Christian "Bubba" Poueu-Luna commits to UH

Christian "Bubba" Poueu-Luna of Great Oak High School in Temecula, Calif., has committed to join the Hawaii football team in 2010.

Poueu-Luna (6-foot, 175 pounds) played quarterback, receiver and safety for the Wildcats, but expects to compete at slotback when he joins the Warriors.

"I really liked the staff, and when you play for Hawaii it's like you're playing for the whole state," said Poueu-Luna, who has relatives in Hawaii.

Poueu-Luna attended UH's Skills Camp last week and trains with Troy Lau (a Nanakuli product) of Prodigy Athletes.

A star rises in Hawaii

it's sometimes easy to forget about talented players in Hawaii, but this year college coaches searching for the next big thing from the Islands have flocked to the state to check out prime-time recruits such as linebacker V.J. Fehoko, offensive tackle Micah Hatchie, defensive tackle Graham Rowley and fullback Dustin Elisara.

But coaches are starting to whisper four-star defensive end Kona Schwenke, of Kahuku High, might be the best of all.

After an impressive showing at the Nike Training Camp in Palo Alto, Calif., the 6-foot-5, 215-pound Schwenke has become one of the nation's hottest targets. He has received scholarship offers from BYU, Colorado, Oregon State, San Diego State, UNLV, Utah, Hawaii and Washington.

"The Nike Camp went good, and I got to go up against some of the top linemen in the country," Schwenke said. "It really gave me a great chance to test myself against some of the nation's best players. I know I did well and impressed a lot of people."

At this point, BYU, Hawaii, Utah, Oregon State and Washington are his top teams. Schwenke is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and would like to go on a mission after he completes high school.

"I need to find coaches that understand that," he said. "The coaches will be huge in my decision. I need to be with coaches that'll help me get to the next level after college, and also appreciate my faith and support whatever decision I make with my mission."

So far, coaches have been receptive to that idea.

"I've kept in touch with BYU and Washington the most," Schwenke said. "I'm supposed to talk to the Utah coach soon. I haven't given him a call yet. I really like those three schools. I like the coaches at BYU and I'm a Mormon, so I'd like to stay active while I'm in school.

"I've never really researched Washington, but their coaches are cool and I like how they treat their players. I hope to learn a lot about Utah, too, when I talk to them."

Playing at Hawaii isn't out of the question, either.

"I talk to the Hawaii coaches, but I'm fine with going away," he said. "I just need to go on my mission first."

Schwenke doesn't have a true timeline on his decision. But he knows with the pressure of being one of the West's best and his pending mission, it might be best to get it done before the season starts.

"My dad wants me to narrow the schools down to a top five," he said. "From there, that'll make it easier to make the final choice."

Mouton, 3 others with isle ties drafted

Perhaps the anticipation made the waiting even harder.

Ryan Mouton had a pretty good idea he'd hear his name called when the Tennessee Titans' turn rolled around in the third round of the NFL Draft.

Still, the former Hawaii cornerback was "holding my breath," as the draft inched toward pick No. 94.

Then ...

"They called and asked how'd I like to be a Tennessee Titan," Mouton said yesterday from Houston. "I was overwhelmed. I really didn't know what to think."

Mouton was the second Warrior selected -- following defensive end David Veikune's second-round selection by the Cleveland Browns on Saturday -- and led a group of four players with Hawaii ties taken on the second day of the draft.

Veikune will be joined in Cleveland by Baldwin graduate and former USC linebacker Kaluka Maiava, the Browns' fourth-round pick.

Former Oregon State safety and Kahuku product Al Afalava was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the sixth round.

Former Hawaii long snapper Jake Ingram waited eight picks after Afalava before getting a call from the New England Patriots' special teams coach, who eventually put head coach Bill Belichick on the line.

"He said, 'We're about to turn your name in and welcome to the New England Patriots,' " Ingram said. "I'm trying to listen and just then everybody in my house started yelling and screaming."

Mouton's selection was the highest for a Hawaii defensive back since Jeris White was picked by Miami in the second round in 1974. He's the first since the St. Louis Cardinals drafted Kent Kafentzis in the ninth round in 1986.

Mouton had been hampered by a hamstring injury in the East-West Shrine Game, the NFL Combine and Hawaii's pro day. Officials from the Titans and Tampa Bay Buccaneers flew to Houston to meet with Mouton and watch a workout on Friday at Katy High School. Mouton said the Titans indicated they would take him with the 94th pick if he were still available.

"(Tennessee's) not too far from Houston and we play the Texans twice a year, so my family will get a chance to watch me at home," Mouton said. "The Tennessee Titans used to be the Houston Oilers, so they're still kind of the hometown team."

Maiava was the fourth USC linebacker taken in the draft and was caught a bit off guard by his pick. After watching some of the early-morning coverage, he had just jumped in the shower when his phone rang.

"It's a lot of stress off my shoulders," Maiava said. "My foot's in the door and like I told Coach (Eric) Mangini, I'm ready to go to work."

Maiava, a versatile linebacker with the Trojans, said he hadn't been told what his role in the Browns defense will be, and will leave Maui on Wednesday to report to a mini-camp that runs through Sunday, where he'll meet up with Veikune.

"He texted me this morning," Maiava said. "It's definitely going to be fun."

Afalava was taken with the 190th pick of the draft after recording 36 tackles and two interceptions with Oregon State last season. He had a visit with the Bears after his pro day.

"I had a feeling that I was going to come back to Chicago after my visit," Afalava said on the Bears' Web site. "I really enjoyed it. I got along with the coaches. I had that feeling. It's going to be a pleasure being a Bear."

Ingram will make his first trip to the Northeast this week after being picked by the Patriots, who have been to four Super Bowls since 2001.

"I thought if I got good at long snapping I might be able to get into a camp," said Ingram, who became a full-time snapper in 2005. "For this to happen is unbelievable."

Among those who went undrafted, former Hawaii defensive end Josh Leonard said he was headed to the Houston Texans as a free agent and will report in May. Cornerback Jameel Dowling is heading to the Arizona Cardinals mini-camp this week.

NFL ISLANDERS: THE NEXT GENERATION

Six players with Hawaii ties were taken this weekend in the NFL Draft, and two others signed free-agent contracts.

