Posted on: Wednesday, July 25, 2001
College Football
Salanoa settles in for senior season
Associated Press
PARK CITY, Utah — Three years ago, Josh Heupel and Fred Salanoa shared the quarterback job at Snow College in Utah.
Everybody knows what happened to Heupel, who left for Oklahoma, led the Sooners to last season's national title and was the Heisman Trophy runner-up. He's now in camp with the NFL's Miami Dolphins.
Salanoa, meanwhile, is a fifth-year senior who will start this fall at Division I-AA member Eastern Washington.
"I have no gripes about it," said Salanoa, a former Radford High standout. "Josh Heupel is a great guy. He was my roommate on the road. I learned a lot from him and, from what I've known, he's learned a lot from me. We still keep in touch, and I'm happy for the guy."
In late 1998, newly hired Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops needed a quarterback and found Heupel at Snow. Heupel had begun his career at Weber State but transferred to Snow when coach Dave Arslanian left for Utah State.
Salanoa, on the other hand, failed to qualify academically out of high school and wound up at Snow instead of a Division I-A program.
As a freshman, Salanoa was the nation's top junior college passer with 3,400 yards and 38 touchdowns. But he couldn't fulfill his commitment to transfer to the University of Hawai'i after failing one class out of 23 credits.
Salanoa returned to Snow for his sophomore season, only to find the Badgers had landed Heupel. Keith Uperesa, then the head coach, used both quarterbacks, each playing one half, as Snow went 8-2 in 1998 and averaged nearly 45 points.
When recruiters called on Salanoa again, he told them he wanted to play on the Mainland and remain at quarterback. That eliminated Hawai'i, and Brigham Young and New Mexico, which both wanted him at safety.
Salanoa was left with offers from Northern Arizona, Tennessee-Chattanooga, Idaho State and Eastern Washington.
"Eastern Washington was the best opportunity for me to go out my last two years with a winning record," Salanoa said. "And so far, so good. They've treated me real well there, and I'm enjoying it."
That says something about Salanoa, who had some bad luck in Cheney, Wash. Three games into his first season, he tore two ligaments in his right knee and missed the rest of the season.
He had a season of eligibility restored because of the injury. But after returning last season, Salanoa suffered a concussion against Weber State and lost his starting position.
He eventually regained the job, but the Eagles finished 6-5. His focus for this season is simple.
"To win a championship," he said. "That's our goal."
If it doesn't happen, Salanoa will move on. He has matured past his academic shortcomings, posting a 3.8 grade-point average last year while working toward a degree in therapeutic recreation.
He's married with a 14-month-old daughter, and he's hoping some connections with coaches help him land a job after college. It doesn't bother him that he hasn't won a national title like Heupel.
"I'm living my dream," Salanoa said. "My dream is to play collegiate football, and that's what I'm doing."
