Gazette-Times reporter
No, you’re not seeing double.
The quarterbacks for Oregon State and University of Oregon might look like each other out on the field, but Lyle Moevao and Jeremiah Masoli are definitely two different people.
There are similarities. They are both Samoan. They throw the ball on a rope. Moevao is listed at 5-foot-11, 220-pounds, Masoli at 5-11, 214.
“Lyle’s not an ugly guy, so I’m taking it as a compliment,” Masoli said with a chuckle.
They have not met in person, but Masoli and Moevao have gotten to know each other throughout the season using e-mail and other avenues to keep in touch.
Masoli first heard about Moevao when he committed to Oregon State out of El Camino College.
Masoli was intrigued. He was playing at City College of San Francisco and here was another Samoan quarterback who had played junior college and was headed to the Pacific-10 Conference.
Meanwhile, Moevao noticed Masoli.
“I heard about another junior college quarterback, a Samoan, the same size as me getting recruited to some Oregon schools,” Moevao said. “So I was kind of watching and seeing how that went as well, but we didn’t get into contact until a few weeks into the season.”
Their mothers got in touch, e-mails were exchanged and friendships were formed.
Masoli and Moevao have been talking for most of the season.
“Last weekend we were talking about the Arizona game and how crazy that was with that comeback,” Masoli said. “I thought they were doomed. That was a great comeback for them. (But) we don’t always talk about football. We talk about other things. We’re just friends.”
Football does tend to be a popular topic of conversation, however.
“We’ve kind of just been talking lately about who’s hurting.,” Moevao said. “He’s been asking me if (Jacquizz Rodgers) is all right, if my shoulder’s OK. Just stuff like that. It’s not really being about trying to get the down-low about what the defense is running and stuff like that.
“We’re more concerned about each other rather than just the game because overall, we’re still going to know each other after all this is said and done. We know we still have to do one thing and that’s compete, but at the same time we want to make sure that sportsmanship is all a part of this as well.”
The Civil War talk has stayed, well, civil.
“He hasn’t really said too much about the bowl game because we’ve still got one game to play and even though we know what’s at stake, we still have to compete,” Moevao said. “When it comes to being on the field, it’s just another game and we’ve got to go out there and perform against each other.”
They are two of the four Samoan starting quarterbacks in the Pac-10 this year. Tavita Pritchard plays for Stanford and Willie Tuitama leads Arizona.
It’s a fact not lost on Masoli and Moevao.
“For me personally, it’s great to line up against some Samoan quarterbacks,” Masoli said. “It’s great for our community. It gives a lot of hope to kids across the nation, telling them they don’t have to be a lineman.”
The two quarterbacks will get to talk in person after the game. It’s a moment both players are looking forward to, win or lose.
“I think just meeting him and being able to put a face with the name is definitely important and so I think it would be cool for us to meet and be able to congratulate each other on a good season so far,” Moevao said.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Moevao, Masoli have become friends
Friday, November 28, 2008
THE NEWS TRIBUNE 2008 ALL-AREA FOOTBALL TEAM
Gouveia (#5 in green jersey), Potoa'e (back row in orange)
JEFF GOUVEIA, Auburn
Linebacker, 5-11, 220, Senior
Bio: In the Trojans' 3-3 defense, everything funnels to the middle linebacker – and Gouveia, who was the team's leading tackler (96 tackles, one sack) for a second consecutive season. Combine great instincts with a physical specimen, and you've got the co-SPSL linebacker of the year. Also was the league's offensive back MVP (1,253 yards, 31 TDs). Could walk on at Washington.
More about Gouveia: He is also the defensive stopper on the basketball team at guard.
***Named First Team All League at RB and LB***
SIONE POTOA'E, Lakes
Defensive lineman, 6-3, 285, Junior
Bio: Paired with senior Tuiasosopo Niusulu, this is the best tandem of defensive tackles Lakes has had under coach Dave Miller. Potoa'e (40 tackles, three sacks, four fumble recoveries) has the three things that make a great interior run-stopper – nimble feet, active hands and strength (415-pound bench press). He also plays offensive tackle, and was named the SPSL 3A's top lineman.
More about Potoa'e: The big man loves to croon and write poetry.
