tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15339601188621715532024-03-05T22:08:05.212-08:00Jodatoa's Blog Polynesian Football PlayersThe Latest News and Information Regarding Polynesian Athletes in Various Football Divisions.Jodatoahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12629346705481554093noreply@blogger.comBlogger495125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533960118862171553.post-48316075355282449312012-09-02T00:22:00.000-07:002012-09-02T00:23:30.102-07:00The Marcus Mariota Era Enters With a Bang<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444e5c; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.649999618530273px;">The University of Oregon ripped off 50 points in the first half of its season opener against Arkansas State. But I can't, and won't, join those who believe they learned absolutely nothing about the Ducks in Saturday's installment of the Cupcake Challenge Series. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444e5c; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.649999618530273px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444e5c; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.649999618530273px;">Turns out, the first Ducks freshman to start at quarterback in 22 season openers, Marcus Mariota, has a mother who would like her son's last name correctly pronounced. Can't say I blame her. Sports information director David Williford confirmed Mrs. Mariota called the university to inform them it's pronounced "Mar-ee-oh-TAH" not "Mar-ee-ohtah." </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444e5c; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.649999618530273px;">It's going to take repetition to get that right, but we all learned something on Saturday. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444e5c; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.649999618530273px;">It was Oregon 57, Arkansas State 34 in the season opener. That's pronounced: "LAFF-er." </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444e5c; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.649999618530273px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444e5c; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.649999618530273px;">Here's what the first-half 50-point mark looked like in the second quarter: Ducks running back Byron Marshall scores a touchdown on fourth and goal from the 3 (assisted by Mar-ee-oh-TAH, who helped pile-drive his teammate across the goal line). Kicker Rob Beard makes the extra point. Williford leaps out of his chair, and jogs across the press box to one of his intern staffers, who was told to immediately research school scoring records. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444e5c; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.649999618530273px;">The intern was stoked. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444e5c; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.649999618530273px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444e5c; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.649999618530273px;">But the kid was nowhere near as focused, and excited, and crisp as the inexperienced, unproven Mar-ee-oh-TAH was in his debut. You can call Arkansas State awful (and the Red Wolves were). You can point out that the Ducks should have been playing Kansas State or New Mexico (and we all would have preferred it). You can say that we're not going to know how good Oregon is for more than a month (also very true). But what's not in doubt is how good Mar-ee-oh-TAH is. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444e5c; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.649999618530273px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444e5c; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.649999618530273px;">He was accurate. He was poised. He was agile. Mar-ee-oh-TAH mostly made good decisions. He demonstrated leadership, and appeared to be in command of the offense. What I'm trying to say is that he looks talented enough to show up on campus and chase a starting quarterback with two conference championships into the woods. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444e5c; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.649999618530273px;">If he hasn't already, Mar-ee-oh-TAH is going to make you forget Darron Thomas. He completed 12 of his first 13 and finished 18 of 22 for 200 yards. He threw three touchdown passes. He had a nice 17-yard run himself and helped push that teammate over the goal line in a critical situation. Save for one messy incompletion, and a misread of the defensive end on an option (he should have kept the ball and instead gave it to Kenjon Barner), this kid was pristine in his debut. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444e5c; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.649999618530273px;">I am not mocking Mrs. Mar-ee-oh-TAH by giving the phonetic pronunciation of her son's last name. I'm making sure I drill the correct pronunciation for you and for me, especially. Because I learned in two otherwise meaningless quarters of blowout football on Saturday, one play at a time, that we'd all better get this kid's name correct. He's going to be here a long while, and he's going to be memorable. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444e5c; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.649999618530273px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444e5c; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.649999618530273px;">Mar-ee-oh-TAH even sounds good. That "TAH" at the end punctuates it. Feels like it could easily turn into "Mar-ee-oh-TAH-DAH" with very little imagination. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444e5c; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.649999618530273px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444e5c; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.649999618530273px;">When it comes to Ducks quarterbacks I always like to go to Joey Harrington for an appraisal. The former NFL quarterback and Ducks star studies the game, and mechanics, and sees things on another level. And so at halftime, I reached out to Harrington, who is in Los Angeles preparing for his Fox broadcast gig. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444e5c; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.649999618530273px;">Columnist: "What did you think of Mar-ee-oh-TAH?" </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444e5c; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.649999618530273px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444e5c; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.649999618530273px;">Harrington: "Barely got to see it. On set in LA. By the time I got to the TV it was 42-3!" </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444e5c; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.649999618530273px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444e5c; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.649999618530273px;">Well put, Joey. Circle back after we see more. But I suppose what Mar-ee-oh-TAH did against Arkansas State was exactly what he did in fall practice, where he asserted himself as the winner of a tight quarterback competition. There will be tougher challenges, there will be bigger moments, but I saw enough to know how dangerous Mar-ee-oh-TAH can be in this offense. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444e5c; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.649999618530273px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444e5c; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.649999618530273px;">That first half featured seven Oregon trips to the red zone and six Ducks touchdowns. Mar-ee-oh-TAH pulled his helmet off with 7:06 left in the second quarter. His team had 50 points on the board. And for the first time in his playing career at Oregon I saw something that I believe we'll see a lot of over the next 24 to 48 months. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444e5c; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.649999618530273px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444e5c; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.649999618530273px;">Mar-ee-oh-TAH smiled. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444e5c; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.649999618530273px;">That's pronounced SMILED. </span>
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<span style="color: #444e5c; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 20.633333206176758px;"><a href="http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/john_canzano/index.ssf/2012/09/canzano_learn_how_to_say_marcu.html">Full Article</a></span></span>Jodatoahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12629346705481554093noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533960118862171553.post-5321394879882321352012-08-29T23:19:00.000-07:002012-08-29T23:19:32.323-07:00Learn How to Haka From Tuihalamaka<br />
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By now, most Arizona Wildcats fans have heard of the Haka dance, the traditional Maori war dance that's taken on a life of its own in athletics. The UA has been performing it off and on since 2009; former quarterback<a href="http://azstarnet.com/sports/blogs/finley/article_67ded74e-8aad-11e1-bbf6-0019bb2963f4.html" style="border: 0px; color: #417ba7; font-family: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Nick Foles talked about it with Jon Gruden</a> this spring.</div>
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Well, the Wildcats need Haka helpers. <a href="http://azstarnet.com/sports/football/college/wildcats/article_8e700bef-4f3a-5ecc-9cc5-85e1dff8984a.html#.UDjmi4h0XWQ.twitter" style="border: 0px; color: #417ba7; font-family: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">As we reported Saturday</a>, Arizona's players will perform the dance in front of the Zona Zoo before every home game; first-year coach Rich Rodriguez wants the student section to learn it, and perform it with them. While it's an ambitious request — I like this year's team's chances of making the Rose Bowl better — we're happy to pass along this how-to video from defensive tackle Sione Tuihalamaka. Watch, and enjoy.</div>
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<a href="http://azstarnet.com/sports/blogs/finley/arizona-wildcats-football-learn-how-to-haka-from-tuihalamaka/article_2ae66260-f18e-11e1-ba09-0019bb2963f4.html">Full Article</a></div>
Jodatoahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12629346705481554093noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533960118862171553.post-82658797551719891742012-08-29T23:16:00.000-07:002012-08-29T23:16:33.480-07:00American Samoa Players A Long Way From Home<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/gazettetimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/9/bd/9bd5f39c-e9c2-11e1-b251-001a4bcf887a/5030808ee2beb.preview-620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="260" src="http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/gazettetimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/9/bd/9bd5f39c-e9c2-11e1-b251-001a4bcf887a/5030808ee2beb.preview-620.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i>Oregon State freshmen Rommel Mageo, left, and Noke Tago are attending school 5,000 miles from their home in Pago Pago, American Samoa. (Andy Cripe | Corvallis Gazette-Times)</i></span>
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Noke Tago’s first airplane ride was a long one.</div>
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A flight between American Samoa and the United States is roughly 15 hours.</div>
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If you’re lucky.</div>
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Tago said he flew eight hours to Hawaii, waited there for another eight hours and then made the five-hour trip to Oregon.</div>
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Tago and Oregon State teammate Rommel Mageo, also from Pago Pago, American Samoa, are both in Corvallis practicing with the Beavers’ football team.</div>
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It’s their first time away from home. And home is 5,000 miles away.</div>
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“Living a different life, it’s good for me because this is my first time I leave my parents and I stay away from my family,” Tago said. “So the first week I was homesick a lot and I missed my family.”</div>
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Mageo’s brother, Natanu, played for North Carolina State two years ago and had the benefit of talking to him before making the move.</div>
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“My brother played at N.C. State, so it was a big thing for me,” Mageo said. “He helped me out with a lot of things and he told me all about camp and everything.”</div>
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Moving halfway across the world is a big decision.</div>
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For Tago and Mageo, it’s a change that they were willing to make.</div>
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Few in American Samoa get a chance at college. Or more.</div>
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Career prospects are slim at home.</div>
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Football is their opportunity.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The American Samoa game</strong></div>
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Football was introduced to American Samoa, an unincorporated territory of the U.S., in the 1960s.</div>
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While rugby is huge throughout Polynesia, including neighboring Independent State of Samoa, football stuck in American Samoa with the help of television.</div>
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The physical nature of the game turned out to be a natural attraction.</div>
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“In American Samoa, American football is big,” OSU defensive line coach Joe Seumalo said. “That’s their only form of entertainment.</div>
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“They’re raw at the game but they understand the physicalness of it and they love it. They’re no different than a lot of kids over here in the U.S.”</div>
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Until Pop Warner started up recently, most of the organized football was played at the high school level.</div>
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That means that most players from American Samoa who were good enough to come to the U.S. and play have been raw.</div>
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Mageo, a linebacker for OSU, has been playing the sport for five years.</div>
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He started in eighth grade.</div>
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“It wasn’t really around because we didn’t have youth football. It was only high school, so when you’re little, all you look up to is high school football,” Mageo said. “So when I was in eighth grade I really wanted to play football so I tried out.”</div>
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Tago played rugby when he was younger.</div>
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A defensive tackle for the Beavers, he’s now 6-foot-1, 290-pounds.</div>
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When he arrived in high school the football coaches took one look at him and convinced him to play.</div>
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“My freshman year I didn’t practice the whole summer,” he said. “I just come to school and register and the coaches wanted me because they saw me and I’m big. They wanted me to play for them.</div>
