Posted on: Friday, May 30, 2003
Sagapolutele returns to conduct camp
By Dennis Anderson
Advertiser Staff Writer
Pio Sagapolutele was a skinny kid raised in Kuhio Park Terrace who grew into a man mountain and played nine years in the National Football League.
The camp is June 16 to 20 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. The price of $150 includes lunch, a camp T-shirt, and 30 hours of instruction for youngsters ages 8 to 18. The cost is lower than the usual fee charged by the All-Pro Strategies Football Camp because Sagapolutele asked for it, according to Stephen Braggs, whose nonprofit foundation organizes camps nationwide.
This is a more complete version of a two-day camp held during Pro Bowl week, Braggs said.
Braggs, a former Browns and Dolphins defensive back, said that assistant coach Tommy Reaux of Texas, former CFL player Alvin Williams, Hawaiian Islanders quarterback Darnell Arceneaux, Sagapolutele and himself will be among the instructors.
There will be speed and flexibility classes, and skill classes.
"The kids will see the everyday things we do as professional athletes to prepare ourselves to compete," Sagapolutele said. "It is like preparing yourself for everyday life and what a whole world of stress brings.
"Simple coaching and the right coaching can really help. This is my avenue of giving something back because Hawai'i was so supportive of me when I was in the NFL," said Sagapolutele, who was a defensive tackle.
Camp information is on the Web at www.allprostrategies.com or by calling (321) 297-8313.
Sagapolutele played on Pac-Five's Prep Bowl championship team of 1985 and graduated from Maryknoll High School.
Now retired and residing in Upland, Calif., Sagapolutele says he has not forgotten his roots. He is bringing other former pro players and college coaches home for a football camp at Central O'ahu Regional Park in Waipi'o.
