Dolphins Sign G Ray Feinga

The Miami Dolphins have signed guard Ray Feinga. The 6-4, 337-pound Feinga finished the 2009 NFL season as a member of Miami’s practice squad and was re-signed on January 5, 2010.

He was released by the Dolphins on July 30, 2010, re-signed on August 12, 2010 and was waived again on September 4, 2010 before joining the team’s practice squad. A four-year letter winner at Brigham Young, Feinga started 35 games for the Cougars along the offensive line. Originally signed as an undrafted college free agent by the St. Louis Rams following the 2009 NFL Draft, he has also spent time in 2009 with the San Diego Chargers during training camp.

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Prep Recruiting: No Boundaries

Alta High’s Toloa’i Ho-Ching got football scholarship offers from all around the country before he finally decided to play for Brigham Young.

For the Hawks’ all-state linebacker, it was hardly a novel experience.

Ho-Ching told The Salt Lake Tribune that he was recruited heavily as a Ute Conference player for two years before ever setting foot at Alta. Even after enrolling at the Sandy high school, he said it didn’t deter multiple rival coaches from trying to woo him away.

“They promised all kinds of things,” said Ho-Ching. “They offered playing time, promised starting positions. They offered me gear. They took my father to dinner. The whole thing was really an eye-opening experience. We moved to Utah from Samoa. This wasn’t something that we were used to as a family.”

Ho-Ching’s experience is hardly unique, according to a number of Utah high school coaches. And at least one — Kearns coach Bill Cosper — says the recruiting of pre-high school and enrolled prep athletes has gotten out of control, with no sign that it will get reined in anytime soon.

Because he says the football talent base inside Kearns’ boundaries is constantly being encroached on, Cosper says he is forced to conduct what amounts to home visits with the eighth- and ninth-grade players who live in Kearns’ area. Once there, he sells kids on the virtues of staying at Kear­ns and building a winner — instead of moving on to the perceived greener pastures at other schools.

Cosper has finally started to reap rewards from his hands-on approach in the last few years. But he also asks: Why does he have to do it in the first place?

“I have to recruit my own kids,” Cosper said. “I shouldn’t have to do that. I come from Texas, and the problem here is way worse. It’s horrible here. There are all kinds of things going on. There are kids who actually change guardians just to move into another area. At the Ute Conference, coaches stand on the sidelines in full [high school] apparel.”

Cosper is not the only head coach who goes to such lengths to hang on to players. Even in the talent-rich area around Alta, Hawks coach Les Hamilton estimates that he conducts five to seven home visits a year in an effort to persuade his incoming freshmen to stay with his program.

While Hamilton counts himself as one of the lucky ones — Alta has one of the largest high school enrollments in the state — he says he still finds himself fending off recruiters who swoop in on Hawks players who haven’t cracked the starting lineup.

Ute Conference — the Wasatch Front’s largest youth football organization — is where it all starts.

Because of the state’s open enrollment laws, players can begin their prep careers at the high school of their choice. That means high schools can make recruiting pitches without fear of repercussions. Even Ute Conference officials acknowledge it has become a free-for-all.

“You can’t have open enrollment and not have recruiting,” said Dave Harrison, an executive board member for the Alta Ute Conference organization.

“If you have one [open enrollment], you’re going to have the other. It’s definitely a problem at this level.

“I know of coaches who make phone calls, asking kids to do this and do that,” Harrison added. “There are coaches who are on the sidelines during games. That’s why I feel you should play where you live. It has to be black-and-white.”

The Utah High School Activities Association has tried to clamp down on recruiting once students begin playing prep sports. A new transfer rule will force student-athletes to give up a year of eligibility if they switch schools.

UHSAA officials believe that the rule will curtail much of the recruiting that takes place once kids get to high school. The downside? It could accelerate recruiting at the pre-high school level.

“We’re looking for ways to deal with that,” UHSAA attorney Mark Van Wagoner said. “We know that recruiting takes place at the Ute Conference. We want to stop recruiting in itself. It’s something that we know goes on and its something that, at the same time, is extremely difficult to prove.”

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Tonga Talks About Raiders Camp

Manase Tonga made a nice impression this past weekend at the Oakland Raiders mini-camp. In fact, according to a San Francisco Chronicle report earlier this week, the former BYU Cougar looks to have a good shot at not only making the team, but starting at fullback for Al Davis’ squad.

“I definitely got the impression that the spot is wide open,” Manase told Deep Shades of Blue. “That was the thought of the two veterans that were at the camp as well.”

Tonga, a rookie free agent, may have the upper hand on both veterans Luke Lawton and Marcel Reese.

Lawton is currently serving a suspension for violating the NFL’s drug policy, while Reese is a converted wide receiver who saw action in just two games last season. Another veteran fullback prospect, Oren O’Neal, was recently released by the Raiders. Chase Moline, another rookie free agent fullback from UCLA, was also in Oakland’s camp last week.

Tonga says that it was a bit surreal during the first day of camp as he donned the Raider uniform for the first time.

“The first day I was getting taped up next to Darren McFadden, then later on I was out there catching passes from Jason Campbell. After the first day though it was just playing football, I wasn’t really paying attention to who was out there on the field with me.  I was really impressed with the players at camp, how humble they were and how ready they were to go to work. It kind of shocked me. I was expecting to see a lot of ego but it wasn’t like that at all.”

Prior to the draft last month, Oakland was one of the teams that showed interest in Manase, who grew up in nearby San Mateo and starred at Aragon High School.

“So far it’s worked out,” Tonga said. “It’s a good place, a good situation and it’s close to home. Nothing is guaranteed at this point though. I still have to work for it.”

Tonga said he is excited that his dream of playing in the NFL is within reach, and that he is thankful for the chance to wear the silver and black colors of the one of the most storied franchises in sports. “It’s just an honor. I’m privileged to put on the colors of some of the greatest players to play to the game. This organization has given me the opportunity to live out my dream. It’s just an honor.”