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“I had more confidence in myself because I played rugby.”</div>
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Seumalo said the rules governing football in American Samoa are limited, so the players are able to practice and play year-round.</div>
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The players are different as well.</div>
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Size is not lacking among the young men of American Samoa.</div>
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It’s easy to find linemen and linebackers.</div>
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“Football there is different from here,” Mageo said. “There it’s mostly about strength. It’s not really about speed, but everybody’s strong out there.”</div>
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The players condition constantly but weight training isn’t common.</div>
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Tago said he did a lot of work cutting trees and grass and did push-ups every night before bed.</div>
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“We have to do our chores. Every day we do our plantation, grow taro,” Tago said. “That’s where we get our muscle built.”</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The recruiting game</strong></div>
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Attracted by the size and potential, college coaches have looked for Samoan players for some time now.</div>
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Many players of Samoan descent, such as Troy Polamalu, Marques Tuiasosopo and the late Junior Seau, have made the climb to the NFL.</div>
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The University of Hawaii has been stocking its roster with Samoan players for years.</div>
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Access to the athletes who were already living in Hawaii or on the mainland was simple. Getting to those in American Samoa is a different story.</div>
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Film has often been used to evaluate the players.</div>
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Recruiting trips to American Samoa have always been tough for college coaches.</div>
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“Everyone knows about American Samoa, it’s just that you have flights that are limited, so if you go there, expect to stay there for a couple days because the next flight is three or four days later,” Seumalo said. “And in Samoa, you could probably do it one day, you could do all your reruiting in one day there. But with NCAA rules, these are the dates you can go out and if you go there, you kind of lose a couple days by being out there.</div>
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“We just have to be smart in how we do it.”</div>
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While there is a good group of American Samoan players who made the trip to the U.S. to play football this fall as freshmen, most of them went to junior colleges.</div>
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Four received full-ride scholarships from Division I teams.</div>
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Tago and Mageo were two. The other two are Robert Barber and Destiny Vaeao of Washington State.</div>
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“Coming here, it’s a big deal, so it was a big thing on the island,” Mageo said. “It was all over the newspaper and everywhere.”</div>
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OSU can provide the education and the base for a future career.</div>
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“It’s a way for us to get in and get some of those kids and develop those kids,” Seumalo said. “Because you can count the amount the kids that have grown up in the islands, whether it be Samoa or Tonga, that have made it here and played the game of football.”</div>
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<a href="http://www.gazettetimes.com/sports/beavers-sports/football/osu-football-american-samoan-players-are-a-long-long-long/article_f8ef61f4-e9c1-11e1-91cf-001a4bcf887a.html">Full Article</a></div>
Jodatoahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12629346705481554093noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533960118862171553.post-11677303672380022012012-07-26T17:29:00.000-07:002012-07-26T17:29:39.349-07:00BYU Football Program Increases Efforts to Recruit Polynesians<br />
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Growing up in Samoa, Gabriel Reid was a decent football player and a member of the LDS faith. It was expected in Samoa that any player with talent who was a Mormon would play football at BYU.</div>
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"That's just the way it was back then," said Reid, who played for the Cougars from 2000-02 and the Chicago Bears from 2003-06. His brother Spencer also played for BYU.</div>
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Today, it appears BYU's football staff is trying take advantage of that interest by Polynesian families and their ties to the church. Many big and small college football programs have tapped into Polynesian athletic talent over the decades.</div>
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University of Utah defensive tackle Star Lotulelei, who committed to BYU out of Bingham High, is projected by some to be the No. 1 pick in the 2013 NFL draft.</div>
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Recruiting Polynesia? Local talent?</div>
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Nobody does it better than Utah and BYU.</div>
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It appears BYU is working hard to use its advantages and shift more attention to how it manages and approaches players of Polynesian descent.</div>
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Head coach Bronco Mendenhall recently dispatched offensive coordinator Brandon Doman to Samoa for a goodwill tour.</div>
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"They rolled out the red carpet for him," said Reid.</div>
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For BYU and Utah, recruiting South Pacific bloodlines has paid off big time and is a mainstay of their respective football programs. Of Utah's seven commitments for 2013 so far, it appears six recruits pledged are of Polynesian decent. Of BYU's 19, eight fall into this ethnic group.</div>
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For Mendenhall, recruiting the Polynesian community should be like fishing in a barrel because of the LDS tradition among two and three generations of immigrants.</div>
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If BYU fails to cultivate, manage and reap the benefits, it is a major failure.</div>
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Census records show in 1990 there were 3,904 Tongans in Utah. That number doubled to 8,665 in 2000. The next decade the Tongan numbers in the state increased by 52 percent to 13,235. While Samoan migration to Utah started much slower, it has caught up and an equal number from that country now reside in Utah.</div>
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Most Tongans and Samoans who moved to Utah did so because of the LDS faith. Both countries have LDS high schools and the church recently closed a similar campus in Hamilton, New Zealand. Combine that with popular BYU-Hawaii, and the church educational system has proved a major part of the lives of LDS faithful in the South Pacific.</div>
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It has been reported that 46 percent of the Kingdom of Tonga is LDS. There is a higher per capita of LDS in Tonga than any country in the world.</div>
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This past month, Mendenhall invited LDS leaders of Utah's Polynesian stakes to meet with him. "He reached out to stake presidents and other ecclesiastical leaders who were Polynesian. He explained his vision and how much he needs their help in making sure those who are interested in what BYU has to offer, has that opportunity. He explained the standards, academic policies," said Reid, a member of the Provo Wasatch Tongan Stake high council.</div>
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"It takes a village to raise a child," said Reid. "Mendenhall said if he has a football player who is struggling, he wants to reach out to their stake president, who can make some phone calls in the community to rally and help. This was a great move by Bronco."</div>
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There are three Tongan LDS stakes in Utah. The Provo Wasatch Tongan Stake stretches from Lehi to Santaquin in Utah County. It includes eight wards and two branches, and four of the units are Samoan.</div>
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Reid sees the recent hire of former Cougar running back Mark Atuaia as an assistant athletic director at BYU as a move by the school to reach out to the Polynesian community as a specialist, a liaison that is long overdue.</div>
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Atuaia, one of Hawaii's most celebrated high school stars while at powerhouse Kahuku High on the North Shore of Oahu, is Samoan and beloved from Laie to Provo. He has a best-selling CD as a singer in Hawaii and his wife was the lead singer for the Jets when that rock group was popular more than a decade ago.</div>
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This move followed the trip by Doman to Samoa, where he told gatherings of athletes and coaches and their parents the importance of Polynesian football players to BYU's program.</div>
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"For BYU, coming on the island to recruit is only a natural thing for us to do. Our roots and our foundation of Polynesian culture has been here for years and years at BYU," Doman told the Deseret News after his whirlwind trip to American Samoa.</div>
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"We have 37 Polynesian kids on our team, more than anybody in the country. It had been a few years since we had been (to American Samoa). It was very important that we return to the island. There are fans, alumni and former players on that island that are supportive of <a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/sports/byu-cougars" style="color: #648eac; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">BYU football</a> and BYU in general. If there's ever a place of great resource in the Polynesian community, that is the place. That was the reason for the trip out there. Hopefully we'll find a handful of kids over the next few years that will come here to BYU."</div>
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Whatever shortcomings BYU has shown in past years with Polynesian relations since LaVell Edwards left the program, it appears to Reid and others, the school is addressing those issues.</div>
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Mendenhall recently asked Reid and other former Cougar players to meet with a Polynesian prospect on campus and explain their experiences. "He ended up committing to Mendenhall," said Reid of the local prospect. "I think meeting with alums helped with him and his parents."</div>
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BYU just employed Jason Kaufusi, brother of D-line coach Steve Kaufusi, as a graduate assistant coach as Samoan Shawn Nu'a accepted a job at Navy after completing his graduate work on the football staff.</div>
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In staffing a major college football staff with Polynesians, few have done as well as Kyle Whittingham at Utah. Counting defensive coordinator <a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/topics/2220/Kalani-Sitake.html" style="color: #648eac; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Kalani Sitake</a>, others with South Pacific ties include fullbacks/tight end coach Ilaisa Tuiaki, defensive line coach Chad Kauha'aha'a and strength and conditioning coach Doug Elisaia.</div>
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Utah's staff has proved a great asset to Ute Polynesian players and the success is all over Utah's record since Whittingham followed Urban Meyer, although it is an emphasis that dates back to the Ron McBride era.</div>
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Both BYU and Utah have tapped Polynesian players for half a century. But there might be more of an onus on BYU to do so, noting its unique religion card. It must be a specialty.</div>
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In this regard, BYU has room to grow. The recent hire of Atuaia as an assistant athletic director to Tom Holmoe, speaks to that need.</div>
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"Former ASU star and Oakland Raider Junior Ioane has volunteered to help with the BYU football team," said Reid. "He loves BYU."</div>
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Officially, BYU doesn't utilize volunteers due to possible infractions, and although Ioane has been seen working out on campus, his presence is unofficial.</div>
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So, in the past six months since BYU defeated Tulsa in a bowl game, has BYU developed an enhanced strategy in recruiting Polynesian football players?</div>
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"Absolutely," said Reid. "No question."</div>
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<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765591329/BYU-football-program-increases-efforts-to-recruit-Polynesians.html?pg=all">Full Article</a></div>Jodatoahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12629346705481554093noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533960118862171553.post-86301594117523615962012-05-30T14:51:00.000-07:002012-05-30T14:51:10.846-07:00Top Vegas QB Commits to Cats For Class of '13<br />
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Jarrett Kahanuolaokalani Solomon Jr. goes by Anu, a (much) shortened version of his middle name and a nod to his Hawaiian heritage.</div>
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Call him an Arizona Wildcat.</div>
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Solomon verbally committed to the UA on Sunday morning, giving first-year coach Rich Rodriguez a quarterback to build around starting in 2013.</div>
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Few players in the nation have been as productive as Solomon, a 6-foot-1-inch, 205-pound senior-to-be from Las Vegas Bishop Gorman High School.</div>
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In three seasons as a starter, Solomon has thrown for 7,579 yards - already a state of Nevada record - and 104 touchdowns. His 754 rushing yards and 11 ground scores speak to an electric runner.</div>
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The Scout.com recruiting service lists Solomon as a three-star recruit and the nation's 31st-best quarterback. He visited Tucson during Arizona's spring drills, and witnessed one of Rodriguez's manic practices in person. Solomon chose the UA over offers from Arizona State, Colorado, UCLA, Utah and UNLV.</div>
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"Rich Rodriguez is a different guy. His competitiveness kind of shocked me, how he kept score with the offense and the defense. I liked it," Solomon said. "I just thought of it like this: Where am I going to succeed in the future, and where will I be comfortable at? Arizona stood out the most out of those categories."</div>