***Named SPSL 3A Offensive Lineman of the Year***
Shelton (#71 in green), Pulu (second row next to #71)
ANDRU PULU, Federal Way
Offensive lineman, 6-3, 250, Senior
Bio: Pulu’s season was cut short with a knee injury, but he did return to play in the team’s playoff game at Skyline. A two-time All-Area selection, Pulu was a cornerstone for Federal Way the last two seasons. This fall he earned first-team all-SPSL North offensive lineman honors and also was named the league’s co-defensive player of the year at linebacker. He has given a verbal commitment to the University of Washington.
More about Pulu: He also throws the shot put.
DANNY SHELTON, Auburn
Offensive lineman, 6-3, 305, Sophomore
Bio: The only sophomore on the All-Area squad, Shelton was a two-way starter for third-ranked Auburn, helping the Trojans rush for more than 400 yards per game. SPSL North coaches recognized that the youngster could play with the older boys, voting him to the league’s first-team on the offensive and defensive lines.
More about Shelton: He will turn 16 in August.
Also named to the second team were defensive lineman Tuiasosopo Niusulu (Lakes) who was SPSL 3A's defensive line player of the year.
USC's Rey Maualuga knows he'll battle emotions
After the Trojans' victory over California on Nov. 8, the senior linebacker's eyes welled as he stammered through a postgame interview. The 6-foot-2, 260-pound Maualuga apologized, citing the fact that he had just completed his second-to-last Coliseum appearance.
So when the fifth-ranked Trojans gather tonight for team meetings and walk down the Coliseum tunnel on Saturday before playing Notre Dame, Maualuga isn't quite sure how he will react.
Coach Pete Carroll has warned players to avoid letting emotion get the best of them, as former quarterback Matt Leinart did before the Trojans played UCLA in 2005.
Maualuga acknowledged that might be easier said than done.
"It's easy for Coach to say because he returns every year with a great team," said Maualuga, a Butkus Award finalist. "I'm saying now I'm not going to be emotional, but it's going to be hard."
Defensive tackle Fili Moala and receiver Patrick Turner are among the seniors who will be introduced before the game.
EHS grad seeks great ending to college football career
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Bryce Scanlon is a senior nose tackle for the Weber State University football team in Ogden, Utah. Scanlon and his Weber State teammates will compete in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA).
Scanlon graduated from EHS in 2003. He was an All-State football player and state high school wrestling champion in his senior season for the Red Devils. Bryce is the son of Diana and Dave Majors of Evanston, and Floyd Scanlon, who lives in his native Samoa.
Bryce and his Weber State teammates traveled to San Luis Obispo, Calif., Saturday, Nov. 29, to face Cal Poly in the first round of the NCAA FCS playoffs.
Weber State, 9-3, earned the playoff berth by winning the Big Sky Conference championship. Cal Poly, 8-2, won the Great West Conference title to earn a berth in the 16-team FCS playoff field.
Saturday’s kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Mountain Time.
Weber State likely would have hosted Cal Poly if the Wildcats could have won their regular-season finale last Saturday against Eastern Washington. Weber State fell behind in the first half, and a second-half rally fell short as Eastern Washington claimed a 33-26 victory.
Scanlon’s great game
Scanlon did everything he could to help his team win last Saturday. The 6-2, 295-pounder registered 12 tackles, including four solo stops, with a quarterback sack and three tackles for losses.
“I think it was actually the best game of my career,” Bryce said. “It was Senior Night, and you have to come out and give it your all. You’ve got all your family there, so that makes you play better. That puts pressure on you to show everybody your talent.”
Bryce’s father came all the way from Samoa – about a 13-hour plane trip – to watch him play in Ogden last Saturday. Bryce said his dad has watched him play in person several times this season.
The FCS playoff selections were televised live Sunday, Nov. 23, on ESPNU. The telecast said Weber would be hosting a first-round playoff game, but that proved to be wrong.
“When we got selected on ESPNU, at first they said Cal Poly was coming here,” Bryce said. “I called and told everybody, everyone was excited. We found out an hour later that it was a mistake, so we have to go there (to Cal Poly). My parents are all buying tickets. My family’s all coming to follow us.”
Scanlon said Cal Poly has a strong option attack, and the EHS grad should be busy in the front line trying to shut down the California team.
“If we stop the run, they will have to go through the air, and we have pretty good cornerbacks to lock down,” Bryce said. “We’ve just got to go out there and stop their run, and don’t let them get any big plays.”
Scanlon is seventh on the Weber State squad with 48 total tackles. He has 14 unassisted stops. His 6.5 sacks ranks third on the Wildcats this season.