Player (school)	Pos.	Team	Round	Pick
Max Unger (Hawaii Prep/Oregon)	C	Seattle	second	49
David Veikune (Campbell/Hawaii)	DE	Cleveland	second	52
Ryan Mouton (Hawaii)	CB	Tennessee	third	94
Kaluka Maiava (Baldwin/USC)	LB	Cleveland	fourth	104
Al Afalava (Kahuku/Oregon State)	DB	Chicago	sixth	190
Jake Ingram (Mililani/Hawaii)	LS	New England	sixth	198

Free agents
Jameel Dowling (Hawaii), CB, Arizona; Josh Leonard (Hawaii), DL, Houston; Tavita Thompson (Saint Louis/Oregon State), OL, New York Jets

Murphy, Ingram Selected on Day 2 of NFL Draft

The University of Florida saw two former football players selected during Day 2 of the NFL Draft on Sunday as wide receiver Louis Murphy was tabbed in the fourth round by the Oakland Raiders and the Philadelphia Eagles made tight end Cornelius Ingram a fifth-round selection.

Murphy and Ingram join wide receiver Percy Harvin in the NFL ranks after the Minnesota Vikings drafted Harvin with the 22^nd-overall pick on Saturday.

“Both Louis and Cornelius were a big part of our success the past several years,” Florida head football coach Urban Meyer said. “They have both been great to coach. I've enjoyed watching them grow academically, socially and physically during their time here. They both overcame adversity during their careers, but persevered. Not only were they selected in the NFL Draft, but they are college graduates. I'm proud to call them Gators and hope they have successful NFL careers.”

This year’s NFL Draft marks the first in which the Gators have had two wideouts drafted since 2002 when Jabar Gaffney (2^nd round, Houston Texans) and Reche Caldwell (2^nd round, San Diego Chargers) were drafted.

Murphy, the 124^th-overall selection in the draft, is the first UF football player taken by Oakland since offensive tackle Mo Collins was a first-round pick for the Raiders in 1998. With the selection of Harvin and Murphy this weekend, Florida has had 18 wide receivers drafted in the past 16 years.

Man for the Middle: Bucs Land DT Miller

pr 26, 2009 - On a University of Texas team loaded with stars on both sides of the ball, defensive tackle Roy Miller has been an unsung anchor for the Longhorn defense for the last four years. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers think he can be equally valuable in the middle of their front line. Miller became the Buccaneers' third-round pick in the 2009 draft shortly after 11:00 a.m. on Sunday. He was selected with the 17th pick of the round and the 81st selection overall. Defensive tackle was considered an area of need for the Buccaneers after the departure of 2008 starter Jovan Haye. In addition, the team was looking for more size at that position to better accommodate the defense being imported by new coordinator Jim Bates. Miller fits the bill quite well.

At 6-1 and 310 pounds, and with impressive strength and leg drive, Miller is the sort of lineman who can hold the point, even against double teams. At Texas, he often occupied blockers to free up other Longhorn defenders, but he also racked up 138 tackles, 25 tackles for loss and 10 sacks over the course of 49 games. It's likely that Miller is equally excited about his NFL destination: He lists former Buccaneer star Warren Sapp as his sports hero.

The Bucs wouldn't expect any player to try to duplicate the impact Sapp had on the team from 1995-2003. However, Miller is the highest-drafted defensive tackle for the franchise since Anthony McFarland was their first-round choice in 1999. Tampa Bay has tried to find a wide-bodied DT in the later rounds in recent years — Anthony Bryant, Dre Moore (who remains a promising player on the current roster) — but hasn't invested a pick as high as a third-rounder in that effort in quite some time. Last year, Miller started all 13 games at defensive tackle and was an All-Big 12 choice by the conference's coaches. He helped the Longhorns rank first in the Big 12 in scoring defense, total defense and rushing defense, logging 49 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, 28 quarterback pressures, four passes defensed and a fumble recovery. Miller was the team's pick as their most productive defensive player after three games last season, and he consistently impressed the Longhorns' staff with his non-stop effort and intensity. He is a technically sound player who knows how to use his leverage to hold the point and can also shed blocks and pursue down the line. Miller, who hails from Killeen, Texas, was on the Athletic Director's Honor Roll at UT and he graduated with a degree in corporate communications.

Hemingway remembered for living his life to fullest

OCEANSIDE – Life threw Arthur Hemingway a horribly wicked curve, but he didn't swing and miss. Through pure will, he kept the ball in play.

They buried Arthur Tusi Hemingway here yesterday, following a full-scale, upbeat Samoan celebration of his all-too-brief life. He had so much taken away from him early, but he did his best the rest of his way, with what he had left, to be the Arthur Hemingway so many people knew and loved.

There was just so much what-could-have-been to him. We could only guess. But it was a pretty easy guess. I saw him play football, and I can't say I ever saw anyone quite like him at his level.

Let's get this straight from the start. Arthur Hemingway was a stud, 6 feet 2, 230 pounds, handsome, smart, tough and an extremely gifted football player for Oceanside High. It's doubtful this county ever produced a better pure fullback.

Said David Tolumu, Hemingway's tailback at Oceanside who went on to play at Hawaii and was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons: “I was the beneficiary of Arthur's hard work.”

Hemingway was nationally recruited, a prep All-American, and in 1978, along with another San Diegan, Lincoln High's Marcus Allen, accepted a football scholarship to USC. Allen would win the Heisman Trophy four years later. Hemingway didn't get four days to try.

On Aug. 23, 1978, 18-year-old freshman Hemingway, just three days after arriving at USC's training camp, left his dorm room on a food run to a nearby hamburger stand. As he was walking back home, a stolen car involved in a high speed police chase driven by a 17-year-old – some reports claim at speeds exceeding 70 mph – careened onto the sidewalk and struck Hemingway, who only could remember hearing the sirens.

He was knocked 30 feet into the air, landing on his head. His football career immediately ended. He'd spend six weeks in a coma. There was a broken hip, spinal cord injuries that would limit the use of his legs and right hand, and head trauma that left his speech slurred.

What followed were 21 operations, including two brain surgeries and, as has been reported, bouts of depression. Confined to a wheelchair, he fought through it. He made a promise to his father, Arthur Sr., that he would finish school, and he did, returning to USC at age 30 on a scholarship from the university's “Swim With Mike” scholarship fund for physically challenged athletes. He graduated with a degree in English in 1996 and went on to receive his masters in education.