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Of Solomon's stats, none are more impressive - or important - than his 43-3 mark as a starter. The Gaels went 16-1 last season and, sparked by Solomon's five first-half touchdown passes, scored 72 points in the 4A state championship game.</div>
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The 17-year-old Solomon is the first premier quarterback to verbally commit to Rodriguez, an offensive guru whose spread-option system requires a quick, capable triggerman.</div>
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The Wildcats tried to lure Old Tappan (N.J.) star Devin Fuller</div>
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in January, but he chose UCLA instead. The UA missed on Scottsdale Chaparral do-everything back Davonte Neal</div>
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a month later.</div>
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Solomon said he's can't wait to move south. Born on Oahu, Solomon moved with his family to Las Vegas - "We call it the ninth island," he quipped - seven years ago. He's friends with former UA running back Keola Antolin, another Gorman product, and familiar with Arizona's long history with Hawaiian and Polynesian players.</div>
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But that wasn't the main reason he chose Arizona, he said.</div>
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"First off, Arizona's a great school," he said. "Rich Rodriguez is going to do great things in the future, and I want to be a part of that."</div>
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<a href="http://azstarnet.com/sports/football/college/wildcats/arizona-football-top-vegas-qb-commits-to-cats-for-class/article_65dbc553-223c-5fcd-8630-39f7e5ef6223.html">Full Article</a></div>Jodatoahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12629346705481554093noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533960118862171553.post-8407011763907685292012-05-08T14:51:00.000-07:002012-05-08T14:51:53.797-07:00Carolina Panthers blocker Amini Silatolu paves path to pros<br />
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The Notre Dame-Nevada matchup the first weekend of the 2009 season might not have captured the country’s interest, but Amini Silatolu was watching.</div>
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A Nevada signee who didn’t qualify academically, Silatolu watched the game from the living room of his parents’ home in northern California – a man without a school.</div>
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“They’re playing at (Notre Dame), and I’m sitting at home watching,” Silatolu said. “And watching them running out on the field, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, that could’ve been me.’ ”</div>
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It took a couple of years at an out-of-the-way football outpost in north Texas, but what could have been has become what will be for the 6-foot-4, 311-pound offensive lineman.</div>
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Through his academic struggles and stops at a California junior college and little-known Midwestern State, Silatolu never lost sight of his goal of making it to the highest level of football – even if he never said much about it.</div>
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Having made it to the NFL as the second-round pick of the Carolina Panthers, the soft-spoken giant who manhandled Division II opponents isn’t going to start boasting now.</div>
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“Off the field I’m the nicest person you’ll ever meet. I’m really quiet and don’t talk too much,” Silatolu said during a recent phone interview. “I’ve never been that overconfident guy that runs his mouth. Instead of doing a lot of talking, I do a lot of walking. That’s just who I am.”</div>
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Silatolu’s journey would have humbled just about any player. But Silatolu was humble long before he became a road-grading lineman.</div>
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Silatolu learned the value of hard work from his parents, Saia and Lupe, who held a series of menial-labor positions after moving to the United States from Tonga in 1985 for a better life.</div>
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And if the YouTube clips of Silatolu driving defensive linemen out of the video frame aren’t enough to quicken the pulse of Panthers fans, his college coach advised: Wait until fans see him in person.</div>
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“For a guy that no one knows anybody about, you’re going to be excited about watching him block,” Midwestern State’s Bill Maskill said. “He’s a guy that doesn’t know but one speed. He goes as hard in practice as he does in games. He just goes all the time.”</div>
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Saia and Lupe Silatolu settled in California after moving from Tonga, a country comprised of 176 islands in the south Pacific. Saia took a job at a gas station, while Lupe worked as a housekeeper at a hotel until her two sons were born 17 months apart.</div>
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When the boys were toddlers, Lupe took them to Tonga to live with her mother for a year while she returned to the States to look for work. While living in Tonga, the boys attended their uncle’s rugby games, the closest thing to American football on the island.</div>
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“As soon as they came back, you could tell they were really into football,” Lupe said. “So Saia took them to join Pop Warner.”</div>
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Silatolu played no other sports growing up. Football was his love, and everything else was a distant second – including homework.</div>
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Despite his parents’ encouragement, “Amini wasn’t really good at school,” his mother said.</div>
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After high school in Tracy, Calif., Silatolu attended San Joaquin Delta College in nearby Stockton. He started two years at left tackle, and had visits scheduled to Hawaii, California and San Jose State, as well as a scholarship offer from Tennessee.</div>
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But they all backed off after seeing Silatolu’s grades. He signed with Nevada, but was ineligible to play for a Division I school because he hadn’t finished his associate’s degree.</div>
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During an unofficial visit to Cal, one of the Bears’ coaches asked Silatolu to name his No. 1 goal, expecting him to mention NFL aspirations. Silatolu surprised him by saying he wanted to play for a four-year school.</div>
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“That’s how it all starts,” Silatolu said. “I never got ahead of myself. I just thought about the next step to get where I needed to be.”</div>
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That next step was Midwestern State, a school with an enrollment of 6,000 in Wichita Falls, Texas, and the alma mater of Dr. Phil (McGraw) of TV fame.</div>
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Within Silatolu’s first three days on campus, Maskill realized he had a devastating blocker.</div>
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“He just knocked the hell out of people,” Maskill said.</div>
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Silatolu dominated the Lone Star Conference from his left tackle position. According to Midwestern State, Silatolu was on the field for 560 pass plays during his two years with the Mustangs, and allowed a half of a sack.</div>
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Silatolu, 23, was a consensus All-American last season while anchoring the top offense in Division II in terms of total yards (531.9 yards a game) and points (48.6).</div>
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But it was the manner in which Silatolu finished blocks that caught the Panthers’ attention.</div>
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“We call it black line,” coach Ron Rivera said the night the Panthers drafted him 40th overall. “You take a guy and take him outside the black line of the (video) screen and he was just gone. That was impressive.”</div>
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Maskill told every scout who visited Wichita Falls (population, 101,000) that Silatolu was a throw-back.</div>
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“He’s mean. He’s tough. He’s nasty. He plays hurt,” Maskill said. “All the things the old guys used to do, he does it.”</div>
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Maskill said Silatolu broke his hand his first fall at Midwestern State. Doctors told him he’d be out the rest of the season. Silatolu missed two games after pins were inserted in the bone, and was back in the lineup.</div>
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Silatolu’s toughness and quiet leadership did not go unnoticed by his teammates, who voted him captain before his senior year. How unassuming was Silatolu? Maskill said he didn’t want to call the coin toss before games.</div>
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“I really don’t think he wanted to be a captain. He never got up in front of the team and spoke. He did not want to bring attention to himself,” Maskill said. “Everyone respected him for what he did, and how he did it.”</div>
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The fact that Silatolu did it against lesser competition was one of the knocks on him before the draft. Another question: How would someone not fond of textbooks handle an NFL playbook?</div>
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Silatolu said he kept his GPA around 2.5 at Midwestern so he could stay eligible. And while Maskill concedes Silatolu “wasn’t a fan of the classroom,” he’s plenty smart.</div>
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A friend of Maskill’s who is a Cleveland Browns assistant put Silatolu at the dry-erase board to diagram plays and go through blocking responsibilities. Silatolu aced it, the coach told Maskill.</div>
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Silatolu also was at the board with Carolina and wasn’t sure he did well. But when the Panthers called him the second night of the draft, he figured it must have gone better than he thought.</div>
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“He’s somebody we’re excited about,” Panthers general manager Marty Hurney said. “When you watch tape, the whole approach he takes, the physical play comes out immediately. He puts opponents on the ground. He’s a very driven young man who’s come a long way.”</div>
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Minutes after hearing from the Panthers, Silatolu got a call from his younger brother. Paul Silatolu, a Naval petty officer, was calling from the USS New York – a ship whose bow includes 7.5 tons of steel salvaged from the World Trade Center wreckage – off the coast of Italy.</div>
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It was a touching moment for the entire family. Nearly a week later, Lupe cried as she recounted the phone call between her only two children.</div>
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“It was very meaningful for us,” she said.</div>
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Though his path to the NFL was more circuitous than most of the other top picks, Silatolu never lost his way.</div>
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“I’ve always believed in myself. Football was always the main thing in my life,” he said. “I knew I always wanted to get to this point. But it doesn’t happen overnight.”</div>
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<br style="margin-top: 0px;" />Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/05/05/3219838/carolina-panthers-blocker-amini.html#storylink=cpy</div>
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<a href="http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/05/05/3219838/carolina-panthers-blocker-amini.html">Full Article</a>Jodatoahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12629346705481554093noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533960118862171553.post-91308541962487396772012-05-04T09:49:00.000-07:002012-05-04T09:49:07.535-07:00In American Samoa, football's already the next big thing<br />
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When a U.S. football team begins competition in the Under-19 World Championship tournament next month at Burger Stadium, it will begin play against what will likely be a wide-eyed team of teen-agers from the South Pacific islands of American Samoa.</div>
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America needs no introduction to Samoa.</div>
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American football coaches, anyway.</div>
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For years, they've beaten a path — or rather, taken the 11-hour flights from the West Coast — to the small U.S. territory that's about the size of the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. Prominent head coaches like Urban Meyer and Mike Bellotti have made their way from their previous jobs at Utah and Oregon to the five volcanic islands that make up American Samoa to scour them for hefty linemen and physical defenders to supplement their rosters.</div>
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Oregon State just signed a linebacker and offensive lineman from American Samoa. Washington State picked up a nationally recruited tight end from there who had once committed to Alabama and a defensive lineman. About half of Hawaii's roster includes players that come from American Samoa lineage.</div>
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"Football's like a meal ticket off the island," said Hawaii middle linebacker T.J. Taimatuia, a redshirt sophomore who was born in Fagasa, American Samoa, but played his high school ball in Artesia, Calif. "It's either the military or football."</div>
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Just three weeks ago, the Marines swore in 30 teen-aged Samoan recruits, and dozens more consider the Coast Guard, Army Reserves and two Army engineering units. Otherwise, they have to try to find work at the local Starkist tuna cannery, the only one left after the Chicken of the Sea factory closed in 2009 and eliminated 3,000 jobs.</div>
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The unemployment rate for a country of about 60,000 stands at 30 percent and rising, according to Mel Purcell, a quasi-general manager for American Samoa's Under-19 national team.</div>
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"Football is opportunities," said Purcell, whose three sons all played the sport, one of them a former Hawaiian player who was drafted by the Cleveland Browns, and another a Penn State linebacker. "Football is an avenue to leave home, get a better education and get to the next level. The NFL is really icing on the cake."</div>
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Go through any Pac-12 roster, said Hawaii assistant coach Tony Tuioti, who leaves for a recruiting trip to New Zealand and Australia on Thursday, and "there'd probably be at least 10 players minimum of Samoan descent." And Samoan players are starting to pop up in the SEC; Tuioti said Hawaii recruited a Samoan guard who ended up signing with LSU.</div>
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Football first came to American Samoa in the 1960s, when ex-Washington Redskins linebacker Al Lolotai, a former pro wrestler in Hawaii, brought the game to his native land and NFL games were later televised on Blue Sky cable. The Samoans took to it like their favorite dish, palusami, which these large extended families serve during huge feasts on Sundays that always included church and the NFL, not necessarily in that order since the games air at 5 a.m. in the South Pacific.</div>