Transferred from Utah
Scanlon received a full-ride football scholarship to the University of Utah after his stellar prep career at EHS. He spent two years in Salt Lake City, including sitting out as a redshirt in his first season at Utah.
After seeing very limited playing time for the Utes as a redshirt sophomore, he decided to transfer to Weber State.
Bryce has been a mainstay on the Wildcat defensive line in his three seasons in Ogden.
Scanlon knows most of the names on this year’s Utah squad that finished 12-0 and is likely to gain a BCS bowl berth. He knows he could have possibly been a part of that team if he had stayed in Salt Lake. But Bryce is very happy with the way his college career has unfolded.
“I played with pretty much all the (current Utah) seniors, and I know all the kids because we hosted a lot of them on recruiting trips,” Bryce said. “I’m glad to see them doing good. But things were meant for me to be here. I’m glad my team did well, and I’m glad for my buddies over at Utah.”
Bryce got a chance earlier this season to meet his old U of U teammates on the gridiron. Weber State played at Utah Sept. 27, and the Wildcats played tough in a 37-21 loss to the unbeaten Utes. Weber’s other loss was at Hawaii Sept. 6, as the Wildcats watched a 10-point halftime lead disappear.
Scanlon is majoring in Communications, Public Relations and Advertising at Weber State, with a minor in Health Promotion. Bryce said he will graduate next spring.
NFL possibilities
Floyd Scanlon was a standout college football player at the University of Missouri (actually NW Missouri State). Floyd is a cousin to standout NFL linebacker Junior Seau. Bryce said his dad never got a chance to play professionally, as a severe knee injury ended his football career. Bryce said he would like to get a shot at the NFL, but he has a great college education to fall back on if pro football doesn’t work out.
“I’m just going to finish the season out and start training hard, see if I can’t get some pro numbers up here, get all that done and see where that takes me,” he said. “I’ve got good schooling, so if that (NFL) doesn’t work out, whatever happens will have a reason, and we’ll just go with it.”
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Thursday, November 27, 2008
All-PFL Atofau & Kanongataa
Rainier Beach 'Alo'ofa Ta'a
Jamal Atofau KingCo 3A Defensive Player of the Year
Warriors' Watson has come of age
He weighed 10 pounds at birth.
In the fourth grade, he was 5 feet 10 and 200 pounds.
He was banned from using the playground swings.
"I broke a swing when I was in elementary school," he said, sheepishly. "It's a tragedy."
As a student at Kaumualii Elementary on Kaua'i, he was assigned to a special section.
"Everybody had a little orange chair," Watson said. "I had a big brown teacher's chair at my desk. I guess there were perks. It was nice to have a big chair."
In the sixth grade, he was 6 feet.
As a freshman at Kaua'i High, he was 6-2 — and shaving regularly.
"I was a man-child," Watson said.
"When I was a freshman, everybody thought I was a senior," he said.
He transferred to Nanakuli High, where Leona — his classmate and future wife — also thought he was a senior. She realized he was younger when they were in the same world geography and Hawaiian classes the next year.
As a Nanakuli senior, he grew out his sideburns. Then he grew a goatee.
"I had more facial hair than my teachers," he said, smiling.
The perception did not change when he went to UH.
"My freshman year, on senior night, everybody's parents were giving me leis," Watson said. "They thought I was a senior. It's happened every year since I've been here. I always get a lei on senior night from random people."
Even teammates were fooled.
"The first time I saw him was my first day of training camp (last year)," defensive tackle Josh Leonard said. "I thought he was, like, 25. I didn't find out he wasn't a senior until our first game (of 2007)."
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Purpose Personified: Talia Crichton
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Talia Crichton and his oldest brother Sam were close—as a lanky middle school football player at Hughes, Talia would spend hours in the weight room with Sam. Not lifting: watching, mesmerized by his brother. “I just sat there, like, ‘Wow.’”When Talia was nine, he, Sam, their parents Tupe and Niu, and four other siblings made a move, from American Samoa all the way to the north side of Long Beach, to Atlantic Avenue. It was there that football became a daily part of Sam’s life, and thus, a daily part of Talia’s.
When Meyer took over the Jordan program, Sam was already a three-year varsity starter. “Sam was just a great kid, who knew right from wrong. He was always walking around with [his] ukulele.” Meyer was trying to bring a new philosophy to the Jordan Panthers, preaching positivity and respect. He needed leaders on the team to buy in, and help him spread the message. During school one day, Sam stepped forward to defend a teacher who was being hassled by a student, and Meyer found his leader.
