23 players sign with UH

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Harlan Reed smiled proudly as his son, St. Louis School offensive lineman Mesepa "Sepa" Reed, yesterday signed his letter of intent to play football for the University of Hawai'i next season.

St. Louis players, from left, Ross Dickerson, Taualai Fonoti, Mesepa Reed and John Siofele sign their letters of intent. Fonoti is going to Stanford; the others to Hawai‘i. Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser

Then Harlan Reed, who works in the film industry, said, "We're very proud of him. He's worked hard, and this is his reward."

Across O'ahu and in California, all but two who verbally committed to UH put their commitments in writing yesterday, the first day of the NCAA signing period for football. Wide receiver Denny Flanagan of Edison High in Huntington Beach, Calif., received an offer yesterday and will sign his letter of intent today. Defensive end Hausia Faleofa decided to sign with Western Michigan.

Yesterday's signings were held in different ways. News conferences were staged at St. Louis School, Kailua High, Kahuku High and the Kamehameha Schools.

Offensive lineman Dane Uperesa of Punahou School signed his UH letter during lunch period, surrounded only by his coach, Kale Ane, and an office manager. Mel Purcell Jr., a projected defensive end from Leone High in American Samoa, signed his UH letter in his classsroom.

"It's exciting to do this," said Kailua offensive lineman Marques Kaonohi, who signed his UH letter during a ceremony at his school's library.

"This is an important day," said Mesepa Reed's mother, Toni. "We wanted to be here for him."

About a dozen of Mesepa Reed's family members attended the ceremony at St. Louis School, including his biological mother, Sele Tanoai, who lives in Los Angeles.

Harlan and Toni Reed adopted Mesepa when he was an infant, and they have remained close with Tanoai, who is a distant relative.

"I'm very happy to be here for this," Tanoai said.

Toni said Mesepa is "blessed to have two mothers who love him a lot."

"It really is good to have so much support," Mesepa Reed said.

While television reporters interviewed Mesepa Reed, his sister, Tahiti Warner, stood nearby, capturing the moment with her camcorder.

"We want to be able to look back and remember this special day," Warner said.

Warner lives in Memphis with her husband and their son. "We're a close family, and I always come back for important events," she said. "We'll be back in May for his graduation, but we wanted to be here for the signing. This is important to him, and this is important to us."

Toni Reed said her son was encouraged to participate in sports and pursue a college education.

"I knew he could do whatever he wanted to do," she said. "We're very proud of him."

Even though Mesepa Reed is expected to redshirt as a freshman, Harlan Reed already has worked out his schedule for the next five years.

"In the film industry, you have to work a lot of weekends," Harlan Reed said. "If the Warriors are playing, I'm finding someone to work for me on Saturdays. That's a special day."