Santiago father and son are enemies this week

By Dave Reardon

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Dec 01, 2009

Walter Santiago says he and his father of the same name are "super close."

Dad agrees, but this week they're giving each other some space. Pops is the offensive coordinator at Kahuku. Son starts at cornerback for Kamehameha. The Red Raiders and Warriors duel Friday for a state football championship.

Both chuckle when asked about it, but things are definitely a little bit awkward at home at times. Sometimes "Walt J," as the son is called, sees his dad watching tape of the Kamehameha defense. "I look away really fast."

Walter Sr., 39, the former Kahuku star quarterback and Hawaii linebacker, laughs.

"I told him it's no holds barred. This week I have to take off the Dad shirt and put on the Coach shirt. I have all these other boys I'm responsible for," the Kahuku teacher and New Hope pastor says. "I still help him out with the little things. But he knows to stay away from talking about what we do."

Walt J turned down an invitation to stay at grandpa's this week. He understands his father's role, and the house is big enough for the championship hopes of both Walter Santiagos -- most of the time.

"My dad is the one who gets all pumped up. The competition is there for both of us, but I just try to stay humble."

Says Walter the elder: "The good thing is I've seen every Kamehameha game. And I've got all the film I need."

Son says it works both ways: "I know what he likes to do."

WALT J never wanted to go to Kamehameha. He wanted to be a Red Raider For Life, like his friends, neighbors and relatives. He wanted to be a Kahuku star, like his dad and uncles.

"But I made him take the test, and he passed," the father says.

He has adjusted since enrolling at the Kapalama campus in 2007. "I love it now. My teammates are my brothers."

The 5-foot-10, 170-pound junior is part of perhaps the state's best defense (Kahuku can lay claim to that title, too -- it will be settled Friday). His athleticism is unquestioned, but the first-year starter has been tested often because of his relative inexperience.

"We have Chaz Bajet on the other side, and he's a three-year starter," Warriors coach David Stant says. "Everybody goes after Walt."

The better alternative isn't always a good one. Saint Louis learned that when Santiago grabbed two picks in a big Kamehameha win.

"I like getting the opportunities, the challenge," he says. "If I get beat, just get back up and go at it again."

Says Stant: "If you know Walt J, you know there's not much that bothers him."

His 250-pound cousin, Kahuku lineman Kamalani Aalona, says he's coming to get him on a screen pass. And he might bring the Santiagos' next-door neighbor, 265-pound linemate Jamal Napeahi, with him. Life can be tough on the corner -- even when you're playing your family and friends.

Stant is dealing with a house divided of his own. His son, Kawika, is a standout Warriors linebacker. Kahuku linebacker Keanu Yoshida lives there, too.

"Kawika said he might not talk to Keanu this week," Walt J says.

Red Raider For Life, or so the motto goes. Stant -- also a former Kahuku star -- must put that sentiment aside for a week. For now, he must do everything possible to give Kamehameha an edge ... even if that means appealing to a man's sense of fatherhood.

"Walter congratulated me after the (Leilehua) game," Stant says. "I told him you better not pick on your son. Blood is thicker than water."

Chicago Bears Roster Transaction

The Chicago Bears have resigned Johan Asiata, Donovan Raiola, and Will Ta'ufo'ou to their practice squad after cutting down to 53 a few days ago.

NFL Transactions

Buffalo Bills cut Brandon Rodd
Chicago Bears cut Johan Asiata, Donovan Raiola, Will Ta'ufo'ou
Cincinnati Bears cut Kolo Kapanui, Fui Vakapuna
Indianapolis cut Michael Tau'ili'ili
Jacksonville cut Cameron Stephenson
Philadelphia cut Paul Fanaika, Marcus Mailei
San Diego cut Ray Feinga, Kory Sperry

Print Email Font Resize Monson: Utah's Kepa Gaison a changed man

There are player transitions, player repositions, and then there's whatever it is that Kepa Gaison has pulled off at Utah.

Not an evolution, a revolution.

Over the past four years, the senior has transformed himself from a walk-on to a full scholarship athlete. And that happens, sometimes. But he also morphed himself from a fat punter and place-kicker into a rocked-up linebacker. Who does that?

One guy: Gaison.

He went from being a scout team punter, upon whom the regulars and scrubs alike used to review the rules for roughing the kicker in special teams drills, abusing him as a crash dummy, to nailing down six tackles, five solos, and two sacks in the Sugar Bowl.

"He was a pudgy punter," says Kalani Sitake, defensive coordinator and the first Ute coach to talk to Gaison when he was in high school. "Kind of a sacrificial lamb in practice."

The major reason Gaison was even allowed to walk on at Utah was because his father, Blaine, is a football legend in Hawaii, a former quarterback at the University of Hawaii who went on to play safety for the Atlanta Falcons. Sitake visited with Gaison at his high school because he was there to recruit his teammate, current Ute offensive lineman Tyler Williams.

"There were only about 105 slots, so it was hard for them to bring in a lot of punters and kickers," Gaison says. "But they said they'd let me walk on."

The 5-foot-10, 250-pound freshman showed up here looking like a cross between Garo Yepremian and the Sta-Puft Marshmallow Man.

"I'm a shorter guy," he says. "I didn't carry 250 the way a 6-3 guy would. I didn't exactly fit the mold of a punter."

He expanded the normal bounds of that mold as a big-eating teenager who loved Hawaiian cooking, including barbecue chicken and rice, spam and rice, any kind of meat and rice. He had played mostly soccer as a kid, but once he got to high school, football took over. He kicked and also played offensive line, so dietary concerns flew out the window. There wasn't a piece of pork or beef or pie that was disagreeable to him.