He didn't hide. He helped with the football programs at Oceanside and Rancho Buena Vista High. He was good at making young people feel good. He was a fixture at USC home games. He established a foundation to provide scholarships to disabled students.

And then, on Feb. 26, they found Arthur dead in his Oceanside home. He was 48. The cause of death has yet to be reported, but he did suffer from diabetes and seizures.

It matters more how he lived, how he lived through it all after so much promise had been taken away. And there was plenty of promise. Famed offensive line coach Hudson Houck, now with the Cowboys, was an assistant under John Robinson at USC when Hemingway was recruited. Houck says Hemingway was the best high school blocking back he's ever seen.

Robinson, who attended yesterday's service at New Venture Church, knew running backs, maybe knew them better than any coach. He turned Allen from a safety to Hall of Fame tailback. He coached Charles White to a Heisman. Later, under Robinson, the Rams' Eric Dickerson ran for more yards in one season than any back in NFL history.

Robinson did not hand out scholarships to running backs willy-nilly. And he made great use of his fullbacks.

“It was one of the real tragedies of my career,” Robinson was telling me last week. “Arthur was just savaged by that accident. We thought he would play some fullback right away as a freshman. He was a handsome kid, a great leader in school, a real physical guy.

“He and Marcus would have made quite a pair. Fullback was a surprisingly active position for us. Our fullbacks did much more than block. Arthur had that look about him, one that makes you feel you could be a good coach. He had a chance to be a real star, and he never got a chance to carry the ball.”

Willie Buchanon preceded Hemingway at Oceanside before becoming one of the all-time college cornerbacks at San Diego State, followed by an NFL career with the Packers and Chargers. He was on hand yesterday.

“Arthur was a trooper, so dedicated,” Buchanon said. “He was a fighter, a good person who was dealt a bad hand. He was a great player.”

Said John Carroll, currently the immensely successful Oceanside High football coach: “Arthur was so bright; he brought a terrific spirit with him wherever he went. He would do anything to help youth in sports.”

It is not a sad epitaph. Arthur Hemingway helped the kids.

Nick Canepa: (619) 293-1397; nick.canepa@uniontrib.com

Arthur Hemingway dies at 48; was hit by car and paralyzed as a USC football recruit

By Claire Noland

March 1, 2009

Arthur Hemingway, a 1978 USC football recruit who was paralyzed after a speeding car struck him but who persevered and earned his college degree 18 years later, has died. He was 48.

Hemingway was found dead Thursday at his Oceanside home, USC spokesman Tim Tessalone said Saturday. The cause has not been determined.

Hemingway was a promising fullback, projected to be a big star at a school known for its running backs.

But that all ended on the evening of Aug. 23, 1978. Only three days into training camp, the 18-year-old freshman left his dorm room to get a bite to eat at a nearby hamburger stand. As he was walking back to campus, a speeding car that had been stolen by its 17-year-old driver careened onto the sidewalk, chased by a police car with blazing lights and blaring siren. The stolen car slammed into Hemingway, sending him flying. He landed unconscious.

Hemingway was hospitalized for four weeks while in a coma. He had severe internal and head injuries and a broken leg.

"We really thought he was going to have a great career," then-USC coach John Robinson told The Times on Saturday. "He just had everything going for him. It was very tragic."

The expectation that Hemingway, a 6-foot-2, 225-pound blocking back of Samoan descent, would follow in the footsteps of other Trojans standouts was crushed.

"When he was recruited, everybody looked at him to be the next Mosi Tatupu, and he had all the attributes and skills to be that," Ronnie Lott, the former USC safety who went on to a Hall of Fame career in the NFL, said Saturday.

Hemingway's story could have ended with the accident. But by force of will he wrote another chapter in his life.

He underwent more than 20 operations, including two brain surgeries, but never completely regained his equilibrium. He used a wheelchair, and his speech was slurred.

"I kept trying to find my inspiration," Hemingway told then-Times columnist Mike Downey in 1996. "Most of my life, I had known exactly what I wanted to do. I was always active. There were places I expected to go, things I intended to do. That all changed. Going back to college . . . that was a challenge I had to answer, the same way I once had to answer a 250-pound lineman coming at me."

Progress was slow, rehabilitation painful. But in 1991, Hemingway returned to USC on a scholarship from the university's Swim with Mike program for physically challenged athletes. In 1996, he graduated with a bachelor's degree in English. He later earned a master's degree in education from USC.

Hemingway was born in Hawaii on March 14, 1960. He spent most of his youth in Oceanside, where he was a star football player and popular student at Oceanside High School. His father, Arthur Hemingway Sr., was a Marine Corps master sergeant and military attache. His mother, Loloto, raised Hemingway and his two sisters and younger brother. He is survived by his siblings.

After the accident, Hemingway returned to Oceanside and over the years helped coach the football teams at Oceanside High School and at Ranch Buena Vista High in nearby Vista.

He also established a foundation in his name that awards scholarships to disabled students who want to attend college.

Services are pending.

Ex-USC Fullback Arthur Hemingway Dies

His Trojan career was cut short when he was paralyzed after being hit by a car in 1978.

Feb. 27, 2009

Arthur Hemingway, whose promising career as a fullback at USC was cut short after becoming paralyzed when he was hit by a car during fall football camp of his 1978 freshman season, died on Thursday (Feb. 26) at his home in Oceanside, Calif. He was 49. The cause of his death has not been determined.

Funeral services are pending.

On Aug. 23, 1978, Hemingway was walking on a sidewalk near the USC campus when he was hit by a stolen car driven by a 17-year-old fleeing police. He suffered severe head and internal injuries, plus a broken leg, and spent 4 weeks hospitalized in a coma.

He underwent more than 20 operations, including brain surgery twice. Despite a long recovery that left him confined to a wheelchair and with slurred speech, he remained active.

He spent the early 1990s helping coach high school football in the San Diego area. He also wrote his autobiography, which he tried to develop into a screenplay. He started the Arthur Hemingway Foundation to help disabled students pursue their education, highlighted by an annual golf fundraiser.