Talia began attending school, and playing football, at Lakewood High. While his brother had succeeded at Jordan, Talia’s mother thought it wasn’t the best environment for her younger, more impressionable son. His grades at Hughes earned him admittance to Lakewood’s Merit Scholars program, and his mother drove him to school across town every day. But even in fresh surroundings, Talia says he was, “Influenced by the wrong things.” Overwhelmed, Talia left the Merit Scholar program. He was searching for an identity.
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2008 All Big Sky Team
The Big Sky announced it's 2008 All Conference Football Team. A special note of congratulations to Coach McBride of Weber State being named Coach of the Year. McBride has been recruiting and coaching Polynesians for 20+ years, many years before it became vogue to have Polynesian coaches or players in a football program. McBride's former defensive lineman at Utah, and now defensive line coach, Chad Kauha'aha'a has done a remarkable job coaching up his position players in addition to recruiting his home state of Hawai'i and Polynesians from the mainland United States. St Louis School (Honolulu, HI) graduate Cameron Higgins was named offensive MVP of the league. Interestingly tiny Kapa'a High School on the island of Kaua'i placed two guards on the all star team: Lawai'a Naihe of Weber State and Moses Punzal of Portland State.First Team selections include
Quarterback Cameron Higgins Weber State
Higgins, the 2007 Newcomer of the Year, shinned in his first full-season as a starter. Entering Saturday’s playoff game, Higgins ranks third in the nation in total passing, and fourth in total offense and passing efficiency. He’s completed 67.5 percent of his passes for 3,791 yards with 34 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Higgins is averaging a league-best 315.9 passing yards per game. Higgins is a candidate for the Walter Payton Award, given annually to the top offensive player in the FCS. Big Sky Link
Fullback Marcus Mailei Weber State
Used primarily as a blocking back
Guard Lawai'a Naihe Weber State
Tackle Lou Saucedo Montana StateSaucedo, a senior offensive tackle from Long Beach, Calif., staged a remarkable comeback in 2008. After missing 2007 due to academics, Saucedo returned to the Bobcat program in the summer, only to move from guard to tackle. Even so, he managed to earn first team all-league honors. "Lou is a tremendous story of perseverance," Ash said. "He worked extremely hard, and made a tremendous impact on our program." MSU Link
Defensive Tackle Bryce Scanlon Weber StateHas 48 tackles for the season, 6.5 tackles for loss, and 1 sack
Linebacker Cyrus Mulitalo Sacramento StateMulitalo is also a repeat selection to the Big Sky first team. The middle linebacker led the Hornets in 2008 with 96 total tackles, marking the third straight season in which he recorded the highest tackle total on the team. He also had two interceptions and broke up six passes. Mulitalo leaves Sacramento State ranked second in school history with 336 career tackles and is fifth with 32.0 tackles-for-loss. A versatile player, Mulitalo was occasionally used at running back during his career and scored a touchdown as a sophomore. Along with his two first-team awards, Mulitalo was named to the second team in 2006. Sac State Link
Second Team selections include
Defensive End Jason Belford Eastern Washington
28 tackles for the season, 9 tackles for loss and 6 sacks
Tight End Cody Nakamura Weber State
Started 8 of 12 games, registered 42 receptions for 682 yards and 9 TDs
Honorable Mention selections include
Inside Linebacker Makai Borden Eastern Washington
43 tackles in only 7 games
Defensive Tackle Ryan Eastman Weber State
21 tackles for the season, and 4 tackles for loss
Return Specialist Bryant Eteuati Weber State
Averaged 12 yards a punt return and 23.9 yards a kick return on 42 returns for the season
Defensive End Pate Moleni Weber State
37 Tackles for the year, 7 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks
Guard Moses Punzal Portland State
Alex Savusa: Heidelberg (Germany)
Higgins tabbed best in Big Sky
WSU places 12 on league's first team list
OGDEN -- Weber State's breakthrough football season keeps getting better.
The Big Sky Conference co-champion Wildcats had a league-record 12 players earn first team All-Big Sky Conference honors. The all league teams were announced Tuesday morning by the Big Sky office. Voting for the players was done by the league's nine head football coaches.
The Wildcats had 20 players earn first, second or honorable mention team honors, led by sophomore quarterback Cameron Higgins.