At Utah, though, sitting behind Louie Sakoda, and getting slapped around on the scout team got old, like, yesterday. Gaison decided to trim down to 200 pounds and seriously pursue the punting thing. He also begged the coaches to let him run some scout team defense. They obliged, and were impressed with his instincts, his smarts, and his physicality, so, bit by bit, they gave him more time and attention.

"Kepa changed his body," Sitake says. "He was already strong, but he went from not having much definition to being a real good-looking kid. All of a sudden, he was walking around with his shirt off. He turned into a team leader. He's not the biggest or the fastest, but he makes plays. He was always an unselfish guy, so his teammates all loved him."

Working out like a demon, he got himself back to 220, and played in all but two games as a junior, backing up all three linebacker spots. "It was hard at first," he says. "But I got the hang of it." The bowl game against Alabama was his personal highlight and a pinnacle that caused Gaison to reflect on how far he'd come.

"It was crazy to look back to where I'd been to where I was now," he says. "I learned that there are no limitations to what a person can do -- with faith, the support of family, teammates, and coaches. You can do anything if you put your mind to it."

Every once in a while, the Ute kickers in camp give Gaison the business, asking the not-so-round-mound-of-rebound to come back over where the real men are and work with them.

"Hey, you want to punt?"

The starting linebacker laughs, declines, and runs over to the defense, his remarkable metamorphosis now complete.

Lolotai shaping up fine in middle

By Stephen Tsai
HawaiiWarriorBeat.com Editor
Brashton Satele's injury left a hole in the middle of the defense.
Mana Lolotai is the middle trying to make the defense whole.
"I told Mana: 'It's your job now,' " recalled Satele, the Hawai'i middle linebacker who undergoes season-ending shoulder surgery today in Los Angeles.
That leaves the heart of the defense to a Kamehameha Schools graduate who spent the summer reshaping his body and skills.
"He dedicated himself to getting quicker, faster, stronger," defensive coordinator Cal Lee said.
Lolotai spent four weeks in Arizona participating in trainer Chad Ikei's intensive workout program. Lolotai was placed on a strict low-carb diet — small portions, frequent light snacks, lots of salads — and focused on footwork and speed drills.
"He came back in excellent shape," Lee said of the 6-foot, 230-pound junior.
Lolotai also was poised to be the linebacker-in-waiting, ready to serve as Satele's primary backup.
But during the first scrimmage of the recently completed 2 1/2-week training camp, Satele suffered a fractured rotator cuff and torn labrum in his left shoulder.
After deciding to undergo surgery, Satele approached Lolotai, essentially passing the proverbial torch.
"I think he's going to have a good year," Satele said.
Lolotai said: "Brashton has been helping me a lot."
Each day, Lolotai goes to the defensive conference room, where he watches freshly edited videos of practices. Alongside Satele and Lee, Lolotai would review his play in practice.
"I'm more of a visual person," Lolotai said. "I have to see (the wide picture), then make my corrections."
The videos show a panoramic view of the offensive and defensive formations.
"You can see all of the routes, and what the receivers are doing, what they try to do when they line up in certain formations," Lolotai said.
He said his improved condition — he lost more than 10 pounds and reduced his body fat to 11 percent this summer — enables him to cover more turf.
"Getting faster was a big thing," he said. "And I wanted to get my lungs ready. I want to play stronger (deeper) in games."
Lolotai was born with the football gene. His grandfather, Al Lolotai, was the first National Football League player of Samoan ancestry. His father and uncles were standout local high school defensive players.
As a Kamehameha senior in 2006, Lolotai signed with Oregon State. But because of family commitments, he remained in Hawai'i, attending a private college during the 2006-2007 academic year.
During that time, he and his wife, Shaela, had a daughter, Zaiah. Today is Zaiah's third birthday.
"It was tough that year, working and going to school," Lolotai said. "I wasn't working out like I should have been. But my wife and family really stuck by me. They made a lot of sacrifices. They really motivated me. I owe them a lot."

Pa’aluhi out of the ordinary and in the lineup for OSU

CORVALLIS — It’s the kind of question that could only come up at Oregon State.

Can the Beavers fill their opening at middle linebacker with a player who has more experience in mixed martial arts than football?

Well, yes, based on the early reviews of sophomore David Pa’aluhi III, headed for his first collegiate start when OSU opens against Portland State on Sept. 5.

“We’re fired up about him because he’s such a physical player,” OSU defensive coordinator Mark Banker said.

“I think he’s going to do really well this year,” chimed in Keaton Kristick, OSU’s candidate for national honors at outside linebacker. “People are going to be really surprised.”

That certainly seems likely. It’s not that Pa’aluhi has come out of nowhere to the starting lineup … but almost.

He played one season of high school football, and that only after the insistence of his father. His high school coaches in Waianae, Hawaii, put him at defensive end, and essentially turned him loose.

“I pretty much just got the basics and went to the ball every play,” Pa’aluhi recalled. “When I came (to OSU), I didn’t know too much about really anything (related to football) … I didn’t know defensive schemes or how to play the offense.”

He spent the 2007 season as a redshirt, but was impressive physically. He could run like few middle linebackers, and there was certainly no question about the physical way he played.

By last fall, he’d learned enough that he could fill in as a backup, and help out when the Beavers went into their nickel alignment on obvious passing downs as a faster middle linebacker in coverage who could also rush the passer.

And now? There he is, a 5-foot-11, 233-pound rock in the middle of the OSU defense that again has the look of a unit that is going to cause some major problems for opponents.

That’s a fairly fast ascent by anyone’s measurement.