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"That's like caviar to Polynesians," Tuioti said, referring to the local delicacy of corned beef and coconut milk with onions wrapped in taro or spinach leaves. "Samoans have such a passion for football. They have the most football players per capita of almost any country. It's like the Dominican Republic producing baseball players."</div>
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More than 200 American Samoans now dot Division I college rosters, and 30 have progressed to the NFL, none more famous than Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu. He's immensely popular in Samoa — his parents were born there — and he returned there last year with donations of football equipment and uniforms.</div>
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They're also partial to current and former NFL players with Samoan ties, like Chargers and Patriots linebacker Junior Seau, Bengals defensive tackle Domata Peko and Patriots defensive lineman Jonathan Fanene and Raiders quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo, although America Samoa produces very few skill-position players.</div>
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By nature as well as body structure and diet, Samoan football players are both aggressive and big-boned. That's one of the reasons American recruiters relish them. They're disciplined and, because they're not always promised three meals, they tend to still be growing.</div>
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"A player will come over to the mainland at 6-2, and then he'll be 6-5 and 300 pounds," Tuioti said.</div>
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"Samoans like contact. They like to hit things," Tuioti said. "That's why you see most of them on defense, but you're starting to see more and more offensive linemen. We're starting to get some fullbacks because they're similar to linebackers in body type, but we don't have many wideouts that have flat-out speed."</div>
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The game played at American Samoa's six high schools leans heavy to the run game. Hawaii running back Joey Iosefa is a converted 190-pound quarterback who played at the island's powerhouse program at Fagaitua High, which again won last season's championship. Iosefa's weight has grown to 240 pounds.</div>
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American Samoa also has won six of the last eight Samoa Bowls that pit the island's best team against Hawaii's second-tier players. Coaching clinics are all the rage. A youth football league was formed a year ago. Everything's on the rise.</div>
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But American Samoa, as the eighth and last seed in the Under-19 World Championship starting June 30, drew the top-seeded Yanks for its first of three games.</div>
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"We have to go up against the biggest giant in football," Purcell sighed.</div>
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And if American Samoa springs the upset?</div>
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"We'll be able to swim home," Purcell said. "We wouldn't need a plane."</div>
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<a href="http://www.statesman.com/sports/recruiting/in-american-samoa-footballs-already-the-next-big-2335209.html?viewAsSinglePage=true">Full Article</a></div>Jodatoahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12629346705481554093noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533960118862171553.post-28752569560417755762012-04-30T13:45:00.000-07:002012-04-30T13:45:45.582-07:00Jake Muasau Agrees to Terms w/ the New York Giants<br />
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Georgia State linebacker Jake Muasau has agreed to terms on a free-agent contract with the New York Giants, nfl.com reported on Sunday.</div>
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Muasau wasn’t drafted but is the second Panther to join a NFL team <a href="http://blogs.ajc.com/georgia-state-sports/2012/04/28/bilukidi-drafted-by-raiders/" style="color: #5f7387; text-decoration: none;"><strong>after Christo Bilukidi was selected by the Raiders in the sixth round of the NFL draft on Saturday.</strong></a></div>
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Muasau, 6-feet, 1-inch tall and 243 pounds, was one of the top playmakers for coach Bill Curry in the team’s first two seasons.</div>
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He had 106 tackles with 16.5 tackles for loss and three interceptions. He also forced four fumbles and recovered four fumbles.</div>
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<a href="http://blogs.ajc.com/georgia-state-sports/2012/04/29/jake-muasau-agrees-to-terms-with-the-new-york-giants/">Full Article</a></div>Jodatoahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12629346705481554093noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533960118862171553.post-67187469036794568962012-04-29T00:52:00.001-07:002012-04-29T00:54:22.086-07:00Stanford WR Owusu Will Sign w/ 49ers<br />
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Stanford wide receiver Chris Owusu will sign with the 49ers as an undrafted free agent, his agent confirmed tonight.</div>
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Projected as at least a mid-round pick before his senior season, Owusu went undrafted due to concerns about his injury history. He had three concussions in a 13-month span during the latter part of his college career. Owusu had two concussions in three weeks during his senior season and missed Stanford’s final four games.</div>
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At the NFL combine, Owusu’s 40-yard dash time (4.36 seconds) matched the fastest by a wide receiver. His broad jump (10 feet, 9 inches) ranked second among wideouts, and his vertical jump (40.5 inches) was third.</div>
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Limited to 10 starts in his final two seasons, Owusu had 60 catches for 772 yards and five touchdowns as a junior and senior. He could also have value as a returner. As a sophomore, he tied a record in what was then the Pac-10 by returning three kickoffs for touchdowns. He had six kickoff returns of 50-plus yards in his career.</div>
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* Stanford defensive lineman Matt Masifilo just stopped by the media trailer after signing with the 49ers as an undrafted free agent. Masifilo said Stanford safety Michael Thomas will also sign with the team and reunite with Jim Harbaugh.</div>
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Masifilo became the first undrafted rookie to sign a free-agent contract, driving over to Santa Clara from Palo Alto.</div>
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“Coach Harbaugh likes to cut drag,” Masifilo said. “He said it’s a competition to get down here as fast you can.”</div>
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Masifilo beat Owusu to the 49ers headquarters. Owusu is at home in Southern California.</div>
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“That’s probably … the last race I’ll ever beat Chris in,” the 6-3, 300-pound Masifilo said.<br />
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<a href="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-combine/09000d5d827cc1b9/2012-Combine-workout-Chris-Owusu">(Chris Owusu 2012 NFL Combine Workout Video Link)</a></div>
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<a href="http://blog.sfgate.com/49ers/2012/04/28/stanford-wr-owusu-will-sign-with-49ers-as-ufa/">Full Article</a></div>Jodatoahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12629346705481554093noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533960118862171553.post-508305558128695242012-04-29T00:46:00.001-07:002012-04-29T00:46:08.984-07:00Washington Redskins Sign Undrafted NT Vaughn Meatoga<br />
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<span style="color: #373737; font-family: 'Droid Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px;">The </span><a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1161610-washington-redskins-2012-draft-picks-results-analysis-and-grades" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #003366; font-family: 'Droid Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Washington Redskins</a><span style="color: #373737; font-family: 'Droid Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px;"> have reportedly signed Hawaii nose tackle Vaughn Meatoga, according to </span><a href="http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/17914295/brown-drafted-by-rams-meatoga-paredes-sign-as-fas" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #003366; font-family: 'Droid Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Hawaiinewsnow.com.</a><span style="color: #373737; font-family: 'Droid Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px;"> He was left undrafted, but has the size and tenacity to compete for playing time at the most important position on the</span><a href="http://bleacherreport.com/washington-redskins" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #003366; font-family: 'Droid Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Redskins</a><span style="color: #373737; font-family: 'Droid Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px;">' 3-4 defense.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Meatoga is a studious lineman who possesses tremendous balance and leverage. He uses his hands well and is aggressive enough to hold up at the point of attack and violently shed blockers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">At only 294 pounds, he is maybe a little too small for the modern prototype <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/nfl" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #003366; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">NFL</a> nose tackle position. However, his ability to be active inside and use his initial quickness to shift along the line and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UR95ajz2cQc&feature=player_popout" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #003366; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">create pressure,</a> can be assets to the Redskins.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Some 3-4 schemes have benefited from a smaller player on the nose, and in some ways Meatoga can be compared to former NFL pro Jason Ferguson. Drafted in the seventh round of the 1997 draft by Bill Parcells, Ferguson enjoyed a highly productive career anchoring 3-4 defenses for the <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1161499-new-york-jets-2012-nfl-draft-picks-grades-results-and-analysis" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #003366; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">New York Jets</a>, <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1161581-dallas-cowboys-2012-draft-picks-results-analysis-and-grades" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #003366; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Dallas Cowboys</a> and <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1161555-miami-dolphins-2012-nfl-draft-picks-grades-results-and-analysis" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #003366; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Miami Dolphins</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Meatoga joins cornerback Chase Minnifield as the second marquee rookie free agent signed by the Redskins. Both additions are smart moves, adding depth and potential at key positions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Meatoga will be given the opportunity to compete with 2011 seventh-rounder Chris Neild for playing time in a rotation with veteran Barry Cofield.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-combine/09000d5d827c9cb3/2012-Combine-workout-Vaughn-Meatoga">(Vaughn Meatoga 2012 NFL Combine Video Link)</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1165123-grading-the-washington-redskins-signing-of-undrafted-nt-vaughn-meatoga">Full Article</a></span></div>Jodatoahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12629346705481554093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533960118862171553.post-38938225593276570132012-04-29T00:04:00.000-07:002012-04-29T00:04:32.518-07:00Seahawks Swoop Up Lavasier Tuinei<br />
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Former Oregon receiver Lavasier Tuinei has come to terms on a free agent deal with the Seattle Seahawks.</div>
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The Ducks leading receiver in 2011 was named Rose Bowl Offensive Player of the Game with career-highs with eight catches and 158 yards as well as two touchdowns against Wisconsin.</div>
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According to the <a href="http://blog.seahawks.com/2012/04/28/seahawks-agree-with-10-free-agents/" style="color: #176da6; text-decoration: none;">Seahawks website,</a>they have also signed Washington WR Jermaine Kearse.</div>
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<span style="background-color: #ebebeb; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ov9erZEx-T0" width="560"></iframe></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #ebebeb; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;"><i>(A look at Oregon wide receiver Lavasier Tuinei before the Washington game. Nicole Abeyta reports.)</i></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.kpic.com/sports/Seahawks-sign-Lavasier-Tuinei-149394455.html">Full Article</a></div>Jodatoahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12629346705481554093noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533960118862171553.post-20924604837702557472012-04-28T13:34:00.004-07:002012-04-28T13:34:46.061-07:00Senio Kelemete to Cardinals<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSzoSFsySId5KqRP0i6Z-Hragx9Vb1rvSuD-x_NV0uuF791oBG38Q&t=1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSzoSFsySId5KqRP0i6Z-Hragx9Vb1rvSuD-x_NV0uuF791oBG38Q&t=1" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fbfbfd; color: #333333; text-align: -webkit-left;">With their fifth-round selection, the Cards took Washington G/T Senio Kelemete (6-4, 307), who played his final two seasons with the Huskies at LT but is viewed by scouts as a better fit at G. The Cards are set for starters at RG and LG with </span><player class="player" idref="408588" style="background-color: #fbfbfd; color: #333333; text-align: -webkit-left;" title="Colledge,Daryn"><a href="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/408588/daryn-colledge" style="color: #6e8dcf; text-decoration: none;">Daryn Colledge</a> </player><span style="background-color: #fbfbfd; color: #333333; text-align: -webkit-left;">and </span><player class="player" idref="421286" style="background-color: #fbfbfd; color: #333333; text-align: -webkit-left;" title="Snyder,Adam"><a href="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/421286/adam-snyder" style="color: #6e8dcf; text-decoration: none;">Adam Snyder</a></player><span style="background-color: #fbfbfd; color: #333333; text-align: -webkit-left;">, but Kelemete provides depth after the Cards lost </span><a href="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/504550/deuce-lutui" style="background-color: #fbfbfd; color: #6e8dcf; text-align: -webkit-left; text-decoration: none;">Deuce Lutui</a><span style="background-color: #fbfbfd; color: #333333; text-align: -webkit-left;"> to the Seahawks in free agency and released last year's RG starter, </span><player class="player" idref="492949" style="background-color: #fbfbfd; color: #333333; text-align: -webkit-left;" title="Hadnot,Rex"><a href="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/492949/rex-hadnot" style="color: #6e8dcf; text-decoration: none;">Rex Hadnot</a></player><span style="background-color: #fbfbfd; color: #333333; text-align: -webkit-left;">.</span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kelemete is the ideal size for an offensive guard at 6'4" and between 305-310 pounds. He also has good hands and feet and a powerful lower half. Fires off the ball quickly. Has a mean streak befitting a former defensive player, and he will be a solid run-blocker. Beefy enough to handle inside pass rush and can help his tackle with defensive ends rushing inside shoulder.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He needs more experience and needs to work on his technique. He sometimes plays too upright and appears off-balance when he stands up to pass block. Lacks elite footwork or size needed to play offensive tackle in the NFL.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kelemete is inexperienced at offensive guard and has only been playing on the offensive line since 2009, so he may be a bit too raw to step into a starting role in his rookie season. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Given a couple years of coaching and game experience, Kelemete should be a solid offensive guard in the NFL for many years to come.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Droid Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">On paper, this seems like a prudent pick for the </span><a href="http://bleacherreport.com/arizona-cardinals" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #003366; font-family: 'Droid Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Cardinals</a><span style="font-family: 'Droid Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">. The ball can't get to </span><a href="http://bleacherreport.com/larry-fitzgerald" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #003366; font-family: 'Droid Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Larry Fitzgerald</a><span style="font-family: 'Droid Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> unless the QB is protected, and Kelemete could evolve into a starter in that role. </span>