As Tonga arrived at camp he was able to reconnect with a couple of friends, a fact that made last weekend a little easier for the rookie. Former Cougars David Nixon and Todd Watkins are both Raiders, and gave Manase some insight and advise about how to make it in the NFL. “It was good to get reacquainted with both David and Todd and spend some time with them. They showed me the ropes and stressed that it’s a business now. They told me to approach it with a business mindset, to work hard and give the coaches a reason to keep me around and not cut me.”

Tonga is continuing to work out and work on aspects of his game that Raider coaches want to see him develop further. His quest to make the NFL resumes May 18 at the next Raider mini-camp.

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Raiders Sign UDFA FB Tonga of BYU

The Raiders have signed FB Manase Tonga out of BYU according Silver and Black Pride. The undrafted free agent was considered a priority free agent by many. I had him as the top blocking fullback and my number two priority among all undrafted free agents for the Raiders to consider.

And it seemed like a natural fit for the Raiders considering Tonga grew up in nearby San Mateo. It was no doubt was an easy decision for him to make when his home town team, Oakland Raiders came calling. And from the sounds of it, the decision to make the call was also an easy decision for the Raiders as Tonga becomes the first UDFA signing by the team since the draft ended a few hours ago.

In college, Tonga was oftenheld in high regard. Here is what was said about him in the Deseret News:
"At 6-foot and 248 pounds, Tonga is a devastating blocker with powerful drive in his lower body. As a lead blocker in Robert Anae's offense, he was fearless in tracking down and putting a bead on linemen, linebackers, safeties and corners for Harvey Unga. His pass protection is something Anae and position coach Lance Reynolds use as an example, a how-to tape"

The article also points out that just a year ago he was at a low point in his life. He was out of shape and almost dropped out of college and abandoned his dream of playing in the NFL. His onlyother blemish was having been arrested in 2007 due to a warrant out for the arrest of because he had not paid an $82 ticket.

If a little bit of down-on-his-luck and a traffic ticket are the only reasons he dropped out of the draft then that even speaks louder about the level of talent he possesses. But you needn't tell me how talented he is. I have seen him play. You needn't tell his opponents how talented he is, they have been hit by him.

This may just be the best acquisition the Raiders have made this offseason. There were a few great draft picks but Tonga was worthy of one of them so getting him as an undrafted free agent is a big time move.

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BYU Star RB Harvey Unga Withdraws From School

 BYU running back Harvey Unga and BYU basketball player Keilani Moeaki announed that they were withdrawing from the school effective immediately. The move sent shockwaves through the community.

The biggest news prior to a huge weekend in spring ball for the Big 5 schools came down the wire this evening when BYU running back Harvey Unga announced that he--along with basketball player Keilani Moeaki, a person with whom he was once engaged--is leaving BYU.

The decision has literally floored many in the community, because Unga--who was a first-team All Mountain West Conference selection last year and All-America candidate--is BYU’s all-time leading rusher and was poised for a huge senior season.

The school submitted a press release stating that the reason was for an “honor code violation,” but it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that Unga--who earlier turned down an opportunity to turn pro early and return to BYU--and Moeaki may be back on after they were on-again, off-again in their relationship, according to several reports.

With both Unga’s and Moeaki’s coaches citing “personal matters,” it seems only obvious that the real reason Unga and Moeaki left was because they had premarital relations while at the school, an Honor Code violation. Only time will tell whether or not it is more than that.

“I fully support Harvey and his decision regarding his personal situation,” BYU football coach Bronco Mendenhall said. “The possibility of not having Harvey on the field in the fall would certainly have an impact on our team, but my main concern right now is in supporting Harvey.”

BYU women’s basketball coach Jeff Judkins also weighed in on the issue. Moeaki, a 6-foot-2 senior forward for the Cougars, averaged over four points and two rebounds per contest, helping lead her team to the WNIT quarterfinals.

“Keilani has been a valuable contributor to our team the past three years,” BYU women’s basketball coach Jeff Judkins said. “She has my support while she takes time to address some important personal matters.”

Although nobody really knows the reason why Unga is leaving the school--and it may be too early to speculate on the matter--BYU fans and football fans in general will be glued to their radios and TV sets, their Twitter feeds and Facebook pages waiting for an answer that will eventually come out.

The other rumor floating somewhat heavily around cyberspace is that Unga has already spoken to Weber State and head coach Ron McBride about transferring to the program.

Should Unga transfer to Weber State, a school in the FCS, he would still retain his senior year of eligibility and be allowed--per NCAA rules--to play immediately.

Should the transfer take place, Weber State would position itself well in the next season as a legitimate FCS championship contender.

The other option for Unga is to enter the NFL as a free agent. It is also unlikely that Unga would find himself drafted next week, although it is possible that he would be considered for a late-round choice. Unga leaves BYU with 3,455 yards rushing and a legacy that may never be topped.

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Manase Tonga Impresses NFL With Test Score

Manase Tonga continues to defy.

This is a guy who gray-shirted at Utah before an LDS mission, then came back and created a nice notch in BYU's football program as a devastating leading blocker.

But his junior year in Provo, Tonga lost focus academically, fell so far behind that the school released him and mandated strict requirements for him to catch up and return.

And he did in 2009, barely, not knowing if he'd succeeded until right before two-a-days began last August.

After attending Utah Valley University and doing a patch-up job on his transcripts, he found a way to jump over some extremely stiff hurdles and penalties and made it back to BYU for a senior year that included a key role on an 11-2 nationally ranked team.

Then came his NFL tests this winter, which included a 4.8 time in the 40-yard dash as a 245-pound man.

Two months ago at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, an event that requires an invitation from the league's franchises, Tonga posted the second-highest score among running backs in the Wonderlic test, an intelligence quiz. It's a 12-minute, 50-question test designed to measure aptitude for adapting to certain situations. It's a multiple-choice test with increasing difficulty.

Somehow, this doesn't add up. Literally.

"Man, I wasn't expecting that," Tonga said Friday from Indianapolis where he was doing some rechecks on some medical examinations for the draft.