Higgins was named the 2008 Big Sky offensive player of the year, just the second Wildcat to earn that honor. Record-setting quarterback Jamie Martin was the 1991 player of the year and shared the honor in 1992 with Idaho's Devon Pearce.
"This is a tremendous honor for our team, coaching staff, school and fans," said WSU coach Ron McBride. "Many of these kids came to us four years ago when we took over and have worked hard on and off the field to achieve this success. We have a solid foundation in place upon which to build this program onward and upward."
Higgins finished the 2008 regular season as the Big Sky leader in passing (3,791 yards), total offense (3,701 yards) and passing efficiency (171.50). He completed 265-of-392 passes for 3,808 yards and 34 touchdowns, guiding the Wildcats to a 9-3 record overall and a 7-1 mark in conference play. Higgins was also named first team All-Big Sky, but did not receive a unanimous vote.
Fanaikas walk on, succeed at ASU
The Arizona Republic
There's almost no chance for a Paul Fanaika today in major-college football - a guy who shows up at an open tryout, makes good as a scout-team offensive lineman and, five years later, leaves with the second-most starts among the seniors.
Yet that's what Fanaika accomplished at Arizona State. Not only that, his sister Lavinia (Nia for short) made the ASU women's basketball team as a walk-on and is in her fourth and final season.
"It's quite a story," said their father Sunia. "I knew Paul could get a chance to play, even when at times it seemed like a long shot. One thing he had was his size and his commitment."What he didn't have initially was the full support of his extended family. His paternal grandfather, in particular, wanted him to stay in the Bay Area near their home in Daly City, Calif.
Sunia Fanaika (pronounced Fan-EYE-kuh) is from the Pacific Island nation Tonga, where family means everything.
"In a lot of ways, decision making is influenced by the family structure, to the point where you're kind of held back," Sunia said, "especially going to college away from home. For us, it was always different. Our kids were always involved in a lot of activities that enabled them to go away for short periods of time - especially to San Francisco, where it's so diverse.
"We caught some flak about being too Westernized. But we did encourage our kids to find a place and be comfortable."
Paul's dream coming out of Mills High in nearby Millbrae was to play Pac-10 football in warm weather. His coach, Barrett Krieger, unsuccessfully lobbied on Fanaika's behalf.
"I sent out a lot of tapes," Krieger told the Palo Alto (Calif.) Daily News in 2006. "He was big, strong, mobile, an effective blocker. I told UCLA that if they don't take him, he's going to be playing against you someday."
Fanaika, who earned a scholarship after the 2005 season, will make his 34th consecutive start at right guard Friday against UCLA. Senior quarterback Rudy Carpenter (41) and junior defensive end Dexter Davis (36) are the only active Sun Devils with more starts.
"I was willing to try out just to keep playing football," Fanaika said. "Because when you like something so much, it doesn't matter what you have to do to get it."
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
John Faletoese Great West Conference Defensive Player of the Year
UC Davis defensive tackle John Faletoese was named the Great West Conference Defensive Player of the Year. Faletoese, a 6-foot-3, 292-pound senior from nearby Carmichael, was also voted by the league's head coaches as the preseason defensive player of the year during the summer and is a candidate for the Buck Buchanan Award given to the top defensive player in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision. He finished the season with 32 tackles, including 21 solo, while posting 5.5 sacks and 7.5 tackles for losses. Faletoese, who also blocked four kicks, finished his career with 15.5 sacks and 36.5 TFL's. He was the focal point of offenses throughout the season, often garnering double- and triple-teams, according to head coach Bob Biggs.
Also selected to the Second Team were Southern Utah's Aaron Po'uha and Robert Takeno. Takeno, a second-team selection last year, led the Thunderbirds in tackles for the second straight year, tallying 94 stops with 6.5 for losses this season. He was also in on a sack, broke up two passes and forced a fumble.
Martinez and Su'a-Filo trip to SC
Naturally, some of the top schools in the country are vying for the two prospects. This blog has learned that the two, good friends off the field, will be taking an official visit to USC. They leave this friday, according to a good source familiar with the situation and will return on Sunday. The highlight of the visit, of course, will be the Trojans game against Notre Dame, which promises to be a good time because USC should win by at least four touchdowns.
Tony Jones
Sula and Mageo commit to Warriors football team
POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Nov 25, 2008
Jack Sula and Nathan Mageo hope to contribute right away when they join the Hawaii football program, and will get a head start in that pursuit.