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<span style="font-family: 'Droid Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/09000d5d827caa73/2012-combine-workout-Senio-Kelemete">(Senio Kelemete's 2012 NFL Combine video link)</a></span></div>
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<a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1151403-senio-kelemete-to-cardinals-video-highlights-scouting-report-and-analysis">Full Article</a></div>Jodatoahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12629346705481554093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533960118862171553.post-88885524627916734752012-04-28T11:07:00.000-07:002012-04-28T11:10:36.240-07:00Steelers Trade Up To Take DT Alameda Ta'Amu<br />
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The Pittsburgh Steelers have selected Washington defensive tackle Alameda Ta'Amu in the fourth round of the NFL Draft.</div>
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The Steelers moved up 10 spots to grab Ta'Amu, exchanging fourth-round picks with the Washington Redskins while also giving the Redskins a sixth-round choice.</div>
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The 6-foot-3, 348-pound Ta-Amu gives Pittsburgh needed depth at nose tackle. Longtime backup Chris Hoke retired in January and veteran Casey Hampton is recovering from knee surgery.</div>
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Ta'Amu had 30 tackles and four sacks during his senior year with the Huskies and was an honorable mention All Pac-12 selection.</div>
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<a href="http://www.nj.com/newsflash/index.ssf/story/steelers-trade-up-to-take-dt-alameda/3e33e81c060f4832b78c627582464de7">Full Article</a></div>Jodatoahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12629346705481554093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533960118862171553.post-69049521398479638602012-04-27T22:59:00.000-07:002012-04-28T00:49:34.934-07:00Panthers Load Up On O-line With Silatolu<br />
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<a href="http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/002/043/285/AminiSilatolu_display_image.jpg?1332180273" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="294" src="http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/002/043/285/AminiSilatolu_display_image.jpg?1332180273" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">The need wasn’t immediate, but that didn’t stop the </span><a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/car/carolina-panthers" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: rgb(96, 143, 214) !important; font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></a><a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/car/carolina-panthers" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: rgb(96, 143, 214) !important; font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Carolina Panthers</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">They just selected Midwestern State offensive lineman </span><a href="http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/28689/amini-silatolu" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: rgb(96, 143, 214) !important; font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Amini Silatolu</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> in the second round (40</span><sup style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0.75em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 2px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">th</sup><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> overall). </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">This one comes as a bit of a surprise. Most of Carolina’s remaining needs are on defense and their offensive line is in pretty good shape. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Silatolu played left tackle in college, but projects as an NFL guard. The Panthers appear to be set there with </span><a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/8583/geoff-hangartner" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: rgb(96, 143, 214) !important; font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Geoff Hangartner</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> and </span><a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/11293/mike-pollak" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: rgb(96, 143, 214) !important; font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Mike Pollak</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> as the likely starters and </span><a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/14753/byron-bell" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: rgb(96, 143, 214) !important; font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Byron Bell</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">providing some depth. But this pick wasn’t about immediate need. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Silatolu is a guy with huge upside, but he likely will need a little time to develop. He’ll get that time with Hangartner and Pollak ahead of him. But the Panthers want to protect quarterback </span><a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/13994/cam-newton" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: rgb(96, 143, 214) !important; font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Cam Newton</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> for the long term. Pollak was signed only to a one-year contract and Hangartner isn’t much better than average. The Panthers obviously are hoping Silatolu can be better than average in a year or two. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">It also is possible the Panthers could view Silatolu as a tackle. There is some uncertainty at right tackle because of </span><a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/11253/jeff-otah" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: rgb(96, 143, 214) !important; font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Jeff Otah</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">'s injury problems. But the Panthers already have some depth there with </span><a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/12906/garry-williams" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: rgb(96, 143, 214) !important; font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Garry Williams</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> and Bell.</span>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><a href="http://www.panthers.com/media-vault/videos/Hurney-Rivera-on-Silatolu/b8345cc8-41bd-4754-a9c9-ab002edf279c">(Hurney & Rivera discuss their pick of Silatolu video link)</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcsouth/post/_/id/34451/panthers-load-up-on-o-line-with-silatolu">Full Article</a></span></span></div>Jodatoahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12629346705481554093noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533960118862171553.post-26218589538774566042012-03-13T14:58:00.000-07:002012-03-13T15:02:28.329-07:002012 NFL Draft Prospect Profile: Amini Silatolu, OG, Midwestern State<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There are always a few small-school NFL Draft prospects you may never have heard of or seen on your television on Saturday afternoons in the fall, but who find the eye of NFL scouts nonetheless. One of the most intriguing prospect in that category for 2012 is Amini Silatolu, a 6-foot-3, 312-pound offensive guard from someplace called Midwestern State.</div>
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When I went looking for scouting reports on Silatolu, they all said pretty much the same thing. The one <a href="http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/college_player_scouting_report.html&player=100015" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #c90001; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">from Wes Bunting of the National Football Post</a> was typical:</div>
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<i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">"He has some technique flaws that needs to be fixed and will need to kick inside at the next level. However, he's a wide-bodied athlete with a powerful/explosive frame, good foot quickness and can really pull from the backside. Might need some time, but is one of the top guards in the class with as much upside as any."</i></div>
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<a href="http://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1533960118862171553" name="storyjump" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #c90001; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></a><img alt="Star-divide" src="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/images/blog/star-divide.v5e9d7f1.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; height: 8px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 32px;" /></div>
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The very lengthy video below shows Silatolu as a man among boys as he shows his mean streak by pretty much brutalizing outclassed and under-sized opponents.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><object height="360" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5y1vMglvFlE&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3">
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<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Amini Silatolu Highlights (via <a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=5y1vMglvFlE" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #c90001; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">benniemac22</a>)</i></div>
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<a href="http://www.d2football.com/prohopefuls/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #c90001; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">D2Football.com</a> says:</div>
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<i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">"Played left tackle in college but will kick inside to guard at the next level because he lacks the length to play outside in the NFL. He is raw but very mean and strong making him an ideal fit at guard. There are concerns about how quickly he will pick up the offensive system, which is why his grade is lower, but if he picks it up then he has a shot to start one day."</i></div>
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CBS Sports says <a href="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfldraftscout-DaneBrugler" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #c90001; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Silatolu "could be a first-round surprise"</a> and might be a fit for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/new-york-giants" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #c90001; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Giants</a>:</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">"One of the biggest reasons for the Giants' success in recent years has been their talent in the trenches, but the aging offensive line needs a facelift. Despite a talented backfield of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/16768/ahmad-bradshaw" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #c90001; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ahmad Bradshaw</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/2224/brandon-jacobs" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #c90001; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Brandon Jacobs</a>, the Giants finished last in the league in rushing yards per game and a large part of the blame belongs to the blockers. Although he played against lower level of competition, Silatolu might be one of the most aggressive blockers in this group. He started at left tackle in college, but looks ideal moving inside to guard and could be a first round surprise."</i></div>
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<a href="http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/amini-silatolu?id=2532947" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #c90001; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">NFL.com</a> says:</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">"Silatolu is a large, athletic interior lineman who has the ability to smother his opponents and consistently sustain his blocks through the end of plays. Coming from a small school like Midwestern State facing little competition, he will have an adjustment period far greater than other linemen as he enters the league. It is likely that a team will want to move him from his college position of tackle to inside, where his height will be more serviceable and he can use his athletic ability to get up field more often in the run game. Silatolu's greatest attribute is his footwork, as he is quick off the line of scrimmage and an active puller who can get outside, move up field and locate his blocks to quickly engage. He does not have great leverage or explosiveness in his play but possesses many strong assets for an interior lineman, giving him early second-round value to a team with the patience to develop him into a starter."</i></div>