"I was just filling in the bubbles, hoping for a score," he said with a stroke of humility.

"I got lucky."

This week his college position coach, Lance Reynolds, said it absolutely tracks with what he knows of Tonga, a guy with an impressive mind. With school, Tonga got casual with attendance and assignments; it wasn't that he couldn't do the work.

"The football part, he was always very, very smart. You could see it the way he moved around, not hesitating, getting to the right place at the right time, getting open on a route, doing it with speed a guy his size isn't supposed to have," said Reynolds.

Tonga finished second to Stanford's Toby Gerhart, who posted a score of 30.

Tonga had a 29. These scores are not available from the NFL, but they eventually leak out from agents of players who have access in the weeks that follow the combine.

"Manase didn't focus like he should have in the classroom, but he is very smart. It doesn't surprise me that he scored that well. In team meetings, you could ask him a question and he could be half asleep and give you the right answer, a good answer," said Reynolds.

To put the score in perspective, the average score for a quarterback is 24.

Florida Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow had a 22, according to the Palm Beach Post, and John Beck scored a 34 in 2007. The average score for participants is 21.

The NFL created a new Wonderlic test in 2007 because agents were obtaining copies and helped clients memorize answers.

Of note, since the NFL started to use the Wonderlic Test in the early 1970s, only one athlete, Harvard receiver Pat McInally, registered a perfect score of 50. Other interesting scores over the years include quarterbacks Alex Smith (40), Eli Manning (39), Steve Young (33), John Elway (29) and this year's QBs Sam Bradford, Oklahoma (36); Colt McCoy, Texas (25); and Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen (23).

So, Tonga scored higher than Clausen, McCoy, Tebow and John Elway.

Sample Wonderlic questions include stuff like this: A train travels 20 feet in 1/5 second. At this same speed, how many feet will it travel in three seconds? And, when rope is selling at 10 cents a foot, how many feet can you buy for sixty cents? You might remember Texas quarterback Vince Young scored a 6, then upon taking it again, got a 15. The meaning of all this is a little dubious because Dan Marino and Terry Bradshaw both scored 15.

Tonga's score of 29 was ahead of LSU's Charles Scott (26) and Tennessee's Montario Hardesty at 25. While the Wonderlic doesn't accurately forecast how high a player will be drafted or if he'll even succeed in the NFL, it is a tool to tell if a player is capable of managing information. But even that isn't an exact science.

"Manase is a very sharp young man," said Reynolds.

"I think I did pretty well, and that Wonderlic score helped. I don't know what will happen. At the worst case, I won't get drafted but I think I'll get my shot."

Tonga's one solid workout came with the Patriots. "I'm waiting for a couple of more to come," he said.
The test.

In the case of Tonga, it adds to the anecdotal file of how impressive this guy is and what he's accomplished. It remains to be seen where he'll be drafted, or if he'll even make a team.

But it is said around BYU's campus that Tonga is a better blocker than Fahu Tahi and Fui Vakapuna — and they've cashed NFL paychecks.

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Manase Tonga Interview

We'd like to say a big thank you to BYU's highly rated FB Manase Tonga for taking some time out of his busy schedule to answer some questions for us.

Curt: What are your accurate measurements (height, weight, and 40 time)?
Manase: 6'0, 246lbs, haven't timed my 40 yet.. sorry! But if I had to guess it should be in the low 4.7 - high 4.6 range.

Curt: You have been a fun player to watch at BYU. What parts of your game do you think translate best to the NFL?
Manase: I think that my style of blocking, both pass and run blocking, translates very well to the NFL, but I know that my pass catching ability is the best part of my game and will translate the best to the NFL.

Curt: What things do you hope to improve on?
Manase: The things I need to work on the most is my explosiveness and movement.

Curt: Overall, what do you see your role as in the NFL?
Manase:Being a great lead blocker and catching passes out of the backfield on short yard situations, or any situation for that matter.

Curt: For anyone who hasn't got to lead block for a great back, what is the mindset you have knowing your job is to be the anchor of a run game?
Manase: The mindset that I have is that I must get to my block as fast as I can and with as much ferocity as I have in me. I must destroy whatever man I am responsible for and make sure he does not make the tackle.

Curt: What is your greatest football moment to this point?
Manase: My greatest football moment came my sophomore year when Curtis Brown broke the school rushing record and then my senior year when that same record was broken by Harvey Unga. Knowing that I played a huge roll in helping these two great running backs set records in their time makes me smile and makes me appreciate the kind of work that I do.

Curt: Who is the best player you ever went up against in college?
Manase: The toughest players that I have had the pleasure of playing against were Jason Beauchamp of UNLV and Daryl Washington of TCU. Both athletic, physical, and smart players. I have a ton of respect for these two and hope to play with or against them again in the future.

Curt: What current NFL players reminds you the most of you?
Manase: I liken myself to Mike Sellers. A fullback who is extremely versatile and can do it all.

Curt: Have you set any personal goals for yourself in term of draft position?
Manase: I hope to go at anytime really. I understand that the fullback position isn't an attractive position and I am comfortable with that. But I strongly feel that I can contribute to the success of any team, all I need is a shot.

Curt: What will your offseason consist of from this point, up until the draft?
Manase: I will continue training for the Combine and our Pro Day and work hard so that I can turn some heads come testing day.

Manase: I hope this will help Curtis. Thank you for this great opportunity to share with you some of my thoughts and memories. Take Care brotha!

Thanks again Manase. Fullback is an under appreciated role in the NFL these days but we're sure some NFL Halfback is going to be very glad to hear your name called by his team on draft day. Good luck, thanks for the Saturdays, and we look forward to seeing what you can do on Sundays.

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Unga Planning For Big Senior Season

 During halftime of BYU's 91-47 rout of Colorado State Saturday at the Marriott Center, the school honored the Cougar football team, which posted an 11-2 record and ended up with a No. 12 final ranking.