“Dave is an extremely focused person,” Banker said. “When you talk to somebody and you’re giving them instruction, there are people who look at you and then the next thing you know when you set them free, it’s like they didn’t hear a thing.

“Dave is somebody who listens and comprehends and then is able to put it into action.”

As much as he’s learned at OSU, more impressive might be the natural abilities that first brought him to the attention of the Beavers.

Pa’aluhi literally had no background in football, or any team sports, until that fall of his final high school year. His background was in martial arts, with a father who competed in the sport and then opened a training gym for fighters.

What could be more natural than competing in jujitsu or kick boxing? Particularly in his home state.

“We come from a warrior culture, so being able to fight, it’s a respect thing,” Pa’aluhi said. “Everybody likes to do it, it’s just sort of our everyday life.”

And yes, some of it does translate to football.

“It’s helped me a lot, just that toughness it gives you, and it makes you an overall athlete,” Pa’aluhi said. “It gives you speed, strength, balance … it made me never give up. I was always going full speed and never backing away from anything.”

Kristick said he can see the martial arts come into play when Pa’aluhi “does all that hand stuff” while battling with blockers.

Imagine how it looks when Pa’aluhi is in the octagon for an MMA fight.

“I wouldn’t want to be the guy on the other side,” Kristick said. “He’s a powerful guy.”

Until Pa’aluhi’s senior year, the only sport he competed in for his high school was wrestling, where he was twice a league champion.

Why finally football? His father insisted he try a team sport.

“It was going out of my comfort zone, being with a team and having to interact with more people,” Pa’aluhi said. “It was different, but I liked it.”

There was instant success. Enough that playing beyond high school became almost immediately realistic, at least to Pa’aluhi.

“I was getting a lot of sacks and making a lot of tackles,” he said. “I looked around at other people who I knew were getting offered scholarships and I felt maybe I was playing just as good as them, so maybe I could get a scholarship, too.”

The University of Hawaii was recruiting Pa’aluhi, and had competition after OSU went to Honolulu to end the 2006 season and a high school coach made Banker aware of Pa’aluhi.

“I’ve got good sources in Hawaii, and I trust their evaluation and judgment,” Banker said.

After watching a DVD with Pa’aluhi’s highlights, Banker liked “the speed and strength and he had the instincts … then when you met him and found out his background, we said ‘let’s go.’”

Yeah, just the usual recruiting story … at OSU, anyway.

Remember, this is the school that took a tip on one Rodgers brother and ended up with the two key players on its offense. This is the team that could have three players starting on offense in the opener who didn’t even have scholarships when they arrived at Oregon State.

All that, plus a middle linebacker with much more experience in mixed martial arts than mixing it up on a football field.

“Somebody tells you about a Pa’aluhi, so you go uncover the rock, investigate and the next thing you know, you’ve got a gem like that,” Banker said. “I don’t think there are a lot like that, and you don’t want to look for the needle in the haystack because you’re going to be in trouble doing that all the time, but sometimes they turn out.”

UW's Polynesian Tradition Stronger Than Ever

In all, 18 players of Polynesian descent populate the Husky roster.

Aug. 21, 2009

Washington has a long tradition of great players of Polynesian descent and of players from the state of Hawai'i, whether Polynesian or not.

Former greats like Olin Kreutz, Ink Aleaga, Bern Brostek and Marques Tuiasosopo among many others, have been followed to the UW by many more players with similar backgrounds and cultures.

This season's Husky team features at least 18 players of Samoan, Tongan or Hawai'ian descent: Kalani Aldrich, Jonathan Amosa, Talia Crichton, Cameron Elisara, Johri Fogerson, Ronnie Fouch, Mykenna Ikehara, Senio Kelemete, Kimo Makaula, Andru Pulu, Alameda Ta'amu, Daniel Te'o-Nesheim, Everrette Thompson, Tobias Togi, Semisi Tokolahi, Anthony Tokunaga, Trenton Tuiasosopo and Nate Williams.

What's more is that, of those 18, eight are defensive linemen, meaning that it's possible that the UW could field two entire defensive lines utilizing only Polynesian players. Additionally, the Dawgs' roster includes a remarkable three players from the Big Island of Hawai'i: Aldrich, Te'o-Nesheim and Tokolahi. There probably aren't more than a handful of other Big Islanders playing in the rest of major college football combined.

Anyone who has followed the UW or watches the games will note the unity and pride that these players take in their culture. The players frequently gather together for a pre-game prayer and spend a lot of their time off the field with one another as well.

For Te'o-Nesheim and Aldrich, it was a big deal to be able to come to a school where there were other Polynesian players.

"I liked that we had so many guys from Hawai'i," said Te'o-Nesheim. " Being able to relate to someone from the Islands is huge."
Aldrich said that while he didn't really think about it ahead of time, he now realizes that he would have been unlikely to go to a school with few or no Polynesian players.

For whatever reason, many of these players have found themselves on the defensive line (including their new position coach, Johnny Nansen, who is Samoan). But that's not a new phenomenon.

"It seems like it's always been like that," said Te'o-Nesheim. "When I got here there were like five Polys on the defensive line. Then for a while it was just Kalani, Cameron and I."

With so many Samoans, Tongans and Hawai'ians on the defensive line, you might think that non-Polynesian players might feel left out.

"I think they all click with us, even though they're not Poly," said Aldrich. "They all kind of gel with us. We have good chemistry."

"We out-number then, though," Te'o-Nesheim added.

One common way in which the Polynesian players celebrate their roots is through their food. Back-yard barbeques or trips to any of several local Hawai'ian restaurants are frequent, and it also gives players like Te'o-Nesheim a chance to introduce the cuisine to others.