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I am intrigued by the reports on this guy. The Giants are OK at guard for now with <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/2256/chris-snee" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #c90001; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Chris Snee</a> and either <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/3290/kevin-boothe" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #c90001; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Kevin Boothe</a> or <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/108493/mitch-petrus" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #c90001; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Mitch Petrus</a>, possibly affording them the ability to draft someone like this who might require some patience but pay long-range dividends. We also know Reese and the Giants always think big picture, another thing that might put a player like this in play.</div>
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<a href="http://www.bigblueview.com/2012/3/12/2861003/2012-nfl-draft-prospect-profile-amini-silatolu-og-midwestern-state">Full Article</a></div>
<br />Jodatoahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12629346705481554093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533960118862171553.post-76327784386934122962012-03-13T14:29:00.000-07:002012-03-13T14:29:24.947-07:00The Shock's Kindred Spirits<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white;">At the Shock practice facility, there's no shortage of grit on the gridiron. Talented athletes come from all over the country to play for the Shock. </span></div>
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For offensive linemen Shannon Tevaga and Paulani Ma Sun, football is a game that builds fierce competition, "especially with our practices; our practices are rough," Tevaga said. </div>
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Tevaga, 6'-3" and 315 lbs., spent his rookie season with Spokane last year and helped anchor the Shock's offensive line. Tevaga was placed on the Injured Reserve list earlier in the season but, once he was healthy, he made an instant impact earning the starting position in all seven of the games he played. </div>
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Ma Su, 6'-5" and 320 lbs., appeared in 11 Shock games last year and recorded two receptions for 25 yards as a tight end on the offensive line. </div>
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For this pair, the game also builds character - in every sense of the word.</div>
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"We have a lot of characters amongst our players," Shock owner and CEO Brady Nelson explained. "They're all characters."</div>
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Ma Sun said, "We like to have fun on and off the field."</div>
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The pair met last year - Tevaga hails from California and Ma Sun from Hawaii - but sitting together after practice on afternoon they seem more like long-lost brothers, poking fun at each other the whole time.</div>
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"We joke a lot, we make it fun," Ma Sun continued. "We enjoy our time when we're out here." </div>
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"It's very exciting being with Paulani cause we're both Samoan, both Polynesian," Tevaga said.</div>
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It's a bond the they use to their advantage on the field. "It works to our advantage because we speak the same language, especially when we play other teams," Ma Sun said. </div>
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In addition to sharing the same position, culture, and language the players also share one other thing: the same apartment. </div>
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"At the beginning - because he got the master bedroom - I didn't think was fair cause I'm the master," Tevaga joked of their living situation. </div>
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To ease the players' transition to Spokane and focus on football, the Shock put up all of the players in fully furnished apartments in Liberty Lake, free of charge. </div>
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"I'm not going to lie, we're spoiled out here," Tevaga said, whose apartment comes with all new furniture and appliances including a new big screen TV. Nelson said the players also have new weight equipment in the gym this year. </div>
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Back on the field, there are a few things these players won't joke about including their love for the fans.</div>
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"The fans are good," Tevaga continued. "Every time we go around, they always give us love."</div>
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They are also serious when it comes to winning it all this season. </div>
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"That's why we came back - to win a championship."</div>
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SWX will air eight home games, including the regular season finale on Saturday, July 21, against Tampa Bay.</div>
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<a href="http://www.swxrightnow.com/story/17148053/the-shocks-kindred-spirits">Full Article</a></div>Jodatoahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12629346705481554093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533960118862171553.post-70785824450460090152012-03-13T14:24:00.000-07:002012-03-13T14:24:10.828-07:00Falcons Add Lofa Tatupu<br />
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ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the Falcons <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/AdamSchefter/statuses/178585357225426946" style="color: #d81718;">have reached a contract agreement</a>with free agent linebacker <a class="nameLink" href="http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/3189/lofa-tatupu" style="color: black; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none !important;">Lofa Tatupu</a>.</div>
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Tatupu sat out all of last season while recovering from double knee surgeries. Atlanta<a href="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/09/falcons-work-out-free-agent-lofa-tatupu/" style="color: #d81718;">worked him out Friday morning</a> and struck the deal Saturday afternoon.</div>
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New Falcons defensive coordinator Mike Nolan coached against Tatupu for several years in the NFC West, when Tatupu was Seattle’s middle linebacker and Nolan was San Francisco’s head coach.</div>
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The Falcons have a void at inside linebacker with <a class="nameLink" href="http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/4657/curtis-lofton" style="color: black; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none !important;">Curtis Lofton</a> appearing poised to test the free agent waters. Tatupu could end up competing for that spot with 2011 third-round pick <a class="nameLink" href="http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/6628/akeem-dent" style="color: black; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none !important;">Akeem Dent</a>.</div>
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<a href="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/10/falcons-add-lofa-tatupu-after-year-away-from-the-game/">Full Article</a></div>Jodatoahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12629346705481554093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533960118862171553.post-70397421337766492802011-10-15T00:27:00.000-07:002011-10-15T00:27:30.411-07:00Stamp of Approval To Go On American Haka<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://static2.stuff.co.nz/1317460074/247/5717247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
It's the haka, but not as we know it.
</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<a href="http://static2.stuff.co.nz/1317460074/247/5717247.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://static2.stuff.co.nz/1317460074/247/5717247.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: small;">As the All Blacks international fame grows, an American college
football team has taken to performing a whooping, crowing, hybridised
version of the team's haka Ka Mate before games.
</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Ka Mate guardians Ngati Toa said they have no problem with the team
using the haka – but they could do with a bit of discipline and
technique.
</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The San Mateo Bulldogs American Football team has posted footage of
its pre-match haka on its Facebook page and it is clearly based on Ka
Mate.
</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The players stand in a circle whooping and jumping during the
routine which then breaks into part of another haka, possibly Ngati
Kahungunu's Tika Tonu, at the end.
</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"You can't fault their enthusiasm," said Teariki Wi Neera, who is on Ngati Toa's Ka Mate sub-committee.
</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
But he said their rendition was a bit like "a bad Coke ad".
</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"We're incredibly proud of Ka Mate and we prefer to see it done properly."
</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Wi Neera said Ngati Toa would be happy to provide some instruction,
an offer Bulldogs assistant coach Tim Tulloch said his players would be
"ecstatic" to receive.
</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Tulloch said the players started performing haka before their games
in 2009 and that year the team won the Northern California
championships.
</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"I think it catapulted us to that championship. There's not a game
since we have been doing this that we have not been ready for battle."
</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The team performs the haka in the dressing room as performing it on
the field is a "decorum violation". Two decorum violations see a team
suspended from the competition.
</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Tulloch said San Mateo, just south of San Francisco, had a large
Polynesian population and one of the players on the team, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150321620313602">Samoan Lyman Faoliu, had selected the haka they wanted to perform</a>.
</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Faoliu had taught the team about the haka's history and significance
but some input from a real Maori tribe would be "amazing", Tulloch
said. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/5717467/Stamp-of-approval-to-go-on-American-haka">Full Article</a> </span></div>Jodatoahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12629346705481554093noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533960118862171553.post-2414567734389084142011-10-13T14:09:00.000-07:002011-10-13T14:09:42.984-07:00New York Jets Add Martin Tevaseu to Active Roster<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/entry_photo_images/2060894/86832_Jets_Camp_Football.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/entry_photo_images/2060894/86832_Jets_Camp_Football.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/new-york-jets">Jets</a> have signed defensive tackle <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/111349/martin-tevaseu">Martin Tevaseu</a> to the active roster.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The UNLV product was activated for the AFC Championship Game last
season and played well in the snaps he got. He also started over <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/4162/kenrick-ellis">Kenrick Ellis</a> in preseason when <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/1259/sione-pouha">Sione Pouha</a> was hurt. This move probably makes it less likely you will see Ellis on Monday.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The move is timely since the Jets are facing a backup quarterback getting his first start of the year Monday.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I like Tevaseu. He has played pretty well in that Playoff game last
year and then in stretches of preseason ball. This coaching staff seems
to do very well drilling consistent technique into defensive linemen.
The undrafted player could potentially work himself into the equation as
part of the rotation if he plays well.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;">This might also send a message to the defensive line as the Jets have
given up big rushing days two of the last three times out. It could
also have to do with a knee injury <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/34631/ropati-pitoitua">Ropati Pitoitua</a> is allegedly nursing.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.ganggreennation.com/2011/10/12/2486364/new-york-jets-add-martin-tevaseu-to-active-roster">Full Article </a></span></div>Jodatoahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12629346705481554093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533960118862171553.post-86256639060471291072011-10-11T15:47:00.000-07:002011-10-11T15:47:06.288-07:00Pride Pushes Te'o To Greatness<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>He's more than just a big man on campus.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>Manti Te'o is Notre Dame's Big Kahuna.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>The
junior Irish linebacker is the most popular export from paradise since
pineapples and the Elvis Presley Classic, "Blue Hawaii."</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>Here on the mainland, or any other land, the 6-foot-2, 255-pound Te'o is special.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://static.foxsports.com/content/fscom/img/2010/12/15/2_20101215231633988_0_0.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://static.foxsports.com/content/fscom/img/2010/12/15/2_20101215231633988_0_0.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>He's a tackling machine, fueled by skill and precision. Every stop is a clinic, heavy on fundamentals.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>Te'o is so good, Notre Dame football fans might be tempted to take him for granted. Opposing offenses certainly won't.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>If he's not making 21 tackles, like he did last season against Stanford, Te'o's efforts risk being considered pedestrian.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>In
last week's win over Purdue, Te'o had eight tackles. Hardly
eye-popping. But with three tackles for loss, including a sack, his
performance caught the attention of head coach Brian Kelly.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>"He
might have had his best game against Purdue," Kelly said. "He was very
detailed. He's never a guy we worry about in terms of how he's going to
play. Sometimes he tries to do too much. I thought that was his most
disciplined game.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>"He can recognize things before they happen. That's film study. The really great players have that."</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>Te'o
had somewhat of a challenge going into the Purdue game. Coaches didn't
hesitate to remind him that last year's season-opener against Purdue may
have been his worst game.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>"We
talked about (how bad he played against Purdue last year)," said Irish
defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Bob Diaco. "He had a lot of
opportunity for production that didn't happen."</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>"I
obviously understand what kind of game I had last year," Te'o said. "It
wasn't the kind of game I want to have. I was just looking to get
better, make sure it didn't happen again."</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>While
cutting his teeth as a big-time contributor within the Notre Dame
defense last year, Te'o dealt with growing pains. Consistency suffered.