After thanking the fans for their support, coach Bronco Mendenhall handed the microphone to running back Harvey Unga, so he could personally tell them he's coming back for his senior season.

Of course, that news was officially announced last Thursday, but it gave Unga the opportunity to hear the reaction to his decision -- deafening roars of approval.

Afterwards, Unga met with reporters for the first time since announcing his return. He said the main reason for coming back in 2010 is the chance to earn a degree.

"The biggest factor for me was easily the education part," he said. "I had the chance to meet with a lot of former players. Some of whom finished college and some who didn't. The feedback I got from all of those that graduated, mainly, was that they were glad they got their education. Those who didn't graduate told me if they could go back and do things differently, they'd definitely get their education done."

As part of his decision-making process, Unga sent in paperwork requesting an NFL evaluation, which gave him an idea of where he might be drafted. He declined to talk much about that evaluation.

"Coach Mendenhall and I were the only two allowed to talk about that stuff," he said. "It's between he and I."

Considering that BYU is replacing three-year quarterback Max Hall and consensus All-America tight end Dennis Pitta, many believe the Cougar offense will revolve around Unga next season.

"Personally, I don't see it that way," said Unga. "There's going to be quarterbacks fighting for that starting position. I don't think anyone really knew about Max Hall before John Beck, and when he came in out of nowhere, he kind of shocked everybody. Can we replace Max? I think we've got some good guys to take that spot and take off where he left off. We'll be okay. Our coaching staff has done a good job recruiting. They've done a great job with schemes with our offense and we'll continue to grow and learn a lot in the off-season and take it from there."

Unga, who is BYU's all-time leading rusher, said that he's going to do everything he can to improve his game as he prepares for his senior campaign.

"There's tons of things I want to work on," Unga said. "That's one of the biggest things that motivated me to stay. A lot of times I sat there and thought, 'What else can I do?' A lot of people might think, 'He doesn't have much left to do here, considering records.' But in my eyes, there's a lot left out there on the field for me to accomplish as a college athlete. This season will definitely push me to reach those goals and endeavors that I've set in front of me."

Unga is looking to continue being a go-to guy for the offense while honing his abilities for the next level.

"With Dennis and Max and a few others gone, I think there's a sense of urgency to make big plays on offense without those guys there," Unga said. "Blocking is always a big thing in the NFL that they look at. Can I work on blocking?

Definitely. There's a lot of nit-picky things, but those are the main things I'm going to work on."

While Unga has been hampered by a variety of injuries during his career, he's not fretting about injuries hurting his chances to eventually play in the NFL.

"If I worry about injury, it's going to take away from all of the other aspects of the game," he said. "As far as I'm concerned, if the injuries happen, they happen. It's something I definitely do not worry about."

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Harvey Unga: To Stay at Brigham Young University Or Go Pro?

Like most BYU fans I must qualify myself in this discussion as a biased fan that wants Harvey to stay so that BYU will be better next year. I would argue that he is the best back BYU has ever had, and one more year would only cement that, maybe forever.

Various sources are reporting that he intends to submit his name to the draft, which is pretty understandable considering another year in college only risks injury that may completely prevent him from playing in the NFL.

While there are not very many injuries that would completely end his career, it is reasonable to think that his draft stock would be greatly hindered by a major injury, especially one to his legs.

The biggest risk that he has in going to the NFL is not being drafted very high, or at all, and not making a team next year which would just be a waste for everyone involved.  Anyone who has seen him play very much realizes he is worthy of a reasonably high draft selection, but that is never a gimme.

Look at Austin Collie last year.  He led the country in receiving yards, and was in the top five in receptions and touchdowns.  He was also an All-American, but didn't get drafted until the fourth round, by no means a great slot. Unga does not have nearly the national recognition that Collie did.

Now, it turned out well for Collie who is playing for a great team, and has established himself as a quality receiver this year, but you never know what team will pick you up, especially as you get into the later rounds.

This draft is extremely loaded with quality prospects, and especially a lot of solid running backs. When I hear discussions of potential running backs being drafted I have not once heard Unga's name. He does not even appear on ESPN's list of potential draft picks.

Now let's consider what Harvey would gain by staying another year.
He would completely cement his legacy at BYU by increasing his record-setting numbers. He would be the star on a team that is known for its offensive prowess, and that has placed itself firmly in national discussions due to recent success.

Perhaps most importantly, he will have the chance to let the nation get to know him.  While watching the Las Vegas Bowl, the announcers repeatedly mentioned how good Harvey is. It was a nationally-televised game in which
Harvey showed only a glimmer of his true ability.

Now imagine the coverage of a senior leader that is crushing school and conference records as his team is often in the national discussion. He would be a year stronger, and in a draft that is not so heavily stacked, though there is no way to know what underclassmen will declare early next year.

Despite my deep desire that Harvey stay at BYU for one more year I genuinely think it is in his best interest to stay. I think he will be much better off if he does.

If he does declare for the draft then I will completely understand that, and I will support him completely hoping to see him plowing people over on Sundays, but I will have my fingers crossed that he doesn't until he announces his decision.

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Eagle Mountain Reaches Out to American Samoa

 When America Samoa was hit by a tsunami in September, Ifo Pili wanted to help.

"My first thought was to send containers of food and bottled water down there," said Pili, Eagle Mountain's assistant administrator and former Philadelphia Eagles lineman. Pili was raised in American Samoa, and his father still lives there.

But when he took a trip to this homeland with former BYU football teammates Reno Mahe and Gabe Reid to deliver a donation from the NFL, Pili saw a greater need: jobs.

Having raised $5,000 on his own, Pili is looking to do more to help with American Samoa's long-term recovery from the killer waves and a depressed economy.

"What they really need is money and materials to rebuild," Pili said.
On Sept. 29, American and Western Samoa were lashed by a series of tsunamis triggered by a magnitude 8 earthquake off the coast. More than 100 people were killed.

Pili said his relatives in Samoa were safe, as they were living on high ground. But he said the waves washed away buildings. When Pili arrived on the island, most of the damage was cleaned up, but from the empty foundations and the vacant land he knew were once occupied by buildings, the devastation was clear.