Hemingway returned to USC at age 30 on a scholarship from USC's "Swim With Mike" Physically Challenged Athletes Scholarship Fund. Six years after he returned to school and 18 years after his accident, he received his bachelor's degree in English from USC in 1996. He later earned a master's degree in education from USC.

He remained a dedicated fan of the Trojans, and often was seen in a motorized cart watching USC's home football games from the Coliseum tunnel.

Hemingway came to USC from Oceanside High, where he was an All-CIF first team selection as a senior in 1977. Primarily a blocking fullback, he ran for 765 yards, averaging 8.9 yards per carry, and scored 8 touchdowns that season. He was part of USC's recruiting class of 1978 that included such future greats as Marcus Allen, Chip Banks, Riki Gray Ellison and Roy Foster. He was expected to replace future NFL star Mosi Tatupu, who had started at fullback the previous 3 seasons at USC.

Hemingway is survived by his sisters, Lisa and Pie, and his brother, Molli.

Collins Hill RB Charles Perkins comfortable as the No. 1

Collins Hill tailback Charles Perkins loves to finish first in everything, which made him an ideal fit as Georgia Tech’s first commitment for the 2010 recruiting class.

“I wanted to be first,” Perkins said. “I believe I was the first junior that Georgia Tech offered, and I know I am the first one that committed.

“To me, it’s an honor to be first. [Tech] showed me a list of its first commitments over the years, and there were some big-time names on there … Derrick Steagall, Quincy Carter [who later played at Georgia] and others.”

When Collins Hill runs the ball, Perkins is usually the first one down the field. He finished with 1,244 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns during his junior season.

But that was not the first thing that Eagles coach Billy Wells told recruiters about Perkins, who also considered offers from Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, Central Florida and Wisconsin.

“Charles is a young man with outstanding character… . That’s the first thing out of my mouth to college coaches, and one of the best things you could ever say about any kid,” Wells said.

The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Perkins has a 3.3 GPA and plans to enroll early in college. Here are some things to know about Tech’s first 2010 commitment:

‘Most recruited player here’

When Perkins picked Tech, he had six offers, with more on the way. Auburn, USC, Tennessee, Georgia and Clemson showed serious interest.

“Charles is one of the best running backs in the state,” Wells said. “Had he not committed early, he’d be as highly recruited as anybody we’ve ever had. Well, I guess he’d still be the most recruited player here. In my 11 years at Collins Hill, I’ve probably seen around a total of four college head coaches. In the two weeks leading up to Charles’ commitment, I saw four head coaches… . I thought he’d have 12-15 offers by the end of spring practice.”

‘No need to keep searching’

Perkins committed to Tech two months after being offered. He saw no reason to wait, citing proximity to home, academics and winning.

“When I get there, I feel like [Tech] will be competing for the ACC championship every year, along with the national championship,” he said.

A pep talk from Tech assistant Jeff Monken helped push Perkins over the top.

“He said, ‘When you’re searching for a wife and you find the one you want to marry, you don’t need to keep searching around or dating hundreds of others.’ That really stuck with me. In other words, he was saying if you find the right college, there’s no need to keep searching.”

‘Tech is where I want to be’

Perkins is aware of the story of Dontae Aycock, a Tampa quarterback who committed to Tech and then saw his scholarship yanked after he was warned against taking a last-minute visit to Auburn.

Perkins said Tech coach Paul Johnson carefully explained “what commitment means” and asked repeatedly if he understood before accepting the early pledge.

USC was Perkins’ childhood favorite. What if that program offers?

“I would turn it down,” Perkins said. “USC is loaded with running backs, and Tech is where I want to be. That’s an easy decision.”

‘Best of both worlds’

Perkins has exhibited such versatility that it is hard to project where he will end up in Tech’s backfield.

“Charles had several runs over 60 yards. He has breakaway speed [clocked at 4.43 seconds in the 40],” Wells said. “By the same token, he’s not afraid to run between the tackles, so he’s very effective in the power game as well. Charles is really the best of both worlds.”

‘You won’t beat me twice’

Perkins is legendary with his classmates for his competitiveness. Not necessarily with football, but for everything.

“I am probably the most competitive person you’ll ever meet —- in sports, board games, video games, shooting pool. I love to win and hate to lose,” Perkins said. “If someone beats me, I’ll go home and practice and come back the next day. You won’t beat me twice.”

‘I’m half Samoan, half black’

Perkins said people are always interested to know about his ethnic background.

“My mother was born in American Samoa, so I’m half Samoan and half black,” he said.

Perkins said his background helped his parents bond with Johnson during recruiting.

“[Johnson] coached at Hawaii, where he coached a lot of Samoan players,” Perkins said. “He knows some about the Samoan culture and said it was rare to find Samoans in Georgia.”

When choosing where to play, Mormon recruits face unique issues

Manti Te'o refrained from mincing words each time he met a college coach. Te'o, one of the nation's highest ranked linebacker prospects, told every coach who recruited him that, after his freshman season, he might leave the country for two years.

"I basically told them, 'This is me,'" said Te'o, from Laie, Hawaii. "I'm LDS. I'm thinking of serving a mission, and I want that to be available to me. If that's not in the cards for your university, I have to respect that, but I have to consider others."

Te'o is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints -- more commonly referred to as the Mormon church. When male members of the church turn 19, they are encouraged to embark on a two-year mission to proselytize in parts of the world that may not have been exposed to the 189-year-old faith. Te'o would like to serve that mission, even if it means leaving college for two years. A pronouncement like Te'o's might end most players' recruitments, but Rivals.com ranks Te'o as the nation's No. 12 overall prospect. Because Te'o has so much potential, almost every coach who recruited him consented to the mission.

The mission question is just one of a set of issues LDS players face when they look outside the small group of schools that are accustomed to signing Mormons. LDS players also must consider how their faith will mesh with the campus environment at either a secular school or one run by a different faith, and they must prepare for a backlash from some in the LDS community should they choose a school other than Brigham Young, the Provo, Utah, university run by the Mormon church. Te'o and Provo offensive lineman Xavier Su'a Filo (No. 63 by Rivals) each have faced these issues during the past few months, and each will weigh them carefully in the next few days as they decide which school they'll sign with on Wednesday.