One time he'd lay the wood. The next, he'd whiff.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>"We
identified liabilities in every single player," Diaco said. "The
players that are really at the top of their game, it's easy to just
overlook them and focus on ...</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span>"(Te'o)
had things in his scheme that he needed to clean up. In the offseason, I
made a cut-up of plays of just him and gave him an opportunity to watch
it. It made a pretty big impact on him. From that moment, he's made a
concerted effort, not only to do the things that we're working on, but
he takes a lot of time and focuses on his liabilities - angles, foot
action, transition from speed to power. He's basically eradicated that
from his game."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span>"That
cut-up (Diaco) made, showed me the mistakes I made," Te'o said. "It
started from my angles. I got to see what happened. When you look at it
like that, you can visualize, analyze and correct it. My dad (Brian)
helped me a lot, reminding me of basic tackling fundamentals.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span>"I'm
still trying to find a balance (in tackling). I'm trying to knock
somebody out every time I hit them. I'm learning, when I'm in space and
it's open-field tackling, it's not necessarily smart to try to take
somebody's head off.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span>"If
there's an opportunity to take somebody out, I'll take advantage of
that. If it's open-field and I need to get the guy down, I'll get the
guy down."</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><a href="http://articles.southbendtribune.com/2011-10-06/news/30252870_1_notre-dame-football-manti-te-o-brian-kelly">Full Article </a></span></span></div>Jodatoahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12629346705481554093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533960118862171553.post-85854545419034079972011-09-12T10:25:00.000-07:002011-09-12T10:34:59.600-07:00Time To Re-Sign Haloti Ngata<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"></span><br />
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One of the biggest stories of the Ravens offseason were the contract negotiations of Haloti Ngata. The Ravens defensive tackle holds the team’s franchise tag this season and was frequently referred to by local and national media as a reason that Baltimore was unable to make a large free agent splash. After week one, fans aren’t so worried about that anymore.</div>
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Ngata proved his worth once again with a dominant performance against the Ravens rival the Pittsburgh Steelers. In Baltimore’s 35-7 win, Ngata came up with two fumbles and tipped a pass that resulted in an interception. (It’s crazy to think that those turnovers were less than half of the defense’s total on the day!)</div>
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Ngata is a force on the Ravens defense. Not only can he cause chaos to quarterbacks and running backs, but he also has the speed to catch guys in the middle of the field. His size to speed ratio makes no sense, but it’s perfect for the Ravens d.</div>
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After the game, <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/RavensInsider/status/112993743631683584" style="color: #2c2c2c; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" title="Ngata's contact status remains the same">Ngata told Aaron Wilson that his contract status remains the same</a>. He said that he lets his agents handle the deal, “hopefully it will get done,” he said.</div>
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<a href="http://baltimoresportsreport.com/time-to-re-sign-haloti-ngata-19076.html">Full Article</a></div>
Jodatoahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12629346705481554093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533960118862171553.post-10004621660013679352011-09-01T17:28:00.000-07:002011-09-01T17:28:02.509-07:00So'oto, Lattimore Battle Way Onto Field<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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The position was new. The attitude, not so much.</div>
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Arms crossed, Vic So'oto stands at his locker. This 6-foot-3, 263-pound brick house of a man admits his temper is short. His patience runs low.</div>
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A tight end-turned-defensive end at Brigham Young, So'oto was converted to outside linebacker in the Green Bay Packers' 3-4 scheme. Management figured position coach Kevin Greene could never have too many fire-breathing pupils.</div>
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Yes, it's been a perfect fit.</div>
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"As a Polynesian, Samoan type of guy, cracking skulls comes naturally," So'oto said. "It's something you're born with."</div>
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One more game of "cracking skulls" is probably all So'oto needs to lock up a roster spot. Heading into Thursday's preseason finale against the Kansas City Chiefs at Lambeau Field, So'oto and fellow undrafted rookie Jamari Lattimore of Middle Tennessee State are positioned well. Both outside linebackers have grown up as quick as anyone on the team.</div>
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Good timing, too. Erik Walden ran away with the starting spot opposite Clay Matthews, but the backup slots at outside linebacker remain jumbled.</div>
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After suffering a broken shoulder blade, Frank Zombo's immediate future is uncertain. Brad Jones, expected to compete for a starting spot, hasn't stood out. And sixth-rounder Ricky Elmore never adapted.</div>
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Which leaves So'oto and Lattimore. They're cast in two completely different body types. So'oto is built like a security guard, Lattimore like he could double at safety. In a hurry, both matured from half-clueless rookies to contributors on the verge of cracking an NFL roster.</div>
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"I feel like everything is coming to a head," So'oto said. "This is the last game to prove myself. Hopefully I can do something that the coaches like and they'll want to keep me around."</div>
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Transitioning from a 4-3 end to a 3-4 outside linebacker runs deeper than X's and O's. Greene, a 15-year NFL veteran at the position, explains.</div>
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"It's always a vision thing," Greene said. "You go from having your hand in the dirt and looking straight ahead to standing up and actually having to acquire all of the eligibles and where they line up and what does that mean to you and your pass coverage."</div>
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So'oto relies on the darkness inside of him, his mean streak. Part of him wants to be a UFC fighter. He loves watching George St. Pierre and Rampage Jackson. His given name, Vitale Ta'aga Magauli So'oto, even has a cagefighting ring to it. So'oto knows his wife - the driving force behind him picking Green Bay over Arizona and Miami after the lockout - would not approve.</div>
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So football it is.</div>
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One ESPN article estimated that a Samoan boy is 40% more likely to reach the NFL than any other boy in America. So'oto has one theory. It's in his makeup to embrace contact, to be the aggressor.</div>
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The "warrior mentality" of the culture, So'oto says, dates back to when fossils from all over the world were found in Samoa.</div>
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"When you travel somewhere, and don't know someone else, you automatically fight," he said. "So it's fun to be from something like that . . . It's no-nonsense, short temper. You're happy-go-lucky until it's time to strap it up. That's just how I've always been."</div>
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Last weekend was So'oto's breakout performance. He has been assignment-sure in practice, rarely enveloped at the point of attack. Against the Colts, he beat starting right tackle Ryan Diem and forced a fumble that Green Bay recovered. Then, on a second-and-1 play in the fourth quarter, So'oto showed good instincts in immediately penetrating into the backfield to lasso running back Darren Evans.</div>
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"I'm a really laid-back guy until game time," So'oto said. "If I were to fight, it'd be totally different. It's football, just football."</div>
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Greene, by nature, is a fan.</div>
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"I hope I inspire all my kids to mix that (crap) up," Greene said. "We need to get up into peoples' grilles. Absolutely. Vic is passionate about the game. That's what I preach all the time. You have to love hitting people."</div>
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With Lattimore, textbook technique is imperative. The 2010 Sun Belt defensive player of the year relied on pure athleticism in college to total 68 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 11½ sacks and 10 quarterback hurries. In the pros, at 230 pounds, he's ultra light for the position.</div>
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As of now, Lattimore often takes on blockers 75 to 100 pounds heavier. Greene stresses, however, that Lattimore can overcome this discrepancy with the proper footwork and hand placement.</div>
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In his playing days, Greene's playing weight hovered in the 242-to-245-pound range. At one point, in a 4-3 scheme, he even dipped to 238 pounds. The plan with Lattimore is obviously to pack on weight. Today, 3-4 outside linebackers must play between 245 and 252 pounds, Greene said. The game has evolved.</div>
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It's difficult to pack on pounds during the 90-degree dog days of training camp. Soon, Lattimore will start a weight-gaining diet of some sort.</div>
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In the meantime, technique has helped him survive and thrive.</div>
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"Something I learned as a player was that no matter how big an opponent was, as long as I had good technique, I could defeat that opponent," Greene said. "Now (Lattimore) is playing a position that requires him to be a little heavier. He's light at 230, but with the right technique he can beat someone that's 330."</div>
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Added Lattimore, "With the right technique, you can do it all. Technique and fundamentals. Every day, nonstop."</div>
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And, Lattimore does have some experience at the position. As a kid, he always played as the Carolina Panthers on the video game, Madden. He'd toggle his controller to Kevin Greene and blitz off the edge. Little did Lattimore know that exact job would be his ticket to the NFL.</div>
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And Greene would be his coach.</div>
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"He knows what he's talking about and been in that position," Lattimore said. "I haven't told him I played as him. I don't want him to get big-headed."</div>
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Expect to see plenty of both rookies Thursday night. They've come a long ways. That first week of practice, Dom Capers' scheme was a maze of confusion. Offensive players motioned and Lattimore admits, on some plays, he had no idea what to do. Now Lattimore and So'oto are confident.</div>
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The preseason finale, they hope, serves as an exclamation point.</div>
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"Nothing's guaranteed," So'oto said. "I know that and everybody's been telling me that."</div>
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<a href="http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/128856798.html">Full Article</a></div>
Jodatoahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12629346705481554093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533960118862171553.post-51997033794421593162011-08-31T10:04:00.000-07:002011-08-31T10:04:16.526-07:00Meet The Most Interesting Man In College Football<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #f4f4f6;"></span><br />
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Allow me to go back in time to last June. I sat in Columbus Crew Stadium watching the inagural USA College Sevens rugby tournament. The best rugby teams from around the country came together for this wide-open, entertaining competition that highlighted rugby sevens as a future Olympic sport. As I watched several games throughout the tournament, one man caught my eye from Utah. A mountain of a man of Samoan descent with long black hair in the red #2 jersey. He was simply bigger than everyone else on the field, and to my shock, faster too. And if that wasn't enough, he had the NCAA '10 highlight stick at his disposal like it was the simple flick of a thumb. Game after game, #2 from Utah ran in try after try as the Utes advanced through the tournament. He ran around tacklers, through tacklers, and past tacklers. As the tournament progressed, this mythical creature became the talk of Crew Stadium. <br /><br />But #2 and his Utes met the toughest test imaginable in the final - the Cal Bears. All you need to know about college rugby is this... Cal. Wins. Everything. They have <em>only</em> 25 National Championships to their name and the consensus favored the Bears adding the presitgious sevens tourney to the trophy case. Except, this Herculean force of nature from Utah had other ideas. Utah stunned the Bears in a thrilling game 31-26 in overtime, largely thanks to two tries from #2, the hero of the tournament. <br /><br />Utah's #2 was a 21 year old freshman, Thretton Palamo... the youngest player to ever take the field in the Rugby World Cup when he did so in 2007 for the USA national team in France. A former captain of the USA rugby sevens team. And as of this Fall, a running back for Kyle Whittingham's Utah football team. And quite possibly, the most interesting man in college football...</div>
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For the readers that may be familiar with rugby, watching Palamo anihilate the college sevens tournament last year must have been what it was like to watch <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhmQlxCDFSc" style="color: #11458f; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Jonah Lomu</a> at his peak. Even though there were dozens of games each day, I wanted to be in Crew Stadium when Utah was playing to watch Thretton Palamo. The level of competition was inconsequential at that point and time - what I saw that weekend (and what viewers saw nationally on NBC) was transcendent. Palamo is a world class rugby sevens player with athleticism to match. Here's a 6'2", 240 pound rock of granite that also had the ability to sidestep any defender, the pace to outrun the others, and the power to brush off anyone else that may have gotten in his way. Any time he touched the ball, the crowd on hand would slowly out of their seats like they would for Gale Sayers or Reggie Bush. Any time he touched the ball, you knew he was likely to score. It didn't just look like a man against boys, it was like watching <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1VwaC01j5F2ME-i2X1kVT1sIfmdBFFcQ5-tTsjNBxDtW7WYtCSHp_DtvntLjI6KyFCTSYF7wiP92vjWF5_405nq3CRZlz2qZrvPOmFsXwL1pJMCkZ1Et2g8wzOJpMHxYHxboFbQwueHHW/s1600/gravedigger2.jpg" style="color: #11458f; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Gravedigger</a> do his (her?) thing. Just see for yourself...</div>