Both Sula, a running back, and Mageo, a defensive tackle, have committed to sign with the Warriors and plan to enroll at UH for the spring semester.
The early start gives them a chance to acclimate academically and familiarize themselves with the Warriors' system in spring practice.
"It's going to be crucial to be there for the spring to get to know the plays better," said Mageo, who committed to UH after making his official visit over the weekend.
Mageo (6-foot-3, 278 pounds) is originally from American Samoa and played the last two seasons at New Mexico Military Institute, where he was a defensive captain this season.
Mageo was also recruited by North Carolina State, Kansas State, Baylor, Troy and Arizona before choosing Hawaii. The Warriors lose four of their top six defensive tackles after this season.
Sula (6-0, 215) signed with Boise State but didn't enroll there following a prolific career at Carson (Calif.) High. He was planning to attend a junior college when the opportunity with the Warriors popped up.
"They gave me a call out of the blue, they told me they were interested and from there we kept in contact," Sula said. "I felt real comfortable talking to the coaches and I can't wait to go."
Sula said the opportunity to play running back at UH figured into his decision. He had been recruited as a linebacker last year and is eager to compete in the Warriors' offensive backfield instead.
"This has been the longest period I've been away from football since before I started playing," he said. "But I've still been working out and staying in shape."
Monday, November 24, 2008
Illinois' Michael Ho'omanawanui named All Big 10
Illinois Tight End Michael Ho'omanawanui was named Honorable Mention All Big 10. Hoomanawanui burst onto the scene in 2008, catching 25 passes, third-most on the team, for 312 yards, an average of 12.5 per catch, and two touchdowns. He was a first down machine, with 18 of his receptions going for first downs and two others resulting in scores.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Prep football: Sofele has big game for Colts
In the Class 4A state title game at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Friday, the answer almost came in just two words.
Isi Sofele.
The Thunderbirds had their feathers ruffled for the second week in a row, this time as Sofele and the Cottonwood Colts erased an early 21-7 deficit in the second quarter to tie things up 21-21 at the break.
"They came out strong, hit us in the mouth," said Sofele. "We got sick of them doing it, so we took it back to them."
Well, Sofele took it back to them.
The 5-foot-8, 165-pound (maybe) Sofele was just quicker than anything Timpview could throw at him, breaking through multiple tackles to rush for 175 yards and three touchdowns, culminating in a 69-yard touchdown run to open the second half to keep the Colts' hopes alive.
And suddenly, Timpview was down a touchdown - its largest deficit of the year.
"Isi is Isi. He's a warrior like we talk about all the time," said Cottonwood coach Cecil Thomas.
But then Cottonwood got comfortable. And Sofele could no longer do it alone.
"We got out there and thought we already had it," said Sofele. "We didn't execute."
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Lions profile: Raiola has island fever
ALLEN PARK -- A question and answer session with Detroit Lions center Dominic Raiola.
Q: You're one of three Hawaii natives on the roster. Is there a special camaraderie among the Hawaiian players, including defensive end Ikaika Alama-Francis (Oahu) and middle linebacker Jordon Dizon (Kauai), in the locker room?
A: We're all from the same place. Once we get into the season, though, we don't really talk about it. The center for the Chicago Bears, Olin Kreutz, and I grew up together and went to high school together. We've known each other since we were 5 or 6 years old, so I think that's pretty neat. It's not that normal -- a player from Hawaii -- but there's a few guys from Hawaii in the NFL.
Q: Do you surf?
A: I don't really surf at all. I body surf or use a body board. I didn't want to use one of those long boards, fall off and get hurt -- and then miss one of my Little League games. I never really learned how to surf. We spent a lot of time in the ocean because the water is so nice there, so I did a lot of Boogie Boarding and body surfing. I get back to Hawaii about once each year in the offseason.
Q: Your childhood heroes?
A: Being from Hawaii, I never really grew up watching any one team. It's just a different place to be from. We didn't really follow much. My dad was a good athlete in his own right. He went to the University of Miami (Fla.) and played nose tackle, so I guess I always wanted to go to college like him and play football like him.
Q: Best part about the NFL?
A: For me, it's still going out and competing every Sunday with the rest of the guys. Some people say it's the money. I think it's just the experience in the locker room. The experience hasn't been that good this season. The results haven't been that good in the eight years since I've been here, but it's more about the friendships you make with other guys in the locker room.