Satele named freshman All-American

Advertiser Staff

University of Hawai'i offensive lineman Samson Satele yesterday was named to the Scripps/Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America team.

Satele, who was a second-year freshman in 2003, started all 14 games despite a shoulder injury. Satele is a 2002 graduate of Kailua High.

An 11-member committee, which represented each of the NCAA Division I-A football conferences, evaluated the more than 70 nominated players. The committee selected 27 players to the freshman team. Thirteen were true freshmen, including eight on defense.

Tulsa's Steve Kragthorpe was named as the top first-year coach.

2 more Warriors invited: Former UH defensive linemen Lance Samuseva and Houston Ala have been invited to play in the Hula Bowl Mau'i all-star football game Jan. 17 at War Memorial Stadium.

Samuseva, a defensive tackle from Farrington High, and Ala, a defensive end from Kamehameha Schools, join former UH teammates Jeremiah Cockheran and Hyrum Peters. They accepted Hula Bowl invitations last week.

"In the last four years, they are probably the most consistent, solid players that we've had," UH coach June Jones said. "I'm excited for them."

This is the first time UH has placed four defensive linemen in college all-star games in the same year. Defensive end Travis LaBoy, the Western Athletic Conference's Defensive Player of the Year, and defensive tackle Isa'ako Sopoaga will play in the Senior Bowl in Mobile.