Lawrence Wilson invited to Baltimore Ravens Summer Camp

Former Farrington and UH player, defensive tackle Lawrence Wilson, has earned a chance to stick with the Baltimore Ravens. He returned last week from extended free-agent camp with an invitation to rejoin the Ravens at their preseason training camp July 29.

Wilson is competing with fourth-year player Dwan Edwards and fellow rookie free agent Andrew Powell for a roster spot. Last year's first-round draft pick, Haloti Ngata, starts at nose guard.

"They're working me at defensive tackle and nose guard," Wilson said. "They already had some cuts, so I'm thinking I have a good chance of at least making the practice squad."

The 6-foot, 296-pound Wilson was the strongest UH player last year, benching more than 500 pounds.

"Over there is different. It's not about lifting heavy stuff. They don't really care about how much you lift -- it's about what you can do (on the field)," Wilson said. " You have to learn fast and be ready at all times."

Especially with All-Pro linebacker Ray Lewis captaining the NFL's stingiest defense.

"He's a really cool guy, down-to-earth," Wilson said. "Tries to help you out. But once you step on that field, he's a different dude."

Jesse Sapolu returns to Hawaii

Homecoming for Gov linemen

Sapolu: 2006 team hard act to follow

Jesse Sapolu knows how hard it is to maintain football excellence.

The former Hawaii star earned four Super Bowl rings with the San Francisco 49ers. Sapolu, a Farrington alumnus, was home in the islands last weekend and he talked about the Warriors' ascent to an 11-3 record last year and their potential to do even better this fall.

"They can't sneak up on anybody anymore," said Sapolu, who was a leader of the UH team that went 9-2 in 1981. "They have to be ready, because it can be exhausting when you become a target as a team."

With that being said, Sapolu added he thinks the Warriors have the talent to go unbeaten this fall.

Continue Article at Honolulu Star Bulletin

Detroit Lions.com article on Ikaika Alama-Francis

Don't Worry, Be Happy
Alama-Francis Takes an Upbeat Approach to Life, but Knows when it's Time to Work
By Chrissie Zavicar
Detroitlions.com
July 6, 2007

Due to a pectoral injury suffered prior to the NFL Combine, Alama-Francis has been unable to fully participate in team drills. (Photo: Gavin Smith)

ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- It seems that over the years, sports have been transformed from games into work.

Even at young ages, kids are approaching sports as though they are future job opportunities instead of a fun way to spend time with friends and exercise.

Obviously there is a time for intensity and hard work; after all, players at the professional level are getting paid for their services. But it seems as though having pure fun while playing professional sports is a dwindling trend.

This became ever-too apparent for those surrounding the Detroit Lions organization when they drafted defensive end Ikaika Alama-Francis out of Hawaii.

While Alama-Francis is as intense as can be when he is on the field during practice or on gamedays, he is never without a smile when he is at the team’s practice facility.

“You've got to love life (and) I really do – I love life,” he said. “I'm very blessed just to be here. There are so many people out there who would love to be in my spot and I'm going to enjoy it. I'm going to laugh (and) I'm going to have fun but there is a serious side that you have to have.

Continue Article at Detroit Lions.com

Ikaika Alama-Francis Blog

BYU RB Manase Tonga

Junior Manase Tonga cited for giving false information to police during traffic stop

By Rhiannon Potkey
The Salt Lake Tribune

Article Last Updated: 07/06/2007 02:00:12 AM MDT

Brigham Young junior running back Manase Tonga was arrested and booked in the Utah County Jail after a routine traffic stop in Provo early Tuesday morning.
Tonga was cited by the Provo Police Department at 1:30 a.m. for failure to stop at a stop sign, driving with an expired car registration and providing false personal information to an officer.
Tonga, 23, had a warrant out for his arrest for a prior minor traffic violation and gave a false name to the arresting officer during Tuesday's incident.

Continue article at Salt Lake Tribune

In February, Tonga's younger brother, Matangi, a freshman defensive lineman, was suspended from the football team for violating team rules. He was arrested on April 1 on six theft charges and one burglery charge. He still has not returned to the team.

Zeb Togiai verbals to Arizona State

ASUDevils.com reports that Desert Vista (Phoenix, AZ) defensive lineman Zeb Togiai of (6'2, 255, Sr) has given a verbal commitment to Arizona State. Togiai is also the cousin of Manumalo Muasau of Buena HS (Sierra Vista, AZ) on the top recruits in the state of Arizona.

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Article on Weber State Coach Chad Kauha'aha'a

’A dream come true’
By ROBERT COLLIAS, Staff Writer

PUKALANI – Chad Kauhaahaa rarely speaks in a soft voice.

The former Baldwin High School football coach, who is now the defensive line assistant at Weber State University, had no choice on Saturday at the Just Win Football Camp on the campus of Kamehameha Schools Maui.

He lost most of his voice screaming at some of the 265 players on hand for the first two days of action.

“This is my third camp here and each year it is getting better,’’ Kauhaahaa said Saturday as large linemen smacked pads nearby.

The five-year-old camp, which has one of the most impressive coaching lists in the state, is run by King Kekaulike coach J.W. Kenton. Kauhaahaa said that it is a showcase for players to display their abilities to coaches from Hawaii, Oklahoma, Colorado, Arizona, Arizona State, San Diego State, California and UCLA.

“J.W. has topped himself every year with the coaches that he brings in to work with these kids,’’ Kauhaahaa said. “I lost my voice yelling at the young kids, but you know what? That’s OK. The kids get quality work. We are coaching our butts off and that is what he brings us down here for. I know it is tough for J.W. because he is a head coach now, but he is still doing it for the kids of Hawaii.’’

Kenton started the camp when he worked for the Hula Bowl Maui, which moved back to Oahu two years ago after an eight-year run at War Memorial Stadium.

The first camp drew 60 players, but it grew to 311 last year before Kenton decided to cap it below 300 this year. All six of the Maui Interscholastic League’s football teams were represented at the camp – from a high of 25 each for King Kekaulike and Kamehameha Maui down to three from Lahainaluna.

Maui News