Te'o will sign either with a state university (UCLA), a secular private university (USC) or the nation's most prominent Catholic university (Notre Dame). While starring at Punahou -- President Barack Obama's alma mater and SI's No. 1 high school athletic program in 2008 -- Te'o piqued dozens of schools' interests. He had 29 scholarship offers before he stopped counting them. His sideline-to-sideline speed and penchant for gut-rattling hits brought recruiters in droves, and, somewhat to Te'o's surprise, his request that he be allowed to go on a mission didn't drive them all away.

Te'o worried especially about USC, which had a reputation for discouraging players from going on missions. He had good reason. DeAnn Longshore, whose son, Nate, just finished his career as a quarterback at Cal, said that when her son was being recruited for the class of 2004, USC coaches told Nate, an LDS member, that they would offer a scholarship only if he promised he wouldn't leave for a mission. So, in a phone conversation about a year ago, Te'o asked Trojans coach Pete Carroll pointblank if his scholarship would be waiting for him when he returned from his mission. Te'o's father, Brian, said Carroll explained how his opinion of mission trips has changed in recent years. Brian Te'o said Carroll answered all questions when he said, "Once a Trojan, always a Trojan."

Su'a Filo, who narrowed his finalists last week to BYU, LSU, UCLA, USC and Utah, also met with less resistance than he anticipated when he brought up the mission. "The coaches have been really good at understanding," he said. Two of Su'a Filo's finalists, BYU and Utah, are accustomed to signing future missionaries. BYU encourages the mission trip for all its students, so the coaching staff is adept at juggling scholarships and the depth chart as players depart and return. Ditto for Utah, a state school only a few miles from LDS headquarters in Salt Lake City. Utes coach Kyle Whittingham is an LDS member and BYU alumnus so familiar with the Book of Mormon that he has a standby passage to fire up Utes fans ("And the Lord shall be red in his apparel"). "See," Whittingham told Yahoo! Sports last month. "It was right there in the Doctrine and Covenants the whole time."

LSU, on the other hand, is the flagship university in a state that allows gas stations to sell hard liquor. (The LDS church forbids members from drinking.) On Su'a Filo's official visit to LSU in November, Tigers coaches and players worked hard to make their guest comfortable. It didn't hurt that Su'a Filo's main recruiter was offensive coordinator Gary Crowton, a former BYU head coach who served his own mission in South Korea from 1979-81 while playing football for the Cougars. Su'a Filo said having LDS members as recruiters at some schools made discussions easier. "They understand everything about my values and my standards," he said.

That isn't entirely necessary, though. Te'o bonded with Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis, who is Catholic. "Charlie Weis is a great man," Te'o said. "On my official visit, he took me to the LDS church over there. They're very welcoming of athletes from different faiths." It may seem odd that the most highly sought-after Mormon recruit in the nation is considering a Catholic school, but Brian Te'o said he isn't surprised. Manti's mother's family is Catholic, and Manti enjoyed the small-town feel of South Bend. "I've noticed with Manti that those environments that are faith-based are the ones he feels more comfortable in," Brian Te'o said.

What Te'o won't know until later this year is how he, his teammates and the coaching staff at his chosen school will react when it comes time to decide whether to go on a mission. DeAnn Longshore explained that pressure will come from unexpected sources. Her son, Nate, signed with Cal out of Canyon (Calif.), fully expecting to serve a mission after his freshman year. Longshore redshirted as a freshman, and after the 2004 season, he moved to the front of the line to win the starting job in 2005. Even though Cal coaches had said nothing to discourage him from serving the mission, Longshore found himself torn.

"I don't know that the pressure came from the school," DeAnn Longshore said. "The pressure came more from just knowing that your team is counting on you. You are in the mix of things. You have been practicing with them every day. They know you. You know them. So to all of sudden say, 'I've got to leave you for a couple of years' gets really hard for the young man to do. ... The pressure to stay once you've gone there is tremendous. BYU expects their boys to go, so they've worked it into their program. Most of the other schools don't work that into their program quite as much."

DeAnn understands better than most mothers. Nate wound up staying in Berkeley and winning the starting job. Unfortunately, he broke his leg in the Bears' 2005 season opener and missed the remainder of the season. DeAnn's oldest son, Nick, signed to play at Cal State Northridge. When he returned from a mission to the Phillipines, Northridge had disbanded its football program. Nick finished his career at BYU. DeAnn's youngest son, Ben, took the same tack as Te'o during his recruitment, eliminating any school that wouldn't allow him to serve a mission. Ben, a quarterback who led Canyon to a state title in 2006, had interest from several BCS-conference schools, but wound up signing with Utah State. Ben recently began serving a two-year mission in Argentina.

Te'o and Su'a Filo drew interest from schools in every part of the country, but some in the LDS community would prefer to see them go to BYU. Te'o learned how passionate this portion of the community is last week when he eliminated BYU amid a minor scandal. According to Brian Te'o, Manti was in tears last Saturday morning when he called Cougars coach Bronco Mendenhall to inform Mendenhall that he wouldn't sign with BYU. On Monday, former BYU player Hans Olsen reported on his Salt Lake City radio show that BYU had rescinded Te'o's scholarship offer weeks earlier for an alleged violation of the school's honor code that took place during Te'o's official visit from Jan. 9-11. The alleged incident involved alcohol. BYU's honor code bans students not only from consuming alcohol but also from being present when others are consuming alcohol. Brian Te'o refuted that report. He acknowledged that Mendenhall questioned Manti about the incident, but Brian said his son was not involved and that the scholarship offer remained on the table. On Thursday, The Salt Lake Tribune reported that two BYU freshmen, Shiloah Te'o (Manti's cousin) and O'Neill Chambers, were under investigation for an alleged honor code violation.

Brian Te'o, who holds a degree from BYU's Hawaii campus, said Tuesday he was disappointed BYU hadn't publicly cleared his son's name. BYU coaches are forbidden by the NCAA from publicly discussing prospects. Even before the honor-code story broke, Manti Te'o faced criticism for dropping BYU. In Sunday's edition of the Provo-based Daily Herald, columnist Darnell Dickson wrote, "It really is a slap in the face that BYU wasn't even in Te'o's top three" and suggested that Te'o gave up a chance to become a BYU legend by choosing schools where he might get lost in the shuffle. Brian Te'o looks at it differently. "For BYU to be on the short list, that shows the kind of impression the school made on Manti," he said.