"We all like the same kind of foods," he said. "Usually when we bring other people around, it's the first time they've ever tried it."

"Last year, Cameron (Elisara) roasted a pig under ground," Aldrich continued. "It was me, him, Daniel and (fellow d-lineman) Tyrone Duncan. It was the first time that Tyrone had ever had it. This year, we went to Daniel's auntie's house. We had Hawai'ian food and a bunch of guys got to try it."

Aldrich, Te'o-Nesheim and the other players who grew up on the Islands form a subset of the team's larger Polynesian group. They both say there is a difference between them and those from the mainland, but those differences are quickly overlooked.

"The Polynesians here and the Polynesians in Hawai'i are a lot different when you first meet them," Te'o-Nesheim explained. "Then you find out that all of your values are the same."

Primary among those values, both players quickly agreed, are respect and family -- two pretty good values on which to build a football team.

Digging deep

While their teammates headed toward the locker room after practice, the Hawaii linebackers were still sweating through a set of sprints on the turf at Ching Field.

The extra running wasn't punishment so much as preparation."Coach Cal (Lee) said the LBs have to be the most in-shape guys on the field," Mana Lolotai said.

"Coach expects a lot out of us as linebackers so we have to make sure we push ourselves."

Lolotai put in a solid day's work last Saturday and alternated with senior Brashton Satele at middle linebacker in yesterday's practice.

Lolotai has been working primarily with the second unit during the spring, but got a few repetitions with the first unit after an impressive performance in last Saturday's scrimmage.

"We have to know how to play with each other," Lolotai said. "Playing with the ones, I get that more fast-paced tempo."

Lolotai (6-foot, 240 pounds) grew up in Kahuku and attended Hawaii Pacific University after graduating from Kamehameha in 2006.

He transferred to Hawaii before the 2007 season, seeing action in four games his first season. He registered four tackles while getting into 13 games last year and could push for more playing time in the fall with his showing this spring.

"They're two of our best players so we just have to find a spot for them," UH head coach Greg McMackin said of Satele and Lolotai. "They're probably two of our top five players this spring."

Both middle linebackers will probably have to be in shape for Saturday's Warrior Bowl at Aloha Stadium. McMackin said the coaches will divide the team evenly for the spring game, which probably means Satele playing for one team with Lolotai on the other side and not many breaks for either.

Lolotai's conditioning was tested last weekend when he didn't get many breaks in the Warriors' offense vs. defense scrimmage played under a draining afternoon sun.

"It was a mental gut check, you have to dig deep," Lolotai said.

While he gets more repetitions in practice, Lolotai has enough to keep his hands full after he leaves the locker room.

When Lolotai's not in classes, meetings or practice, keeping track of 2-year-old daughter, Zaiah, fills his time away from the field.

"It keeps me more grounded, I have to be more focused," Lolotai said of balancing family life with school and football. "Not only do I have football, but I have responsibilities at home, too. It kind of works hand in hand."

NFL Cuts

NFL teams are in the process of cutting down to the league mandated 53 man rosters. Recent cuts and roster transactions include the following Polynesians.

St Louis Defensive End CJ Ah You (Oklahoma) cut on 8/30/08
Green Bay Center Brennan Carvalho (Portland State/Kamehameha Schools) cut on 8/30/08
Indianapolis Tackle Tala Esera (Hawai'i/Kahuku) cut on 8/30/08
Carolina Guard Toniu Fonoti (Nebraska/Kahuku) cut on 8/30/08
Cleveland Tight End Kolomana Kapanui (West Texas A&M/Kamehameha Schools-Kapalama) cut on 8/30/08
Tennessee Offensive Lineman Enoka Lucas (Oregon/Kamehameha Schools-Kapalama) cut on 8/30/08
Jacksonville Defensive Tackle Jesse Mahelona (Tennessee/Kealakehe HS) cut on 8/30/08
Philadelphia Defensive Tackle Michael Marquardt (Arizona State) cut on 8/30/08
Washington Offensive Lineman Fred Matua (USC) cut on 8/30/08
Miami Fullback Reagan Mauia (Hawai'i) cut on 8/30/08
Cleveland Center Marvin Philip (Cal) cut on 8/30/08
New York Jets Defensive Lineman Ropati Pitoitua (Washington State) cut on 8/30/08
Cleveland Defensive Lineman Melila Purcell (Hawai'i/Leone) cut on 8/30/08
Chicago Safety Leonard Peters (Hawai'i/Kahuku) cut on 8/30/08
Oakland Guard Brandon Rodd (Arizona State/'Aiea HS) cut on 8/30/08
St Louis Offensive Lineman Stephen Sene (Liberty) cut on 8/30/08
Seattle Defensive End Nu'u Tafisi (Cal) cut on 8/30/08
Cincinnati Tackle Dane Uperesa (Hawai'i/Punahou) cut on 8/3008
New England Defensive Tackle Steve Fifita (Utah) cut on 8/29/08
St. Louis Center Donovan Raiola (Wisconsin, Kamehameha Schools-Kapalama) cut on 8/29/08
Baltimore Nose Tackle Kelly Talavou (Utah) placed on Injured Reserve on 8/29/08
Philadelphia Linebacker Pago Togafau (Idaho State) cut on 8/29/08
Buffalo Defensive End Shaun Nua (BYU, Tafuna HS) cut on 8/26/08
Arizona Offensive Lineman Hercules Satele (Hawai'i) cut on 8/25/08
Philadelphia Offensive Lineman Cameron Stephenson (Ruters) cut on 8/23/08
Philadelphia Defensive Tackle Kimo von Oelhoffen (Weber State, Moloka'i HS) cut on 8/10/08

Portland State's Brennan Carvalho named 2007 Rimington Award Winner

PORTLAND – Portland State senior center Brennan Carvalho was named the 2007 Rimington Award winner, for the top center in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, formerly NCAA Division I-AA, it was announced today. The Rimington Award recognizes the most outstanding centers from each of the lower NCAA divisions and the NAIA.