He said the Samoans, like Utahns, are a self-reliant people who had already rolled up their sleeves and started recovery work by the time aid workers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency arrived on the scene. Pili said the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Red Cross were also involved in relief efforts.
After the tsunami, Pili worked with Project Reach Out in Utah to raise money for relief efforts. The fundrasing included a charity golf tournament at The Ranches Golf Course in Eagle Mountain.

Mayor Heather Jackson said she was pleased the city could help Pili with his fundraising. In addition to offering The Ranches, the city also allowed Pili to take the time he needed.

"Eagle Mountain is a city that is all about community and helping people in need," Jackson said.

After the city fundraisers, Pili got a call from Mahe, his former teammate from BYU and the Philadelphia Eagles, inviting him to go down to American Samoa to present a check from the NFL for tsunami relief efforts. They were accompanied by Reid, who had gone on to play with the Chicago Bears. Pili said the NFL contribution was a recognition of the number of Samoans and
Tongans who play professional football.

Pili's first instinct was to bring food, but he used the trip to investigate, instead. And that is when he learned two things.

First, bringing food and water would have been the worst thing to do. Samoan stores were already full of food and water, and relief supplies would have hurt those businesses.

Second, the tsunami wasn't the only disaster to strike American Samoa at that time.

Pili said one of American Samoa's major industries, a tuna cannery, closed on Oct. 1, two days after the tsunami, for reasons unrelated to the natural disaster, and that left 3,000 Samoans out of work. The cannery workers represent almost 5 percent of the territory's population.

"That was just as devastating to Samoa as the tsunami," Pili said of the cannery closing. In a way, the tsunami was a blessing in disguise, as it brought aid money and hotels full of aid workers to the island at a time when its economy was taking a hit. Otherwise, he said the world would have taken little notice of the island's financial woes.

He used $1,000 of the $5,000 he raised for goods in Samoa to help rebuild. The rest he gave to American Samoa Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters, a coalition of aid agencies.

Pili came home with the idea for doing more fundraising to encourage micro-credit loans to help Samoans get back on their feet and rebuild not just their houses, but their businesses.

His next fundraising idea is to organize the world's largest luau. He hasn't set a date yet, but is looking forward to getting in the records books and helping Samoans as well.

He's not alone in helping Samoans rebuild their economy. Paul Alan Cox, a former BYU ethnobotanist and chairman of the Seacology Foundation, has raised $76,000 to help Samoan communities affected by the tsunami establish eco-tourism businesses in return for preserving rain forests and other natural resources.

Cox said the tsunami is scaring off tourists, creating a one-two blow to the Samoan economy. But he said Seacology's grants should help.

"[Samoa] is a delightful place," Cox said.

He said Samoa's non-voting congressional representative is lobbying to get the tuna business back as well.

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Two Stand Out For Quezada

 

Athlete Joshua Quezada (La Habra, Calif./La Habra) has now taken four of his official visits and with one remaining, two schools currently lead the way.
Quezada took his first visit to BYU followed by trips to Utah, Hawaii and Washington.

"We play this Saturday so it's going to be good to get a weekend off and sleep in for a change," Quezada said. "The trips get real tiring but I've loved every one of them. I'm going to take one last trip Dec. 18 to either Fresno State or Arizona and I may try and squeeze in an unofficial visit to San Diego State as well."

Quezada said he loved his recent visit to UW, but still favors the two Mountain West powers.

"Washington was awesome," Quezada said. "I had a great time with the players and really bonded well with the other recruits on the visit. We saw a great game and I like the energy and passion of the coaching staff. Coach Sark (Steve Sarkisian) said he thinks I could be another Troy Polamalu for them at safety and said I remind him of Troy since he was coaching at SC when he played there.

"As much as I liked the trip, I still have BYU and Utah at the top for me. I just felt most comfortable there and I'm closest with the coaches. With BYU, I love their offense, it's a lot like our offense at La Habra and it would be an easy adjustment.

"Utah felt like home to me as well and there's a real family environment. I felt that at both schools to be honest. It's going to be a really tough decision for me and I don't have a lot of time left since I'm graduating early but I know I can't go wrong with any of my choices."

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Unga Sets Cougs' Rushing Mark

As self analysis, Harvey Unga's description of the way he totes the football is beautiful and simple.

It is also misleading. Brutes don't own his footwork and the ability to make tacklers miss.

"Honestly, you guys can explain it better than me," the BYU runner said moments after the Cougars' 38-21 victory against Air Force on Saturday afternoon. "I just try to get out there and run the ball as hard as I can. I just try to make plays."

If trying was just enough, every back would rush for 1,000 yards a season and wind up as their school's all-time rushing leader. So, there is more to it than just wanting to go out and make plays.

The rest of the Mountain West Conference should also take note. Unga, who surpassed Curtis Brown's career rushing mark of 3,221 yards, is a junior. He'll be back.

Unga needed 21 yards to break Brown's mark. In addition, Unga was four carries away from passing Brown in that category as well.

For the day, Unga, nursing a sprained left ankle, did enough work in the first half to gain 67 yards on 11 carries. He needs 100 yards next week against Utah for his third consecutive 1,000-yard season.

"With Harvey healthy throughout the first half, we knew we'd have to use him and that gave us the balance we were looking for," BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall said. "When Harvey's healthy and we're able to run and throw the football, we're very hard to stop on offense."

Unga also caught three passes, which speaks to his ability to add another dimension to BYU's attack.

First and foremost, though, Unga's job is to gain the hard yards between the tackles. He gives the Cougars an aura of toughness. Often, as it has been this season, Unga took advantage of big holes, then broke tackles.

"It's great to block for Harvey," offensive lineman Terence Brown said. "He hits the hole hard and he does us a lot of favors, too. We don't block perfect on every play.

"We love Harvey. He's probably in there right now thanking the O-line."

He was.

