Mike Hayes

Barry Faulkner

While Mike Hayes studies for a career in construction, he would much

rather hammer opposing ball carriers than nails.

And, as a starting inside linebacker in the Cal Poly San Luis

Obispo football team’s flex defense, he savors the opportunity to do

just that, at least for a couple more months.

“I’ve started to think about that fact that, in two months, I

won’t be able to hit anybody,” said Hayes, a senior construction

management major who is more into demolition when he takes the field.

The Corona del Mar High product came to Cal Poly as a fullback,

after a string of injuries during his prep career virtually denied

Hayes the chance to showcase his talents to Division I-A football

recruiters.

“I had hamstring problems at CdM and I broke my hand my senior

year,” Hayes recalled. “My thoughts, at that time, were about playing

Division I-A [college football].”

But he was never seriously recruited by anyone other than Cal

Poly, a Division I-AA program that has enjoyed a resurgence since

Hayes’ arrival. The Mustangs (3-3) with losses to I-AA powers

Northern Arizona and Montana, as well as Division I-A Akron, are

ranked No. 23 in one Division I-AA national poll and Hayes’

contribution is a big reason.

The 6-foot-1, 215-pounder is tied for second on the team with 38

tackles including a team-co-leading three sacks, despite the fact

that he regularly gives away between 40-100 pounds to the offensive

linemen he encounters in the trenches.

“I’m pretty much a defensive tackle in a two-point [upright]

stance,” said Hayes, who was shifted from fullback to whip linebacker

before his sophomore season and has sparkled at the position ever

since. “Speed and quickness are my two best weapons. If I take those

guys on, they’re going to win.”

Strength and explosiveness help him get off blocks, when he isn’t

darting around blockers, and Hayes said his personality is better

suited for a defensive role.

“I’d say I’m more defensive minded, because the best part about

football for me is hitting people,” he said.

Hayes also believes other aspects of his personality have allowed

him to fit in well in the Central Coast college town. It is this fit,

he says, that has erased any regrets he may have had about landing at

a Division I-AA school.

“I think I’m definitely in the right place,” Hayes said. “I’m

very, very pleased about my decision to come here. I just really like

the surroundings. And football is getting bigger and bigger.”

Hayes takes pride in the program’s burgeoning national reputation

-- no doubt enhanced by a 17-14 loss Oct. 4 at perennial Division

I-AA power Montana. The Grizzlies, ranked No. 8, regularly sell out

and the crowd of 23,687 generated a big-time atmosphere Hayes said he

will always remember.

“Playing at Montana was easily the best experience I’ve ever had

with football,” said Hayes, who was, nonetheless, disappointed by the

outcome. “That place rocked.”

Staying healthy has helped Hayes rock opposing ball carriers,

though he still has to do extra stretching to prevent hamstring

problems.

He is on schedule to graduate in the spring of 2005 [a typical

five-year path for his major] and said he may try to explore

professional football opportunities in Europe or in Canada.

But, until then, he is putting the finishing touches on a

distinguished college career, nailing one opponent at a time.