Carvalho, 6-feet-1, 310 pounds, from Kapa’a, Hawai’I, finished his career as perhaps the Vikings’ finest offensive lineman ever. Carvalho was named a first team NCAA FCS first team All-America as both a junior and senior during the 2006 and 2007 seasons. He was also a three-time first-team All-Big Sky Conference performer. Carvalho capped his career by participating in the 2008 Hula Bowl All-Star game.

Carvalho earned the Vikings’ starting job at center during his freshman year in 2004 and never relinquished it. All total, he started 39 games for Portland State.

Pipeline to the Islands

A good article from the Corvallis Gazette Times on the numerous players from the State of Hawai'i playing for the Oregon State Beavers football program.

Oregon State has a lot ot offer football recruits from Hawaii

By Kevin Hampton
Corvallis Gazette-Times

Reggie Torres knew there was going to be pressure when he took over as head football coach at Kahuku (Hawaii) High in early 2006.

Kahuku was a powerhouse on the Islands, winning four state titles after finishing second in 1999.

Torres was stepping in for the man who was responsible for that success. Siuaki Livai, who had built the Red Raiders from the basement up, had decided to leave the position after winning his fourth title in his 10th season.

So Torres took over that April, figuring he’d have a few months to settle in. Then the visitors started coming. They were coaches from Southern California, from Arizona, Oregon State, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Brigham Young.

They wanted to see film and check out some of the players.

“They’re all coming now,” Torres said. “You’re talking April, now. Just to see the juniors.”

Hawaii has become a football recruiting hotbed. It’s not Texas, California or Florida, and probably never will be given the population base, but it’s no secret among college coaches that you can find some pretty good players in the Islands.

Chris Naeole, Itula Mili, Toniu Fonoti, Chris Kemoeatu and Ma’ake Kemoeatu are all former Kahuku players who went on to the NFL.

At Oregon State, there are current players such as Jeremy Perry and Tavita Thompson and former Beavers Esera Tuaolo, Alai Kalaniuvalu, Shawn Ball and Inoke Breckterfield, among others.

The players are there. It’s just a matter of convincing them to come to the mainland.

Some schools succeed. Torres said he had three players commit to mainland schools this year - Anthony Siilata to OSU, Benji Kemoeatu to West Virginia and Shiloah Te’o to BYU - and two to Hawaii.

The Beavers also signed safety Kameron Krebs, who is from Kahuku but played his last two seasons at Mission Viejo, Calif.

In addition to OSU, Washington, California and Arizona signed Hawaiian high school players, with the Wildcats landing the top recruit, defensive tackle Solomon Koehler.

University of Hawaii convinced seven players to stay home.

“For the most part, kids go to Hawaii because they don’t want to go away,” Torres said. “They grow up being Hawaii fans and if the opportunity to go to a mainland school doesn’t come, they take the opportunity to stay home.

“It’s good for them to leave because of the experience and the maturity they gain by leaving home, but it’s also tough to leave because they’re used to being with family. It’s tough going away.”

Nevertheless, Hawaiian players have made their way to the mainland in droves.

Breckterfield, who is back with the Beavers as a graduate assistant coach, said when he was a high school player in Hawaii few players thought of going anywhere on the mainland except Utah and BYU, due to the large amount of Mormons on the Islands.

The pipeline has been open for years, but rarely expanded beyond the West Coast schools.

Oregon State has had ties with Hawaii going back to 1923, when the Beavers made the trip to play the Hawaiian All Stars and then University of Hawaii. The Beavers also played Hawaii in the Pineapple Bowl on New Year’s Day in 1940 and ’49.

As Hawaiians trickled into the Pac-10 and other conferences and became top players, the opportunities blossomed. The mainland programs began to recognize Hawaii as a melting pot for football talent.

And they came.

“Some programs didn’t want to spend the money to go out there and recruit, but when they saw the success of the past Polynesian players, now it’s like the Floridas and the Tennessees and the Michigans. Everybody’s going out there now,” Breckterfield said. “Everybody west of the Mississippi is recruiting Hawaii and you get your few SEC schools that get out there. We’ve had some guys that go out east and play.”

The biggest lure is the level of football played on the mainland.

Football has entrenched itself in the culture of Hawaii. The people are a natural fit for the sport. Physically, Hawaiian men are often large. Most of the players coming out of the Islands are offensive or defensive linemen or linebackers.

“Polynesian kids in general, they have the stereotype of being big and strong and football in Hawaii is not as fast as mainland high school football, I guess, in the California area, but the hits are pretty hard,” OSU lineman Wilder McAndrews, who went to Kamehameha High in Honolulu, said. “A lot of high schools, they center their school spirit around their football team. Football is just really important to high schools in general in Hawaii.

“The emotion felt at a high school game is (high). When I was playing in high school, I felt that I was more connected to the team because it’s so much more a part of your life when you’re growing up. It has a lot of emotional meaning.”

The athletes want to play in a Bowl Championship Series conference against the top teams and talent.

Breckterfield came to Corvallis for a shot at playing in the Pac-10. He followed the footsteps of players like Tuaolo, and his impact at defensive end sparked the interests of others to become Beavers.