Unga burst upon the BYU scene in 2007 as a freshman. He gained 1,227 yards and scored 13 touchdowns. The next season, Unga gained 1,132 yards with 11 scores.

While Unga may not match those numbers this year, his per carry average is an amazing 5.6.

"I wouldn't say I'm the most fanciest runner out there," he said. "My object is to get a first down, then eventually get into the end zone. I just try to play hard-nosed football."

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Fifth-Grader's Letter Earns Visit From Unga

It's possible that Aspen Elementary fifth-grader Benjamin Diehl of Lindon may never think of class assignments in quite the same way again after some recent homework resulted in a personal surprise visit by BYU running back Harvey Unga.

Benjamin's teacher, Michelle Rotar, said that each year she assigns her class to write to a celebrity they admire as a way to teach the students how to write a letter using a business format, and how to correctly address envelopes. Benjamin, a big BYU fan, chose to write to Unga.

“The kids have written to singers, actors, actresses, other sports figures and even religious leaders,” Rotar said. “But we've never had a response quite like this before.”

In his letter, Benjamin introduced himself, then wrote: “I' am typing this because my class is supposed to write to our favorite person, so I chose you! I chose you because: you are a running back, you play for BYU, and you are just naturally awesome! I want to follow in your footsteps and become a running back just like you.”

As part of the assignment, the students were instructed to request a small item, such as an autograph or photo.

“I think that it would be great if you could send me a signed football card or a picture of you,” Benjamin wrote. “But if you can't, I understand that you are busy.”

Benjamin said he was outside during lunchtime when Rotar found him and said, “You have a visitor.”

When her student realized what was happening, Rotar said, “The smile on his face was huge. It was one of my top five teaching moments ever.”

Unga was in the hall, near the drinking fountain, Benjamin said.

When the class began, Rotar had Benjamin introduce Unga, who talked about receiving the letter, and how it made him fell “grateful, loved and appreciated.” The football player apologized for not having a picture of himself, then gave a signed pair of football gloves to Benjamin.

“It was really, really cool,” said Benjamin, recalling the incident with a measure of awe.

Rotar said that after letting others see the gift, her delighted student emptied his pencil box, placed the gloves inside and put a padlock on the box. Unga autographed a sheet of paper, and enough copies were made so that every student in the school who wanted the signature could have one.

Aspen principal Brad Davies said Unga's visit “meant a lot” to both Benjamin and the school.

“I was asked during the day, 'How many collegiate athletes would come out to a school and meet with a student who sent them a letter?'” Davies said. “My response? 'Well, at least one.' And Harvey Unga was so nice to do it.”

Coincidentally, Benjamin's dad, Nathan Diehl, an assistant civil engineer for the BYU campus, happened to encounter Unga at the university the next day, and was able to thank the football star in person for the special visit.

“I think that it's very nice that he went out of his way to go surprise someone,” said Benjamin's mother, Valarie Diehl, who said the event was also a confidence-builder for her son.

“It was a great day—especially for Ben,” Rotar said.

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Wyoming Wants a Piece of Cougars, & Their Recruiting Turf

Aside from their once-a-year meetings on the field, football coaches at Wyoming and BYU don't usually see a lot of each other. But that figures to change, now that former Missouri offensive coordinator Dave Christensen has taken over the Wyoming program.

No, Christensen doesn't necessarily want to become best friends with BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall and his staff. The reason is because Wyoming has made it clear under Christensen that it intends to recruit the state of Utah more heavily, and that it is going after players of Pacific Island descent like never before.

"We are going to recruit the state of Utah probably more so than [Wyoming coaches] have in the past," Christensen acknowledged. "We have expanded our recruiting base drastically over the last year. We are willing to recruit everywhere and anywhere we can find a kid that fits our system and that can help us win."

The Cowboys (4-4) will have no Utahns on their roster when they take on the Cougars (6-2) Saturday (noon, the Mtn.) at War Memorial Stadium, but that will change in future meetings, coaches from both sides agree.

Jordan High lineman Billy Vavau, a 6-foot-3, 295-pound senior, committed to Wyoming earlier this season, and last year the Cowboys signed Cottonwood's Alo Moli, a defensive back who is currently on an LDS Church mission.

In the past, Wyoming coaches (and other Western States coaches) have avoided recruiting Utah not because the high school talent level is found lacking, but because the state has three Football Bowl Subdivision programs (BYU, Utah, Utah State) and two FCS programs (Weber State, Southern Utah), and beating all five programs for a local is difficult.

But when Christensen took over, one of his first hires was outside linebackers coach Mike Fanoga, a native of American Samoa who has strong ties to Pacific Islander communities in Hawaii, California, Texas, Utah and Las Vegas.

Mendenhall has noticed the difference.

"They are going after Polynesian kids," Mendenhall said. "... The comment was made [to a BYU assistant coach] that Wyoming wants to recruit the Polynesian kids that BYU is recruiting or [players] that they can beat BYU with on the field. So clearly, they are after an improved program, a conference championship, and to play at a very high level. To do that, they probably think they have to improve their recruiting base or talent level."

Mendenhall and BYU recruiting coordinator Paul Tidwell both said they have a lot of respect for Fanoga and his reputation as both a coach and a recruiter. Wyoming's media guide lists Arizona, Hawaii and Utah as Fanoga's recruiting areas.

"I am sure that's one of the reasons for [Christensen] hiring him, because of his Polynesian ancestry," Tidwell said. "But it is also because he is dang good defensive line coach."

Tidwell said Wyoming isn't the only school just now discovering Utah high school talent and Polynesian talent.

Polynesians "are good athletes, and I think we are going to see more and more of them playing Division I football," Tidwell said.

BYU running back Harvey Unga, a Polynesian, said he is "thrilled" to see more schools recruiting players from the Pacific islands.

"I am happy that a lot more Polynesian kids are getting opportunities to go play at different colleges, to get out there and show what they can do," he said. "To go to college and get an education is awesome, as they will find out. So I am proud of those guys."

