei has a lot of confidence in us, and we have a lot of confidence in Kansei.”

Matsuzawa joined the Warriors in 2023 as a transfer from Hocking College in Ohio. In April, the Warriors were in search of an experienced long-snapper after losing two to the tranfer portal and one to retirement. Special teams coordinator Thomas Sheffield signed Mowrey, a transfer from James Madison. Following a tryout, Matsuzawa chose Freeman, the Warriors’ fourth-string quarterback, as his holder.

Matsuzawa, Mowrey and Freeman cemented their bond during 5:30 a.m. sessions ahead of the Warriors’ practices. Freeman is the play-caller and vocal leader of the trifecta.

Freeman has told Mowrey: “Don’t worry about your snap. If you give me a bad snap, I’m going to get it down.”

But Mowrey, who was rated as one of the nation’s top long snappers as an Ardey Kell High (Charlotte, N.C.) senior, always delivers laces-up snaps.

“Jack makes it easy on me,” Freeman said. “He’s so good. It’s crazy. I held in high school, and there wasn’t much science to (snapping) in high school. It was one of my boys, Justin, who was our long-snapper. He played D-line, and it wasn’t like he was a designated long-snapper. He was OK, just a guy who snapped the ball. Now it’s a different level here. Jack is the best.”

With tips on focusing from a sports psychologist, Matsuzawa has a pre-kick routine of stepping into position, taking deep breaths, and visualizing the target.

“He has a lot of ways of calming himself and making sure he’s in the right head space,” Freeman said of Matsuzawa.

That helped when Matsuzawa converted the walk-off, 38-yard field goal in the opener against Stanford.

“That was just another kick,” Freeman said. “Everyone felt that way. We were like, ‘we’ve done this a million times,’ especially on our home field. How many times did we kick from that exact spot in practice? It’s easy when you put it that way.”

In the final seconds of the first half against Arizona, Sheffield called “Hurricane,” the signal to quickly set up a field-goal attempt.

“I remember looking up at the clock and we had 9 seconds,” Freeman said. “We had guys running off and running on. I was trying to make sure everyone got set. I didn’t want to have it snapped too early because guys are mostly moving around. They would have called a false start. I was watching the clock, and it said: 3, 2 … and then as the 1 was ticking, I called for the snap.”

Mowrey’s snap beat the final whistle, Freeman put down the hold, and Matsuzawa’s kick was true.

“It was a little different from the normal set-up field goal,” Freeman said. “We want to give (Matsuzawa) as much time as possible to kind of settle in, get his feet set, see the goal posts, see the ball. I’ll hold it as much as possible so it’s easier for him.”

Freeman, who grew up in Katy, Texas, is a multi-tasker who is pursuing a degree in finance and continues to help the Freeman Ranch and Stables. Freeman and his father operate the 900-acre ranch that raises cattle and horses for sale. During breaks from school, Freeman will join his father in hands-on work. While at UH, he handles the ranch’s social media.

There are ranchers who take care of the cattle and horses. Freeman and his father bale hay, fix fences and fill holes affected by flooding.

Last year, a tornado went through the ranch. Infrastructure was damaged. A tree that Freeman’s grandmother planted 40 years ago was destroyed.

“It was sentimental to him,” Freeman said of his father. “It was right by the house he lived in, right where he grew up in. It was tough for him.”

Of ranch work, Freeman said, “it’s tough, but it’s rewarding. We’d be out there at 8 a.m. — not crazy early because me and my dad are not morning people. The earlier the better. If you’re working at 12 or 1 o’clock, it’s bad out there. You’ve got jeans and boots on, too. And it’s even hotter when you’ve got that stuff on. … I’d rather do that than sit in an office all day. And I get to work with my dad, too.”

Five generations of his family have lived in Katy. Last year, Katy’s 10th high school was named Freeman High School in honor of his family.