“When I was here there were a few Polynesians here on the team, some that played before me and some that were coming in as I was here, but I’ve never seen this kind of impact and the amount of players that we have now and it builds every year,” Breckterfield said. “When I was here the other guys would come in and then other guys would come in. I think from when I was here until now, it’s been a gradual building on itself. I think we’ve peaked out at the highest here at Oregon State.”

OSU linebacker David Pa’aluhi hails from Waianae, a small town on the southwest coast of Oahu. He said going to the mainland to play football is considered to be a big deal, although it was a tough decision to leave.

“It was kind of scary at first because I didn’t know what to expect,” Pa’aluhi said. “I kind of wanted to stay home, but then I got an offer from here. When I came on the visit, I liked it.”

Pa’aluhi said people expect the top players to leave Hawaii and the players look at playing on the mainland as a better opportunity.

“We see the mainland colleges as better,” he said. “Better athletics and academics. Playing in the Pac-10, you’re playing big colleges like SC and big bowl games, too.”

Oregon State has more than football to offer the Hawaiian athletes.

Many of the players feel comfortable with the small-town atmosphere of Corvallis, and there are other Polynesians in the community to get to know.

There’s a club for Hawaiian students at OSU that holds get-togethers and a luau. Those outlets help the transition to living thousands of miles from home.

Many of the Hawaiian students have a hard time being away from their family. Pa’aluhi calls home or e-mails his family as often as possible. He has three very young brothers and three sisters, two in high school and one at University of Hawaii.

“Family is real important,” Pa’aluhi said. “We’ll get together during the week, our whole family. A couple times a week we’ll have dinner at our grandparents’ house. It’s kind of hard not being able to get around your family. It’s hard to get used to not being able to have them with you and support you.”

Breckterfield said the amount of Polynesian students on campus makes OSU an attractive choce.

It also helps when several of the coaches have ties to Hawaii.

Defensive coordinator Mark Banker, the main recruiter for the area, coached at University of Hawaii in 1995. Offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh was with the Rainbow Warriors from 1999 through 2004.

Defensive line coach Joe Seumalo is from Honolulu and coached high school football and at University of Hawaii. He graduated from UH.

“Coach Banker recruits Hawaii and does a great job of bringing his players up and making them feel comfortable,” Breckterfield said. “Coach Riley and coach Banker and the staff in general know what they’re going to get when they recruit a Polynesian player. Very respectful, easy to coach and they always go 110 percent. It’s a simple formula. That’s what you get anytime you recruit any kind of Polynesian player.

“I think that’s what draws Oregon State to bringing in those players.”

Enoka Lucas released from Tampa Bay Bucs Practice Squad

On Thursday, the Bucs announced the addition of Biddle to their eight-man practice squad, releasing rookie guard/center Enoka Lucas in order to make room. Lucas had first joined the team on July 25 as a waiver claim from the Houston Texans.

Hawaii’s Meatoga already fits in

Jeff Reinebold hadn't heard much about Vaughn Meatoga prior to working a summer camp for linemen last summer. But what he saw that week convinced the Hawaii defensive line coach that Meatoga had a future in college football.

For his part, Meatoga -- then a senior-to-be at Kamehameha -- didn't need much convincing to join a UH program he had longed to play for while growing up on Kauai. Now he's participating in his first fall camp with the Warriors.

"He's got a great first step, he's got great quickness off the line of scrimmage, which is what you need in a tackle," Reinebold said of the freshman.

Though he's one of the new guys, Meatoga worked his way in with the Warrior linemen by showing up for voluntary workouts this summer and displayed some of his potential over a solid first week of camp.

Continue article at Honolulu Star Bulletin

Portland State's Brennan Carvalho named AP DI-AA All American

Portland State football players Adam Hayward and Brennan Carvalho were each named first team Associated Press All-American for NCAA 1-AA football today. It marks the first time that two Viking players have been named to the AP All-America first team in the same season.

Carvalho, a junior offensive lineman from Kapa’a, HI, has earned his second All-American honor in a week. Carvalho was named to the Walter Camp 1-AA All- America football team last Friday.

A three-year starter for the Vikings. The 6-1, 310-pound left guard has been named first team All-Big Sky Conference the past two seasons in a row. Prior to the start of the 2006 season, Carvalho was rated as the top offensive guard in the nation and a preseason All- American by The Sports Network.

In 2006, Carvalho was a key player on the Vikings' 7-4 team. He will anchor an offensive line that returns three All-Big Sky Conference players (including Peter St. John and Daren Heerspink) in 2007.

Kamehameha Schools-Hawai'i: DE Kalani Aldrich

KS-Hawaii’s Aldrich commits to Huskies

By Paul Honda
phonda@starbulletin.com

Not more than a year ago, Kalani Aldrich wasn't thinking about college football.

In his reality, even before suffering a season-ending injury, college was going to be more about academics than anything. That's life as the son of a high-school principal.

Of course, things have changed for the 6-foot-7, 255-pound Kamehameha-Hawaii two-way lineman. Aldrich has given the University of Washington a verbal commitment to play football, in effect turning down offers from Oregon, Hawaii, Oklahoma, Utah, UNLV and New Mexico State.

Aldrich is projected as a defensive end by the Huskies.

His choice, made on Tuesday morning, was a bit of a shock to Oregon fans. Aldrich visited the Eugene campus earlier in the year and was very impressed.

"Coach (Bob) Wagner said, 'Don't make any hasty decisions,' " Aldrich recalled. Wagner, a former Hawaii head coach, is the athletic director at Kamehameha-Hawaii.