BYU remains on the list for Su'a Filo, but so does rival Utah, an SEC power and two Pac-10 schools. Su'a Filo said religion will play a role in his choice, but, like Te'o, he believes his faith will remain unchanged no matter the environment around him. "It definitely plays a factor because I am LDS," Su'a Filo said. "But I think I can live righteously anywhere I go. I think you can have spiritual experiences anywhere."

Cottonwood High comes up big for out-of-state recruiters

There were no secret pacts among the five Cottonwood High School players who signed with major out-of-state schools on Wednesday morning.

For the quintet of Colts, four of whom are going to Pac-10 schools, this was just the hand they were dealt.

"These were the schools who recruited them," said Steve Martinez, the father of John Martinez, who signed with USC. "We really weren't recruited that heavily by the in-state schools."

The group of Martinez, Isi Sofele (California), Keni Kaufusi (California), Alo Moli, (Wyoming) and Asi Hosea (Washington State) represent a strong class of players with enough options beyond state borders to play at major schools not named BYU or Utah.

One of them, Sofele, is the

Class 4A MVP, and another, Martinez, is rated among the top offensive linemen in the country.

"For me, I always wanted to play college football in California," Sofele said. "I wanted to play at USC or UCLA, but they didn't come after me hard. Cal wanted me. That's the biggest reason I went there. I didn't get recruited by BYU either. That was another big reason. And I didn't feel Utah recruited me that hard."

The state's top uncommitted player heading into signing day, Timpview's Xavier Su'a-Filo, signed with UCLA, turning down the likes of Utah and USC. He's listed as the No. 3 offensive tackle in the country, according to Scout.com.

Su'a-Filo will join the Cottonwood five, Judge defensive lineman Will Katoa (Eastern Washington) and Snow College's Jon Eastman (Colorado State) in leaving the Beehive State to play for out-of-state schools.

That five of those players come from one school is remarkable, and it serves as a springboard for coach Cecil Thomas' Cottonwood program, especially when it comes to developing younger players.

"I'm extremely proud of my kids," Thomas said. "I'm just really excited for them. The kids in the program all have the dream of playing at the next level, and this is what it's all about for them. The younger kids see what this class has accomplished and want to follow in their footsteps. So, really, this is what it's all about."

tjones@sltrib.com

Frankly, Tank Shows Versatility At All-Star Game

Summers grabs four passes, scores touchdown in El Paso.

Jan. 31, 2009

EL PASO, Texas - Former UNLV running back Frank "The Tank" Summers performed well enough in this week's pratices to earn a starting spot at fullback for Team Texas and then showed off his hands during the Texas vs. The Nation All-Star game played Saturday at the Sun Bowl in El Paso.

Summers, who led the Rebels in rushing each of his two years on campus, also was a standout receiver for head coach Mike Sanford after transferring from junior college. Those skills were on full display in Satuday's game as he had four receptions for an unofficial total of 55 yards. In the second quarter, he took a pass from former New Mexico State quarterback Chase Holbrook and scampered untouched 19 yards into the end zone to give his side a 7-6 lead.

Summers also caught a short pass in the fourth quarter and turned it into a 20-yard gain that led to Texas touchdown on the very next play. Summers also proved to be an outstanding blocker but only carried the ball one time, gaining three yards on his squad's first drive. He also played special teams, leading the wedge on kickoff returns.

Despite his efforts, The Nation won the game 27-24 after forcing four turnovers that led to 17 points. The game was televised nationally by CBS College Sports.

"I think it was a successful day, I just wish we could have won the game," Summers said. "I was able to show that I am a playmaker and it was great to get into the end zone because I love scoring touchdowns. It was fun being with some of the best seniors in the country and I think I made the best of my opportunities down here. I used this week to show my versatility and I hope to carry the momentum all the way through the NFL Draft."

Summers is the only Rebel to have earned a postseason all-star appearance this year. He became the second UNLV letterman to appear in the El Paso event, following safety Jay Staggs in 2006.

Tauiliili Leaves His Mark On Duke Gridiron Program

DURHAM, N.C. – Michael Tauiliili is a firm believer in the saying ‘Leave a place better than how you found it.’

With a combined record of 2-33 in his first three seasons in Durham, Tauiliili was determined to help turn things around and leave the Duke football team in a better place when he left. The senior captain entered the 2008 season as the returning three-year starter at middle linebacker. With a new coaching staff guided by head coach David Cutcliffe, Tauiliili emerged as a leader for a Blue Devil squad that went 4-8 in 2008, while he was honored as an All-America by three different organizations. The four wins were more than his other three years combined and is something Tauiliili can be proud of.

Looking back, the Houston, Texas, native knows he has been a part of the turn-around for the Blue Devils.

“I think this season started out really well from a team perspective,” said Tauiliili. “We hit a couple bumps in the road, but showed we could fight through adversity with our win at Vanderbilt. It was a great experience to go through this year with the guys I’ve grown up with in college, and to have an individual year like I had was just the icing on the cake.”

“The experiences here with my teammates and our new coaches – I hate that I don’t have another year with them – did a lot for me.”

Looking back at a career that saw plenty of individual recognition but not necessarily the results he may have hoped for, Tauiliili is confident that his class, the 2008 seniors, will be remembered for righting the ship going forward.

“Our 2008 season was definitely a big tribute to the coaching staff,” he said. “I wanted to build a bridge for the younger guys to walk down, and I think they definitely know what my class has been through here and what we finished with. I think the younger guys will certainly reap the benefits of the foundation we laid down.”

Tauiliili led the Blue Devils in tackles (140), interceptions (4), pass breakups (5), quarterback pressures (5) and caused fumbles (3) as a senior. His 140 tackles were an ACC-best and matched the eighth-highest total for a season in the Duke record books. He added 13.0 tackles for loss and one fumble recovery on his way to first team All-ACC honors while finishing third in the voting for the ACC Defensive Player of the Year award. Tauiliili and the Blue Devil defense held opponents to fewer than 10 points on three occasions for the first time since 1976.

Tauiliili had the chance to extend his season one more game when he took part in the 84th annual East-West Shrine game in his hometown on Jan. 17, helping the East to a 24-19 victory as the captain of the squad. Following the game, he was named Defensive MVP after registering a game-high 13 tackles, with the East defense stopping the West three times inside the 10-yard line to hold on for the win.

