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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, January 27, 2003

UH football gets lineman from American Samoa

 •  List of UH football recruits

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Larry Sauafea, an offensive lineman from American Samoa, said he has accepted a football scholarship from the University of Hawai'i.

Oregon and Southern California also recruited Sauafea, who is 6 feet 3 and 260 pounds.

"They didn't really want me as bad as UH did," said Sauafea, a senior at Samoana High.

He said the UH coaches "played their part in blessing me with this opportunity. I'll do my part in helping the football program."

Last year, Sauafea attended Oregon's football camp. On the way back, he stopped in Hawai'i, taking an unescorted tour of the Manoa campus.

"He was very pleased," said his father, Sonny Sauafea. "He thinks the UH program is very good, one of the best on the NCAA level."

Sonny Sauafea said he is happy with his son's choice.

"Absolutely," he said. "I know it's a very good program."

Larry Sauafea said he "established a good relationship with the coaches, especially Rich Miano," UH's point recruiter in American Samoa. Miano and Jones returned Saturday from a four-day trip to American Samoa.

American Samoa does not have a Pop Warner program. But delayed telecasts of National Football League and UH games are shown there.

Sonny Sauafea also played high school football in Germany as part of a league created for the United States' Department of Defense system.

Sonny Sauafea has strong ties to Hawai'i. He is a supervisor at the Bank of Hawai'i branch in American Samoa, and regularly visits Hawai'i. He said family members have been UH fans for several years.

"Now, I have another reason to go to Hawai'i instead of for work or training," he said. "I'll be going to visit my son."

Larry Sauafea is related to UH slotback Nate Ilaoa. Sonny Sauafea and the father of former UH running back Josh Galeai were teammates on the American Samoan basketball team that played in the South Pacific Games.

Larry Sauafea also competes in basketball.

Since Jones became UH's head coach in 1999, the Warriors have tried to establish a recruiting base in American Samoa. Last year's UH roster included three residents of American Samoa and 25 players of Samoan ancestry.

Next season, the Warriors will expand their recruiting reach to what used to be known as Western Samoa, as well as New Zealand. UH football games will be televised live in American Samoa this coming season.

In other recruiting news:

  • Wide receiver Ray Bass, the brother of UH running back Mike Bass, is expected to decide this week if he will accept a football scholarship from UH. Bass completed his recruiting trip to UH yesterday.
  • Tennessee and Penn State have joined in the pursuit of defensive end Amani Purcell, the brother of UH defensive lineman Melila Purcell Jr. Amani Purcell, who attends Leone High in American Samoa, visited UH two weeks ago en route to recruiting trips to Oregon and Utah.
  • Offensive lineman Pat So'oalo of Kailua High has made a verbal commitment to Oregon. UH was recruiting So'oalo, but could not offer him a recruiting visit until he took the SAT, which he did Saturday.
  • Quarterback Taylor Tharp, the son of Colorado athletic director Dick Tharp, said he has decided to go to Boise State because the campus is closer to his family's home in Boulder, Colo. Tharp visited UH earlier this month.

Meanwhile, five former UH players — offensive linemen Vince Manuwai, Wayne Hunter and Lui Fuata, punter Mat McBriar and linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa — have been invited to participate in the NFL combine for draft prospects in Indianapolis Feb. 18-24. This is the first time UH will have as many as five players participating in the invitation-only workouts.

Fuata, who can play all five line positions, is recovering from knee surgery but is expected to compete on a limited basis.

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