"I pretty much thought at first I was going to Oregon, but I didn't know what else was out there. People there were real nice," said Aldrich, who was recruited primarily by assistant coach Steve Greatwood.

Oklahoma, of course, was another choice worth mulling. The Sooners made Aldrich an offer during the summer.

"They wanted me to send film and call them after the season," he said. "But then I visited Washington."

Coach Tyrone Willingham's program, as well as the Seattle area, made it impossible for Aldrich to consider any other.

"If I were still not sure, I would wait," he said. "We just wanted to finish this up before Christmas."

The difference between Washington and Oregon was subtle.

"Washington felt more like home to me. I could really connect more with the players there," Aldrich said. "Coach Willingham has the same values as me and my family."

Aldrich was recruited primarily by assistant coach and former Nevada guru Chris Tormey.

The All-Big Island Interscholastic Federation selection played offensive tackle, defensive tackle and defensive end for the Division II league champion Warriors. A year ago, he was a second-team All-BIIF pick, falling short of first team after suffering a broken leg at Dr. Francis Wong Stadium in Hilo.

That injury was a turning point in more ways than one for Aldrich, who missed the rest of the season and didn't gain his strength back until midway through the basketball schedule.

Now that he can return to "normal" concerns, Aldrich is happy again.

"In the beginning, it was fun and stuff, but after a while, it's hard," he said of the recruiting process.

Like Oklahoma, Hawaii made him an early offer.

"I thought of going there. I have family and friends there (on Oahu) who said, get out of Hawaii for a while," Aldrich said. "My mom wanted me to go to UH. My dad told me it's up to me."

Aldrich said he will forego his final season of prep basketball to concentrate on football training. Kamehameha-Hawaii was ranked as high as No. 3 in last season's Star-Bulletin Boys Basketball Top 10.

All Pac-10 Conference Selections

All Pac-10 Conference Selections

The 2006 All Pac-10 team was recently selected and included three Polynesians (Enoka Lucas, Jeremy Perry, and Rey Maualuga) on the first team as well as Nu’u Tafisi (Tongan) and Max Unger (from Hawai’i) on the second team. Seven other Polynesians were given honorable mention.

Oregon’s Lucas pictured to the left, USC's Maualuga pictured in the center and Oregon State’s Perry pictured to the right

First Team

Oregon’s Enoka Lucas (Pauoa Valley / Kamehameha Schools) and Oregon State’s Jeremy Perry (Hau’ula / Kahuku HS ) were first team selections at Center and Guard following their respective second team and honorable selections in 2005. Lucas, a senior from Honolulu, Hawaii, looms as Oregon's lone first-team selection as the three-year starter has opened 25 consecutive games. He was a second-team all-conference selection a year ago and one of two seniors along an offensive line that helped the Ducks lead the league in rushing (t11th nationally, 189.2 avg.) and total offense (8th nationally, 436.4 avg.), in addition to finishing second in the Pac-10 in fewest quarterback sacks allowed (12). Perry is the team’s starting left guard. The 6-2, 313-pound sophomore was the Pac-10 Co-Freshman of the Year last season and earned Freshman All-American honors in several publications. Perry was a preseason Outland and Lombardi Award candidate. True sophomore Rey Maualuga starting in his first year was selected to the first team at Middle Linebacker. Maualuga helped lead his team to the Pac-10 title and the Rose Bowl versus Michigan and was tied with teammate Keith Rivers for most tackles with 76 (43 solo), 5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 1 interception, 3 pass breakups, 1 quarterback hurry, and 1 forced fumble.

Second Team

Cal Defensive End Nu’u Tafisi (Salt Lake City, UT/ East HS/ Mt SAC-CA) was selected to the 2^nd team at defensive line in 2005 and 2006. Tafisi was coached by Iona Uiagalelei at Mt San Antonio College in Walnut, CA. in Oregon Tackle Max Unger (Honaunau, Big Island / HPA) follows up his 2005 honorable mention selection with a slot on the second team.

Honorable Mention

UCLA Guard Shannon Tevaga and Arizona Tackle Brandon Rodd (Aiea HS, HI) were selected honorable mention for the second year in a row. Also selected to the team were Arizona State’s Paul Fanaika (Mills, HS / Daly City, CA) and Michael Marquardt (Vista, CA / Rancho Buena Vista HS / BYU), Oregon’s Palauni Ma Sun (La’ie / Kahuku HS / Fresno CC) and Matt Toeaina (Pago Pago, Amerika Samoa / Samoana HS), and USC’s Fili Moala. Tevaga has started at guard since his freshman year and may be joined on the line next year by his brother Sonny a freshman at UCLA. Rodd is a two year starter at left tackle and Fanaika was able to move from a reserve in the beginning of the season and was able to finish with 9 consecutive starts at right guard. Marquardt a transfer from BYU finished the season with 24 tackles (17 solo), 7.5 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks. Rodd is a two year starter at left tackle and Fanaika was able to move from a reserve in the beginning of the season and was able to finish with 9 consecutive starts at right guard. Marquardt a transfer from BYU finished the season with 24 tackles (17 solo), 7.5 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks. Ma Sun was a two year starter at guard following his transfer from Fresno City College. Defensive tackle Matt Toeaina finished the season with 36 tackles (18 solo), 3 tackles for loss, 3 quarterback hurries, and 1 recovered fumble. Moala primarily played nose tackle in USC’s 3-4 defensive scheme finished with 18 tackles, 5 for loss, 2 sacks, 4 pass breakups, and 1 recovered fumble.