“It was a great experience to be able to play in my hometown of Houston and to represent Duke University on that stage,” said Tauiliili. “It was a great opportunity for me to meet a lot of different guys that I’d heard of and who’d heard about me, and just to put Duke on the map.”

Though he didn’t necessarily expect to earn the role as captain, Tauiliili noticed immediately he had the potential for leadership there. He embraced the chance to be vocal and take charge of situations when given the opportunity.

“Throughout the week [leading up to the game], I just played my game, was vocal, and as a middle linebacker I had to take control of the huddle several times – I think the players and coaches noticed that,” he said. “People tended to gravitate toward me, so when our coach announced me as captain I was honored. To be a leader you need to be able to relate and talk to people, which comes natural to me.”

Having already received his Duke degree in December, Tauiliili has his sights set on the next step – a possible chance to show pro scouts what he can do at the next level.

“Right now I’m training for the NFL combine and pro day, so it’s been different,” he said. “There are a number of tests you need to be ready for, like speed and strength, so I’m just trying to be ready.”

“Growing up, playing football since I was six years old and watching the NFL, it’s always been a dream of mine. It’s still surreal that I’m living this right now, and I think it was a big step to play in the Shrine game. I’m just trying to continue to work hard.”

At Duke's annual awards dinner, Tauiliili was named the team's MVP and received a captains’ award.

Though most of his memories may come on the football field, that’s not all he will take away.

“It’s been great,” he said of his time at Duke. “It’s really the people that made my experience what it was – memorable and something I will cherish forever. Being able to graduate from this elite university is something I’ll always have and nobody can take that from me. The networking and everything that goes with a Duke degree is amazing, so I know it won’t stop here.”

Calhisports.com All State Selections

The following Polynesians have been selected to Cal-Hi Sports All State Team

First Team
TE Morrell Presley (Carson) 6-4, 220, Sr.
A key part of the Colts' passing attack, Presley averaged over 17 yards per reception in his final season at Carson. Stepping up big as the season wound to a finish, he caught seven passes for a season-high 149 yards and two touchdowns as the Colts picked up their final win of the season over Banning. He did all he could two weeks later with an even bigger night, catching nine passes for 179 yards and a touchdown but it wasn't enough to prevent a 25-20 season-ending loss to Venice. Presley finished the season with 44 receptions for 783 yards and six touchdowns and will head to UCLA.

OL Michael Philipp (Arroyo Valley, San Bernardino) 6-4, 300, Sr.
He'd probably be the state's second highest-ranked lineman recruit this year after Kevin Graf. Philipp played in the U.S. Army All-American Game and has earned a plethora of postseason honors so far. He consistently put opponents on their backs and last week surprised many by committing to Oregon State.

DL Talia Crichton (Lakewood) 6-4, 245, Sr.
He forced opponents to run plays the other way as he dominated on his side of the defensive line. Crichton finished the season just shy of 100 tackles with 92 but made an even bigger impact when teams tried to pass the ball as he recorded 18 sacks. He had a season-best 11 tackles and three sacks in Lakewood's final win of the season against Mission Viejo. Just last week, he turned down schools like Oregon and Arizona and committed to Pac-10 rival Washington.

DL Iuta Tepa (Poly, Long Beach) 6-2, 230, Sr.
There was nothing tepid about Tepa when he was flying all over the field making plays for Poly's defense. He was in on 115 tackles and came up with 15 sacks and was disruptive on just about every play. Tepa committed to Hawaii back in October, but some Pac-10 schools are now hot on his trail so that could change on signing day.

LB Steven Fanua (Milpitas) 6-2, 215, Sr.
For the third straight season, Fanua averaged more than 12 tackles per game and received All-Central Coast Section honors. Known as a relentless sideline to sideline pursuer, Fanua is staying close to home for college as he has committed to Cal.

QB/RB/LB Kipeli Koniseti (Grant, Sacramento) 6-3, 220, Sr.
For being the unquestioned leader of the CIF Open Division state champs, Koniseti just had to be first team all-state. He's projected to be a linebacker in college and when he did play defense it didn't take long for him to deliver a big-time hit. On offense, Koniseti passed for 1,366 yards and 17 TDs and he rushed for 777 more yards and nine scores.

Third Team
TE Levine Toilolo (Helix, La Mesa)
LB Jeremiah Toma (Grant, Sacramento)

Oregon State lands big one

Four-star guard Michael Philipp said he would take all five of his official visits before making a decision, and he lived up to his word. After taking trips to California, UCLA, Oregon, Stanford and Oregon State, Philipp – a 6-foot-3, 320-pounder from Arroyo Valley (San Bernardino, Calif.) – ended up committing after his final trip.

"I'm going to Oregon State," Philipp said. "I was comfortable with the players and I think the coaches are genuine. Coach Mike Riley is a genuine guy and so is my position coach, Mike Cavanaugh. I know Coach Cavanaugh will make me a better football player."

Philipp's decision is considered surprising by some analysts. Many considered Arizona to be the team to beat, as Philipp has two brothers at the school. And he recently gushed about his official visit to Stanford.

But Oregon State has done a tremendous job the past few seasons with Polynesian players, and Philipp said he felt truly comfortable with the players in the program.

Mike Purcell verbals to Wyoming

By BOB HAMMOND Boomerang Sports Editor
T
he University of Wyoming football program had its first big recruiting weekend this past Friday and Saturday when some 20 high school prospects visited Laramie and the UW campus.

Two of those 20 visitors — David Tooley, a 6-6, 215-pound tight end/wide receiver from Moberly (Mo.) High School and Mike Purcell, a 6-3, 260-pound defensive lineman from Highlands Ranch (Colo.) — have already given verbal commitments to sign with the Cowboys and new head coach Dave Christensen on Feb. 4.

Purcell recorded 65 tackles, including 10 quarterback sacks, while earning second-team All-Colorado honors this past season on a Highlands Ranch team that went 6-4.

Purcell saw a considerable amount of playing time for the Falcons as a sophomore before becoming a full-time starter as a junior.

Purcell, who is of Polynesian decent (mom in is from Hawaii and father from Samoa), was also being recruited by Utah, Utah State, BYU, New Mexico, Colorado State, Boise State and Montana State.