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And now Palamo takes those talents <a href="http://www.ksl.com/?nid=294&sid=15550663" style="color: #11458f; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">from the pitch to the gridiron</a>. The trip from teenage international rugby player to Utah running back is in the words of Bill Walton, a long strange trip. Palamo was teammates on that '07 RWC team with Utah rugby head coach Blake Burdette, who also happened to be a member of the Utes' 2004 unbeaten Fiesta Bowl team. Utah was the perfect fit for Palamo's rugby skills, desire to play football, and committment to get an education. In fact, Palamo chose this path at Utah turning down opportunites to play professional rugby in Europe. To tell you the truth, I was stunned and excited when I read his name in the rotation at running back for the Utes this year because I saw his athletic genius with my own eyes. Sure, Youtube highlight videos are all the rage for college prospects, but nobody has quite the resume of Thretton Palamo to back it up.<br /><br />Just how much of a factor can he be for the Utes though? It appears <a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700174254/Utah-Utes-football-John-White-frontrunner-to-carry-the-running-load.html" style="color: #11458f; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Palamo will start the season as a backup</a> to JuCo transfer John White<img alt="palamorb" height="333" src="http://bloguin.com/crystalballrun/images/stories/palamorb.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; float: right; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 5px;" width="200" /> even though he <a href="http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/utes/51550035-89/palamo-whittingham-yards-scrimmage.html.csp" style="color: #11458f; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">led the Utes in rushing</a> during their first Spring scrimmage. Palamo did play football in high school, but the learning curve is still steep. To his credit, Whittingham and the staff see a bright future for the rugby star, but his impact may not be felt immediately. Actually, Palamo may never make a significant impact in football, period. Transitions between sports are always difficult, no matter the athletic gifts one may possess. Reading blocks, running routes, and completing blocking assignments is way different than offloading in the tackle, rucking, and running through the gaps of a rugby defense. The level of athlete from college rugby to Pac 12 football is also a huge step up in class. No longer will Thretton Palamo be the most gifted athlete on the field by light years. To his credit though, the coaching staff and players <a href="http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/sports/52355765-77/palamo-rugby-football-utah.html.csp" style="color: #11458f; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">see Palamo's potential</a>...<br /><br /><em>“Thretton’s doing a good job,” (running backs coach Dave) Schramm said. “It just takes time. He’s got to learn how to play. And he is learning. He’s come a long way — light years since spring ball. But football isn’t rugby.”</em></div>
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<em>“He’s one of those guys who has the inner desire to be great. He’ll get better with time, I think, and end up being a heck of a football player.”</em></div>
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<em>“He’s still raw,” (QB Jordan) Wynn said. “But he’s so big and he’s super-athletic. He can run inside, obviously, but he’ll turn the corner on you, too.”</em><br /><br />Everything coming out of Utah this preseason has Palamo dedicating himself to make the transition from international rugby star to college running back a success. If Palamo is able to grasp the position and fulfill his athletic potential, the possibilities are limitless. My only hope is that he gets a chance to prove what he can do as a runner on Saturdays because we've never had the chance to see an international caliber rugby player take on college football. If there is any way to translate the magic on the field at Columbus Crew Stadium last June to Rice-Eccles Stadium this Fall, Thretton Palamo may become a household name. And even if that doesn't happen, he's still the most interesting man in college football.</div>
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<a href="http://bloguin.com/crystalballrun/2011-articles/august/meet-the-most-interesting-man-in-college-football.html">Full Article</a></div>
</span>Jodatoahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12629346705481554093noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533960118862171553.post-86913791761791821502011-08-30T12:07:00.000-07:002011-08-30T12:07:27.247-07:00Homecoming King<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Steelers safety Troy Polamalu spends a week renewing his fighting spirit in American Samoa this summer</span></h3>
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="325" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/28169311?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="500"></iframe><a href="http://vimeo.com/28169311"></a></div>
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<a href="http://vimeo.com/28169311">Troy Polamalu's Return Home - ESPN cut</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/looseluggage">Loose Luggage</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">COULD YOU BE LOVED</b><br />The alofa (love) for <a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/4474/troy-polamalu" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #225fb2; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Troy Polamalu</a> is evident as soon as he arrives at Pago Pago International Airport. Polamalu, 30, was born to Samoan parents in Garden Grove, Calif., and grew up in Tenmile, Ore. He says the entirety of his only other trip to Samoa, taken a decade ago when he was a relatively unknown USC safety, was less eventful than the initial moments of this visit. "It reminds me of that documentary <i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">When We Were Kings</i>," he says. "Everywhere Ali jogged, there were a hundred people jogging behind him. That's what I felt."</div>
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<img alt="photo act 4" border="0" height="324" src="http://a.espncdn.com/magazine/Insider/photoact_4.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="576" /><cite style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #ababab; display: block; font-size: 10px !important; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Chris Baldwin for ESPN The Magazine</cite>High school football players attend a three-day camp with Polamalu.</div>
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<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">HONOR CALL</b><br />Polamalu, with wife Theodora (bottom), is seated and honored as a visiting matai (chief) at his first 'ava ceremony, a welcoming gathering. Because he didn't grow up here, Polamalu leans on former Steelers teammate <a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/8642/shaun-nua" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #225fb2; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Shaun Nua</a> (behind Polamalu in yellow) for guidance throughout the trip. Nua, a BYU graduate assistant, is from the same village (Ta'u) as Polamalu's family. Says Theodora, "Troy is trying to learn all the true Samoan ways."</div>
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<img alt="photo act 3" border="0" height="324" src="http://a.espncdn.com/magazine/Insider/photoact_3.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="576" /><cite style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #ababab; display: block; font-size: 10px !important; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Chris Baldwin for ESPN The Magazine</cite>After hours of practice, Polamalu's trainees still have energy to spare.</div>
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<b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">HEIRS APPARENT</b><br />Wearing equipment donated last year by Polamalu, 660 football players from seven high schools show up at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Pago Pago for his three-day camp. "Our football here is very raw," Polamalu says. "It's big hits and very physical."</div>
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<img alt="photo act 5" border="0" height="324" src="http://a.espncdn.com/magazine/Insider/photoact_5.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="576" /><cite style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #ababab; display: block; font-size: 10px !important; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Chris Baldwin for ESPN The Magazine</cite>Polamalu says he feels most connected to the islands during two fishing trips.</div>
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<b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">TRUE PASSION</b><br />After seven hours of drills in the code-red heat, the players perform Samoan Haka war dances before a mesmerized Polamalu.</div>
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<img alt="photo act 6" border="0" height="324" src="http://a.espncdn.com/magazine/Insider/photoact_6.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="576" /><cite style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #ababab; display: block; font-size: 10px !important; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Chris Baldwin for ESPN The Magazine</cite>His two kids help keep Polamalu grounded during the whirlwind trip.</div>
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<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">DEEP DIVE</b><br />During the week, Polamalu husks coconuts, weaves baskets with palm leaves, swigs kava (a root drink) and eats a freshly killed pig that's been roasted in an umu (earth oven) -- all Samoan traditions. But he feels most connected to the island on two fishing trips and swimming around with pals. "The ocean has so much energy," Polamalu says.</div>
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<img alt="photo act 6" border="0" height="324" src="http://a.espncdn.com/magazine/Insider/photoact_7.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="576" /><cite style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #ababab; display: block; font-size: 10px !important; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Chris Baldwin for ESPN The Magazine</cite>Polamalu takes a final "Samoan limo" ride before departing.</div>
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<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">EGO TRIP</b><br />Polamalu admits that all the attention during the trip freaks him out a bit. "A few women even tried to make out with me," he says, laughing. "If you fight it, it will be like a confrontation, so you kind of give in -- to a point." To keep himself centered, he spends time with sons Paisios (left), 2, and Ephraim, 11 months. "You have to tell yourself, I'm no better than anyone else," he says. "That's a real spiritual battle. If I would have done this trip even two years ago, I wouldn't have been ready for it."</div>
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<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">NO MAN IS AN ISLAND</b><br />After a beach feast, Polamalu and crew take a final "Samoan limo" ride before returning to the airport. "Every day I've had to fight back tears," Polamalu says. "I feel joy." It's a feeling that he's eager to bring to the Steelers' locker room. "I've never felt comfortable helping guys on my team," he says. "I was really introverted, and that was all ego, because everything was about me doing what I needed to do to be successful. But I'm becoming a little bit more extroverted now, because I'm starting to take a step back. Now it's time for me to share."</div>
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<a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/6905677/nfl-steelers-safety-troy-polamalu-renews-fighting-spirit-samoa">Full Article</a></div>
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Jodatoahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12629346705481554093noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533960118862171553.post-87290465058857822842011-08-30T11:45:00.000-07:002011-08-30T11:45:32.341-07:00Former QB Pritchard Absorbing, Spreading Knowledge as Stanford Assistant Coach<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"></span><br />
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Former Stanford quarterback Tavita Pritchard (2006-09) has lots of stories he can tell the younger players on Stanford's football team.</div>
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Pick a story, any story.</div>
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How about the one where the Cardinal went 1-11 in 2006, achieving the worst record in school history?</div>
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That's more of a nightmare, but Pritchard would prefer to talk fairytales.</div>
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How about the time he engineered "The Greatest Upset Ever" on Oct. 6, 2007?</div>
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The Cardinal trekked to USC as a 41-point underdog, then proceeded to pull off a miraculous 24-23 victory. Pritchard was making his first collegiate start in place of starter T.C. Ostrander, who had suffered a seizure at a restaurant earlier in the week. Pritchard connected with Richard Sherman on a must-have fourth-and-20 play on a final desperation drive. With less than a minute to play, Pritchard hit Mark Bradford for a touchdown to tie the score. Derek Belch's extra point was the game-winner. Pritchard, who threw for 2,865 yards and 15 touchdowns at Stanford, is now a defensive staff assistant after serving as a volunteer coach last season.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">"Still being around the Stanford community, a lot of people bring that USC game up," Pritchard said. "It's a good memory. It's one of the signature wins that people look back to. It's fun to think back on the players and the teams we forged. We think of that rebuilding stage, in </span>general."</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Pritchard seemed destined to be a coach. His father, David, was an offensive coordinator at Clover High in Washington, where Pritchard starred under dad's tutelage. Tavita Pritchard was a 7-year-old ball boy when David was offensive coordinator at nearby Centralia High. Tavita chose quarterback because his uncle, Jack Thompson -- known as "The Throwin' Samoan" -- was an All-American quarterback at Washington State.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">"I learned tons of football from my dad," Tavita said. "My passion for football comes from my dad. I can remember the days when I was a little guy running around with my jersey hanging down to my knees when I was a ball boy. That's where I gained my passion and it blossomed from there."</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">While coaching is, obviously, in Pritchard's blood, he's coaching for other reasons.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">"It's everything I loved about being a player," Pritchard said. "It's the camaraderie, it's the unity, the one mind trying to accomplish a single goal. I love the strategy behind it. I'm like a little kid up in the office just listening to the coaches talk. I love hearing about football and how all the philosophies come together."</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/peninsula/ci_18785773">Full Article</a></div>
Jodatoahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12629346705481554093noreply@blogger.com0