Defensive Line to Watch List Class of 2007 & 2008

Defensive Line:

Spencer Afoa: 6'0, 180 Steele Canyon HS (Spring Valley, CA)
1st Team All East County, 2nd Team All Conference

Matthew Agaiava: 6'1, 265 Lynwood HS (CA)
Younger brother of Univeristy of Nevada football players Nate and Daniel Agaiava.
2006 AIGA Foundation Long Beach Combine Participant--contact George Malauulu at aigafoundation@aol.com for more information

Tukia Aholelei: 5'9, 210 Kaiser HS (Honolulu, HI)
1st Team All Conference

Isaiah Aimalefoa: 6'2, 215 Mountlake Terrace (WA)
1st Team All League

*Sam Amituana'i: 6'0, 240 Independence HS (San Jose, CA)
1st Team All Conference

Savai'i Eselu: 6'3, 235 Moanalua HS (Honolulu, HI)
Hon Men All State (Honolulu Advertiser), 2nd Team All Conference

*Toa Fa'a'iti'iti: 6'3, 200 Westminister HS (CA)
1st Team All Conference

Paul Falahola: 5'11, 260 Trinity HS (Euless, TX)
1st Team District 6-5A

Jamie Fehoko: 6'2, 220 Mt Eden (Hayward, CA)

1st Team All League

Sam Fehoko: Farrington HS (Honolulu, HI)
Honorable Mention All Conference, younger brother of Whitley Fehoko (San Diego State), son of UH Mascot Vili the Warrior, 2006 US Army National Combine participant

JJ Fifita: 6'2, 265 Birmingham HS (Lake Balboa, CA)
2nd Team All State All Underclassman Cal-Hi Sports, younger brother of SDSU Defensive Lineman Siaosi Fifita.

Simi Fili: 6'3, 325 Cottonwood HS (Salt Lake City, UT)
4A 2nd Team All State, 1st Team All Region 5

Hans Philipp: 6'0, 267 San Bernardino (Arroyo Valley HS)
Younger brother of Arizona DL Paul Philipp and Southern Illinois DL Mark Philipp.

Alex Kautai: 6'1, 302 Trinity HS (Euless, TX)
2nd Team District 6-5A
5A Texas Football 2006 Watch List

Mao Leota: 6'0, 252 Trinity HS (Euless, TX)
2nd Team District 6-5A
5A Texas Football 2006 Watch List

Scott Lavala: North Thurston (Olympia, WA)
1st Team All League

Iosefa Lee-Noa: 6'2, 200 H-Town HS (San Diego, CA)
1st Team All East County, 1st Team All Conference at Helix HS (La Mesa, CA) as a junior

*Faifo Levale: 6'2, 230 Douglas HS (Juneau)
1st Team All State DE, 1st Team All Conference, 1st Team Alaska Preps All Soph OL/DL

*Sam Mafi: 5'11, 170 St Mary's (Stockton, CA)
2nd Team All Area (Stockton Record)

Mackey Ma'ilo: 6'1, 265 Carson HS (CA)
2006 US Army National Combine participant

Siosi Matafahi: 5'10, 270 Irving HS (TX)
2nd Team District 6-5A
5A Texas Football 2006 Watch List

Joshua Manupuna: 6'1, 261 Kamehameha Schools-Kapalama (Honolulu, HI)
Nephew of former Colorado and current Washington Redskin Vaka Manupuna

Greg Mauai: 6'2, 200 Mountain View HS (Tucson, AZ)
5A Southern Section Hon Men All State

Vaugn Meatoga: 6'2, 260 Kamehameha Schools-Kapalama (Honolulu, HI)
ILH Honorable Mention

Chris Patu: 6'2, 275 Rainier Beach (Seattle, WA)
1st Team All League

Matt Pupu: 6'0, 225 Mililani HS (HI)
1st Team All Conference

Joe Pututau: Granger HS (West Valley City, UT)
2006 US Army National Combine participant

Tony Savai'i: 6'2, 225 Taft HS (CA)
Bakersfield Californian All Area Hon Men, 1st Team All Conference

Junior Sefo: 6'2, 290 Taft HS (CA)
Bakersfield Californian All Area Hon Men, 1st Team All Conference

*Hamani Stevens: Hemet HS (CA)
1st Team All Conference, younger brother of UTEP signee and LDS Missionary Tevita Stevens

Randy Tavu'i: 6'0, 200 North Thurston HS (Olympia, WA)
2nd Team All State 3A, 1st Team All Conference

Johnny Tivao: 6'0, 305 Paramount HS (CA)
1st Team All Conference, 2nd Team LB Press Telegram All Area

Ana Tuiasosopo: St Louis HS (Honolulu, HI)
Hon Men All League, Son of Ana Tuiasosopo (former UH football player)
2006 US Army National Combine participant

Sam Tuione: 6'2, 220 Bingham HS (South Jordan, UT)
1st Team All Region 3

Kaniela Tuipulotu: 6'2, 261 Kahuku HS (HI)
1st Team All State (Honolulu Advertiser), 2nd Team All State (Honolulu Star Bulletin)
2006 US Army National Combine participant

Christian Tupou: 6'2, 260 Grant HS (Sacramento, CA)
1st Team All State All Underclassman Cal-Hi Sports, 2005 2nd Team All Northern California
(Nor Cal Preps), Hon Men All Section, 1st Team All Metro (Sacramento Bee)
Had 16 sacks, 85 tackles, and 3 fumble recoveries as a Junior.

Michael Tupuola: 5'10, 230 Hilltop HS (Chula Vista, CA)
1st Team All Conference

PJ Utuutuvanu: 6'1, 280 Hug HS (Reno, NV)
2nd Team All Conference

* Indicates Class of 2008

Please send comments to aigafoundation@aol.com