“Wyoming was the first school to offer me and it’s (Laramie) not far from home. It’s far enough but it’s close enough,” Purcell said. “It’s also a chance for me to play right away. I also really liked Coach Christensen. He’s a great guy and he definitely has a lot to bring to the table.”

Purcell is currently competing in wrestling and has played rugby in the past.

The Times' All-Star Football Team

Eli Edwards, Long Beach Poly, 6-2, 200, Sr.: Tenacious pass rusher had 48 tackles, 3 1/2 sacks and 15 tackles for losses.

Michael Philipp, OL, Arroyo Valley, 6-3, 320, Sr.: Philipp was a dominant run blocker at guard and emerged as one of the most sought-after line prospects in the Southland.

Iuta Tepa, DE, Long Beach Poly, 6-2, 220, Sr.: The best player on a defense that posted two shutouts and gave up an average of 10 points a game, Tepa had 19 tackles for losses and 10 blocked passes.

Roy Miller Fiesta Bowl MVP

Texas defensive tackle Roy Miller was named defensive MVP of the Fiesta Bowl in the Longhorns 24-21 victory over Ohio State. Miller finished with 3 tackles including a sack.

Reaching to the sky, Florida's Murphy pays tribute to mother

Some days, when the elementary school tour groups had wound their way through, when the budget meetings had wrapped, Louis Murphy would stand in the man-made rainforest on the southwest corner of the University of Florida campus and watch the butterflies. Others favored the Blue Morphos, but Murphy preferred the Emerald Swallowtails, the peacocks of the insect world.

Mostly, Murphy liked the tranquility. The trickling water and the flutter of emerald wings brought him peace on days when the grief roared, when he remembered again that the best woman he'd ever known wouldn't be there to answer the phone if he called and needed a little motherly advice. The Florida senior receiver's fall-semester internship -- the final piece necessary for the sports event management degree he received in December -- at the Lepidoptera research facility at Florida's Museum of Natural History occasionally allowed him moments when he could stand surrounded by tiny, flying miracles and remind himself that there is a God, there is a heaven, and Filomena Murphy is there, flying with wings of her own.

They lost her on Valentine's Day. The preacher's wife and mother of two whom everyone called Mina had spent two years fighting off the breast cancer that attacked in 2004, but the disease crept back in her bones in 2007. It finally took her life after reaching her pancreas.

For Mina's son, her death was the cruelest lesson in a college career filled with harsh truths. Louis had overcome a wild streak and become the type of son any mother would beam over and the type of player any coach would name a captain, but, for a while, this phase of his journey into adulthood seemed too much to bear.

Now, he can talk about it.

He can talk about the day in September 2007 when he went home to St. Petersburg, Fla., bearing balloons and flowers, and he learned that chemotherapy had made Mina too sick to attend his upcoming game against Auburn. So he asked her how he might send her a message during the game. "Just point to the sky," she told him. "I'll know you're talking to me."

He can talk about the moment he decided to turn his life and football around. After his sophomore season ended in early 2007, he looked at her, so strong after fighting off cancer the first time, and he realized all his knucklehead moves -- which included a marijuana possession charge in spring 2006 -- only made her worry. He resolved that instead of making her worry, he'd make her proud.

He can talk about the dream he had not long ago, when he spoke to her. She told him if she had a chance to return to earth, she wouldn't. She's having too much fun in heaven.

She certainly made her mark in her 47 years on earth.

*****

There might not be a Louis Murphy Jr., star wide receiver, if not for the genius of Earth, Wind and Fire. On Dec. 31, 1981, four U.S. Marines stationed in Hawaii went to a Waikiki bar to ring in the new year. They happened upon four young ladies. A young Marine named Louis Murphy immediately found himself drawn to the native Samoan, who, like him, was a student at nearby Chaminade University. "She was classy looking," Louis Murphy Sr. remembers. "She was stylish. She was a lot of fun. She was also the best dancer. So I picked her."

Earth, Wind and Fire's Reasons pulsed through the nightclub. Dancers paired off. The Marine asked the Samoan beauty to dance. "The rest, as they say, is history," Louis Sr. says.

Later, after the couple settled in St. Petersburg, they began attending Mount Zion Progressive Missionary Baptist Church. In 1999, the pastor quit and members left during a financial crisis. Louis Sr. told Mina he intended to leave as well. Mina, who generally sided with her husband on every major family decision, minced no words. "You go ahead," he remembers her saying. "I'm staying." Shortly after, Louis Sr. became the pastor of the church, which today has a congregation of more than 4,000.

Mina spent much of her life working with the worst children in society. For several years, she was a juvenile probation officer. For a while, she taught at a juvenile detention center, swiping her son's CDs from his car so she could play music while her students ate the candy she smuggled in for them. When she came home stressed about the plight of one of her students, Louis Jr. would tell her that one day she wouldn't have to work there anymore. He would make the NFL, and she wouldn't have to teach punks who didn't respect her. She would only smile. "They need love, too," Louis Jr. remembers his mother saying. "If I don't help them, nobody else will help them."

"She was always helping and loving," Louis Jr. says. "That's all she did. In my eyes, she was flawless."

All-Mercury News football first team

San Jose Mercury News selections include Milpitas' Steven Fanua and Daniel Musika, and Derek Muaava (Independence) a transfer from Las Vegas.

First Team
STEVEN FANUA, MILPITAS linebacker, senior, 6-3, 215

A three-time All-Mercury News selection, Fanua was the most valuable player in the De Anza Division. The hard-hitting senior has a motor that never stops, and his enthusiasm and leadership were an inspiration to his teammates. Known for his ability to make plays sideline to sideline, he recorded 124 tackles with three sacks and made an oral commitment to Cal.

Second Team
Daniel Musika (Milpitas, CA) OL, 5'10, 270, Jr
Derek Muaava (Independence-San Jose, CA) Utility Defense 6'1, 205, Jr

Honorable Mention
Bruce Leaupepe (Oak Grove)
Finau Likio (Wilcox)
Jacob Mausali (Oak Grove)
Anthony Pohahau (Wilcox)
Erwin Taliaoa (Overfelt)
Nick Pula (Evergreen Valley)
Justin Sagote (Wilcox)