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Ross Apo Named All-American

Arlington (Texas) Oakridge senior receiver Ross Apo got to cross off one particular accomplishment he set for himself two years ago: Play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

"I wrote down my goals to start my sophomore season," Apo said. "And this was one."

Apo received his formal invitation Tuesday from the Army Strong contingent cutting a swath through North Texas with announcements that Plano West defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat and Haltom defensive end Reggie Wilson also were named. There are more North Texas announcements coming the next three days.

Apo received his traditional U.S. Army jersey (No. 10) at Oakridge, a small private school in Southwest Arlington. He'll play in the 10th Anniversary game Jan. 9 at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

The East vs. West matchup will be televised live on NBC and feature 90 of the nation's top high school football players.

Apo represents a new generation of players coming through the All-American Game in the last decade.

"The first players I really remember watching are DeSean Jackson (2005) and Ted Ginn (2004)," Apo said.

Apo (6-3, 190) is considered one of the nation's top recruits and is giving Brigham Young a highly rated class along with Seattle quarterback Jake Heaps. Apo's Oakridge teammate, 6-foot-6 offensive tackle Tayo Fabuluje Jr. and hard-hitting linebacker Teu Kautai, also have committed to BYU and were in attendance at Apo's announcement.

Oakridge hopes Apo returns this week against Cistercian. Apo has been recuperating from a leg injury and hasn't caught a pass in Oakridge's last two games. Apo last caught a pass in the first quarter (for a touchdown) of a Sept. 18 victory over Austin St. Andrew's.
The Owls certainly would like their star receiver back. He's been a mainstay of the program since he transferred in to start his sophomore year.

"The first time I saw him, I could tell he was going to be a special player," Oakridge coach Phillip Farhat said. "He had size, speed, explosiveness and great hands. And he loves to play. If I was as good as he is, I'd love to play too."

Apo has 10 catches for 215 yards and three touchdowns in his limited time. Apo's athleticism also shows with touchdowns on a punt return and an interception return as well. Apo had 37 catches for 764 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior and 27 catches for 331 yards and one touchdown as a sophomore.

As a college prospect, he's looked as a wide receiver who has the length and frame to possibly morph into a tight end or H-back. Apo is proud of his accomplishments as a receiver against some of the nation's top players. He shined at a Stanford camp this summer as coaches set up a one-on-one matchup in skills drills between Apo and Palmdale, Calif., star defensive back Joshua Shaw.

"(Shaw) was burning everybody and the coaches got me to go against him about five times," Apo said. "He jammed at the line, but I made the catch. Coming from a private school, a lot of people don't think you play the best competition but I like to prove that we can."

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BYU Dismisses Safety Te'o

BYU has dismissed defensive back Shiloah Te’o from the team after a violation of team rules.

The school did not elaborate on the situation.

Te’o, a 5-foot-10, 206-pound sophomore from Laie, Hawaii, has played in all of BYU’s games this season as a reserve safety. He has five tackles, including one tackle for a loss.

Last season, Te’o played in 11 games on special teams recording five tackles and one fumble recovery.

Te’o is the cousin of Notre Dame freshman linebacker Manti Te’o.

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Harvey Unga Scores 3 TDS As No. 19 BYU Defeat Colorado State 42-23 In MWC Opener

Harvey Unga ran for 113 yards and three touchdowns and No. 19 BYU converted two interceptions and a blocked punt into scores while holding off Colorado State 42-23 Saturday.

Max Hall passed for two touchdowns and ran for another as the Cougars (3-1) won the Mountain West Conference opener one week after getting blown out at home by Florida State.

The Cougars still had some defensive lapses in the second half, but built a 21-0 lead off Colorado State's mistakes in the first quarter.

Hall was 18 for 29 for 241 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Grant Stucker completed 30 of 50 passes for 372 yards and two touchdowns for the Rams (3-1, 0-1), whose six-game winning streak ended.

Colorado State got within 28-17 on a field goal early in the fourth quarter and answered Unga's third TD run with a 13-yard touchdown pass from Strucker to Tyson Liggett to make it 35-23 after the two-point conversion failed. But the Rams could not keep matching BYU to overcome the deficit.

Unga ran for 88 yards in the second half and became the first Cougars player to top 100 yards this season.

The Cougars led 21-0 after the first quarter, needing only a pair of plays on each drive to cover the short distances to the goal.

Colorado State receiver Rashaun Greer tipped both intercepted passes high enough that a defender was easily able to grab it. Brian Logan had the first, leading to Unga's 4-yard touchdown run barely two minutes into the game, then Andrew Rich grabbed the second at the Colorado State 39. Hall threw a 37-yard pass to O'Neill Chambers down the sideline, then Hall faked out everybody with a bootleg and trotted into the end zone with 3:04 left.

The Cougars got the ball right back when Matt Marshall blocked a punt and BYU went up 21-0 on Unga's 5-yard run with 25 seconds left in the first.

Hall's pass to McKay Jacobson for an apparent touchdown was overturned for pass interference called on Dennis Pitta. It was one of 10 BYU penalties called in the game, but Pitta redeemed himself on the next play with a diving catch on an 18-yard touchdown pass from Hall to put BYU up 28-7. It was the first time all day BYU was able to drive any distance, going 82 yards on 10 plays to get the margin back up to three touchdowns.

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3 Players From The Same HS in Texas Join BYU

It's been more than three months since Texas receiver Ross Apo joined star quarterback Jake Heaps for a press conference in Salt Lake City. It was at that press conference when the pair announced they would play for BYU, becoming a part of what may be the best recruiting class in BYU history.

Apo, who was once committed to play at Texas, decommitted and also turned down scholarship offers from Oklahoma State, Missouri and Nebraska for the chance to play with Heaps in Provo. Now finishing his senior year at the Oakridge School in Arlington, Texas, Ross can't wait to be a Cougar.

"I'm leaving in December so I'm very excited," he said. "I'm trying to get this over with so I can head up there."

Ross isn't coming to Provo alone. Two of his teammates at Oakridge have committed to play at BYU and will join him in the class of 2010.

