Athletics runs deep in the Satele family. So do the values that were instilled in University of Hawai'i football players Brashton and Liko Satele by their parents.

Their upbringing — sometimes strict, but with lots of love — taught the Satele children how to become role models who respect others, while earning respect.

"It makes me feel really good; as parents we feel blessed and know we kept God at the center of our lives and when we see them interact and how they get along well with others, we feel so blessed," their mother, Lee Ann Satele said.

Their philosophy is simple.

"Love being the No. 1 thing; with anything that happens, forgiveness, and being disciplined," Lee Ann said. "Being true to your word: Whatever you say and you speak, you follow your word.

"And we laugh whenever we can."

Alvis and Lee Ann Satele, both had outstanding athletic careers at UH: Alvis in football and Lee Ann in volleyball.

Brashton didn't realize it until he was in high school that his parents were such well-known athletes.

"They didn't really tell me anything about their athletic history at (UH) until I was in high school, I think ninth grade," Brashton said. "I found out that my dad played at UH and my mom played on two national championship volleyball teams.

"Somebody came up to me and asked me what my last name was and I said, 'Satele,' and they said, 'Oh are you Alvis' son?'

"And I was like, 'How do you know who my dad is?'

"And they said, 'Oh, he was a bad linebacker,' " said Brashton, who wears No. 13 because his father wore it.

Those genes produced four Division I children: Liko and Brashton playing football at UH, Chanteal playing volleyball at Saint Mary's in California and A.J. playing baseball at UH-Hilo (when it still was a Division I sport).

"Sometimes it brings tears to my eyes," Lee Ann said.

What Alvis and Lee Ann learned from their own careers and lives, they taught their children. Lee Ann came from family of two children, while Alvis had nine siblings. They took what they knew from their own childhood experiences to raise their own five children: Everett, 27, A.J., 22, Brashton, 20, Liko, 19, and Chanteal, 17.

Discipline included curfew all through high school, and being limited to going out with friends one night a week. The first night the children were allowed to spend the night away from home was for their Project Graduations.

"My mom used to wait up for me," said Brashton, whose curfew was 10:30 p.m. "She was on the couch waiting for me, calling me at 10 o'clock asking me where I am."

It didn't bother them: "I was just used to it," Liko, a defensive end, said.

Instead, the family enjoyed time with each other.

It created a bond that was strengthened by their ties to Word of Life, where the family attends church and some of the children went to school.

In high school, Liko and Brashton, only two grades apart, didn't have a chance to play together because Liko was at Kamehameha (before he transferred to Word of Life) and Brashton was at Word of Life (Pac-Five).

"This is the first time I'm on Brashton's team," Liko said. "I have a front-row seat to watch my brother. If I need anything I just ask him."

They all talk frequently; Alvis and Lee Ann even learned how to send text messages to communicate with their children, sending "encouraging messages" or "love notes" as a constant reminder of their love and support.

Most of Alvis' and Lee Ann's lives were focused on their children, even if that meant giving up things in their own lives. Both parents, still active in sports, gave up playing to coach, chauffeur and support their children.

"We were involved, and we made sure that every part of their lives was covered," Lee Ann said.

Alvis said they stressed that "family is more important than sports. I always taught the kids to be close to each other."

Still, sports is a main part of their family.

"It was very important," Lee Ann said. "We wanted them to do it for fitness, but we realize what they can learn from sports and playing team sports."

Now they are hesitant to share their sons' spotlight. Instead, they prefer that their children be credited for their hard work and dedication.

"They work hard; they deserve it," Alvis said.

The children take pride in the family name, and not only because of what their parents did on the field or the court, but how they produced off of them as well: raising them to be fine individuals.

"It made me think twice about what we did, because everything came back to our parents," Liko said.