Teu Kautai is a 6 feet, 1 inch, 200 lb. LB/RB and a lifelong BYU fan. Playing for the Cougars is a dream come true.

"I'm really excited. I want to go there right now," Kautai said. "I committed as soon as I got an offer. I've been wanting to go to BYU ever since I was little. And I got Terry to go there. And we're all just getting ready to go to BYU."

Terry is a 6 feet, 6 inches tall, 270 pound lineman.

Teo Fabaluje didn't know much about BYU until Ross and Teu invited him to go to BYU's junior day. During that brief trip to Provo for the camp, Terry fell in love with BYU. And the coaches were so impressed they offered him a scholarship.

"Before I got there, he (Bronco Mendenhall) didn't know anything about me, but he said usually not knowing people, he doesn't give scholarships. But he said there was something special about the interview; and he said he just wanted to offer me a scholarship, and I committed." said Fabuluje.

"It was just too amazing to skip. I've been other places and no place was like that. I had to commit. It was out of the blue, I tell you that. I didn't have any intentions of going to BYU, but when I went there, I was glad I did," he said.

Their high school coach Phillip Farhat had nothing but praise for the future Cougars.

"They're all very talented, and I'm sure you saw that watching the game tonight." he said. "But they're all special kids too. They're good people and good teammates and we love having them around. We're fortunate to have them. And they're all at a talent level as a coach that you don't know if you'll ever coach kids that talented again."

All three have been blown away by the support they've been shown by BYU fans. Many Cougar faithful came to watch them play the day before BYU's victory over Oklahoma. And they put on a show in a 48-7 victory.

"I like it," said Kautai. "It's a good feeling for them to be here. It feels like I'm already at BYU."

These three future Cougars also hope to convince another teammate to join them, sophomore quarterback Thomas Johnson.

"Looks like you're working on another one here," I asked. "Yea, Thomas Johnson. He's going to be there in 2012," said Kautai. "He's going to come to BYU with us."

If they offer him, he'll probably come." says Apo. "We're talking him into it."

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#20 BYU Upsets #3 OU

Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford stood helplessly on the sideline, wearing a T-shirt, a sling and a towel around his neck.

All he could do was watch as his Oklahoma Sooners lost their chance for a perfect season—and the BYU Cougars launched their bid to become the latest BCS busters from the Mountain West.

Max Hall threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to wide-open McKay Jacobson in the back of the end zone with 3:03 left, giving No. 20 BYU a 14-13 victory over No. 3 Oklahoma on Saturday night.

The Sooners’ last hope to recover ended when Tress Way came up short on a 54-yard field goal with 1:23 left. BYU players exchanged flying chest bumps right away, then celebrated wildly when their upset was complete, a stunning end to the first college football game—and first regular-season game—ever played at the nearly $1.2 billion Cowboys Stadium.

One Saturday into the college football season and already the national title race—and Heisman Trophy race—have been thrown for a loop.

Cougars fans made up only a small portion of the crowd of 75,437, but they all stuck around long after this one. The team stayed on the field so they could all enjoy it together, cheerleaders waving flags and players pointing to friends and family in the crowd. Hall’s uncle, former Cowboys quarterback Danny White, was expected to be among them.

“I don’t know if we can measure it now,” said BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall, who opened his fifth season with his biggest victory and one of the best in program history. “All I can say is I’m very proud of this football team.”

The Cougars won at least 10 games each of the last three years, helping regain some of their national profile, but they’d lost 12 straight to ranked non-conference foes. Their last such win was over No. 1 Miami in 1990.

“This is unbelievable, playing a game like this, having a chance to drive down the field and score,” Hall said.

Hall was 26 of 38 for 329 yards and two touchdowns. The numbers that matter most: a 16-play, 78-yard drive that included converting a fourth-and-4 and throwing the winning touchdown after being shoved back from the 2 on a delay-of-game penalty.

Hall was intercepted twice and sacked four times, but this win could vault him to the fringe of the Heisman talk—especially with Bradford’s status unknown.

Bradford sprained his throwing shoulder when he was tackled to the turf on a hard, clean hit by linebacker Coleby Clawson in the closing seconds of the first half. Oklahoma kicked a field goal on the next play to up 10-7, but backup Landry Jones wasn’t able to stretch it very much.

The best Jones could do was get the Sooners to the 1-yard line midway through the fourth quarter. After he failed to get in on a third-down sneak, coach Bob Stoops opted for another field goal. Hall made that strategy backfire, leaving Oklahoma 0-1 for only the second time in 11 seasons under Stoops.

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Cottonwood's Jordan Afo Announces for Brigham Young

From Cottonwood (Salt Lake City, Utah), defensive tackle Jordan Afo has committed to BYU over Utah State.

The 6-foot-3, 290-pound Afo is not expected to play his senior season after suffering a broken vertebra in his back while attempting a backflip at a party. The injury resulted in surgery, wearing a brace and months of extensive rehab.

Afo is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and plans to go on mission after his freshman season in college.

Evaluation: Afo is a kid who displays the ability to be a disruptive presence in the trenches. He displays good size and the frame to keep adding bulk. He will flash the ability to fire off the ball low, shoot his hands, derive power from his lower body, and just stand a blocker up. You like to see that, but want to see it more consistently as he is capable of causing problems in the heart of the trenches if he can do that regularly. He needs to watch his pad level and not get cute and be more consistent with his hands to protect his legs and not let blockers into his chest. He displays a good get-off and can get to the shoulder and get into the gap. He is a solid wrap-up tackler. When he keeps his pads down he can be tough versus the double team and hold his ground. He plays with a good motor. He is best suited for play between the tackles. He will give effort to pursue to the ball on the perimeter, but runs high and displays adequate speed. As a pass rusher he has the tools to bull rush and collapse the pocket. Afo is a kid who could continue to fill out and be a physical and disruptive player. He shows flashes, but needs to work on consistency and if he does he could be a good college defensive tackle.