Whenever the Arizona Wildcats defensive tackle wants to call home, he first phones his brother, Jonathan, in Ohio.

Jonathan Fanene, a defensive end with the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals, punches a few buttons and then connects his younger brother to Nu'uuli, American Samoa, so he can connect with their parents.

It's a complex, time-consuming process with one obvious reward.  "I don't waste my money," he said.

Fanene is taking advantage of every opportunity this spring, whether it's playing time on the Wildcats' rebuilt defensive line or - thanks to his brother - an inexpensive way to call home.

Read more:  http://azstarnet.com/

Iosefa is no Average Joey

Getting up to speed with his duties in the backfield has accelerated Joey Iosefa’s rise up the depth chart.

As much as any group, spring represents a season of opportunity for Hawaii’s running backs. Iosefa, a redshirt freshman who began learning the position last spring, is positioning himself for playing time in the fall with eye-catching performances in the Warriors’ workouts.

“Joey Iosefa’s been a great surprise,” UH running backs coach Brian Smith said. “He looks a lot quicker, he’s understanding the offense a lot better, getting a lot more comfortable, so he’s had a really good spring so far.”

Read more: http://www.staradvertiser.com

LJCD and Togiaso’s coach became his family

In the attempt to give their Division I football program extra appeal to Fiaalii “Junior” Togiaso, a senior lineman at La Jolla Country Day School, recruiters looked at the obvious and began rattling off numbers. Specifically, they noted how many Samoans they already had on their college teams, including a plethora of Polynesians at the University of Utah.

Read more: http://www.signonsandiego.com/

“She’s an angel off the court,” explains Katie Baker, carefully weaving through a description of her roommate/teammate. “She’s someone to be reckoned with on the court.”

An intense competitor with an overt dislike for losing, Ena has been a force for the Montana women’s basketball team for four straight years. She’s on pace to finish with 1,100+ points and 600+ rebounds, which would make her one of only 14 in Lady Griz history to accomplish the feat.

Read more:  http://www.montanagrizzlies.com/news

BOLIVAR, Mo. -- SBU football coach Keith Allen got a tip about a Samoan linebacker at a San Jose community college. That tip turned into a monster tight end named Jameson Manuma. When Manamu reached the Bolivar, Missouri campus he suggested his 6-5, 320 pound cousin Ino Vitale. By Christmas a third cousin, Ben Tautolo showed up.

Now the big haired Samoan trio is not only making a huge impact on the field, they are a fan favorite off with their popular war dance called the "Haka" dance.

It’s quite a sight watching the 6-foot-4, 265-pound Helix High senior pluck a 21-inch ukulele in the family band while his father Sam Sr. plays lead guitar and sisters Christine (22), Sarah (15), Erika (10) and Lauren (7) sing on Sundays at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in La Jolla.  Read Article
 

Come Thursday night, Idaho football fans will have a better sense of how the Vandals’ starting linebacker crew has coalesced. Already, though, this much is certain: They fit together splendidly at their off-campus home.

JoJo Dickson and Robert Siavii are from Hawaii, Homer Mauga’s family used to live in Honolulu, and all three have carried the laid-back islands’ vibe to their house.

Football, movies, food – there’s little disagreement among them on these and other topics.  Read article

More than $450,000 in medical supplies and services plus $50,000 in athletic equipment will be donated during the Third Annual American Samoa Goodwill Mission, according to a statement issued yesterday by the Hawaii-based June Jones Foundation. June Jones and his delegation of football, golf stars and medical staff are scheduled to arrive in American Samoa tonight to begin a whirlwind four days of giving...  Read article

For years, the NFL has had a strong yet silent Samoan force in its ranks, and after 65 years it's finally getting some decent exposure.

Al Lolotai was the first Samoan drafted into the NFL by the Redskins in 1945, and they have made a positive influence ever since.

The general conception about Samoan players were they were huge in stature and usually ended up on the defensive or offensive line, and pretty much out of the spotlight.

Jesse Sapolu won four Super Bowls, and pretty much met the fate of being unfamous for that very reason.

However, there are now Samoan players shattering that image lining up as safeties, linebackers, and even tight ends. Heres a look at the current most popular Samoans in the NFL  See list

Peter Tago gingerly flipped the baseball from the pocket of his glove to the palm of his right hand. Much was at stake at the moment, but Tago carried himself like an old pro, not a nervous high school pitcher. He had runners on first and second with two out and the score tied in the seventh inning of his last regular-season home game. Pitching in front of about 20 scouts with their radar guns trained on him and in a must-win game for his team to advance to the playoffs, Tago was as smooth as his delivery. He stood in the sunshine and flashed a playful grin. He wanted to give his team, Dana Point (Calif.) Hills, the best chance to win. And he wanted to give the scouts what they were looking for one more time.  Read article

Samoana High School has received a shipment of 60 brand new Riddell ‘Revolution’ football helmets courtesy of a businessman in Toronto, Canada, who was prompted to donate to the local high school after watching CBS’ 60 Minutes ‘Football Island’ in January this year.

After the 60 Minutes segment aired, Samoa News received a number of inquiries from parties wishing to donate to local football program but the request from Toronto businessman Mario Elia— was the first e-mail received by Samoa News, prompted by the 60 Minutes piece.  Read article

 

For the first time in NFL Draft history, two were from football programs in Idaho.

Idaho offensive guard Mike Iupati was selected 17th overall by the San Francisco 49ers.

Read article from Idaho Press-Tribune

Watch video clip

Have you ever felt the urge to pray for someone and
Then just put it on a list and said, 'I'll pray for them later?'
Or has anyone ever called you and said,
'I need you to pray for me, I have this need?'

Read the following story that was sent to me and
May it change the way that you may think about prayer
and also the way you pray. You will be blessed by this....

A missionary on furlough told this true story while
Visiting his home church in Michigan...

'While serving at a small field hospital in Africa,
Every two weeks I traveled by bicycle
Through the jungle to a nearby city for supplies.
This was a journey of two days and
Required camping overnight at the halfway point.

On one of these journeys, I arrived in the city
Where I planned to collect money from a bank,
Purchase medicine, and supplies, and then begin
My two-day journey back to the field hospital.

Upon arrival in the city, I observed two men fighting,
One of whom had been seriously injured.
I treated him for his injuries and at the same time
Talked to him about the Lord.

I then traveled two days, camping overnight, and
Arrived home without incident...

Two weeks later I repeated my journey...
Upon arriving in the city,
I was approached by the young man I had treated.
He told me that he had known I carried
Money and medicines.
He said, 'Some friends and I followed you in to the jungle,
Knowing you would camp overnight.
We planned to kill you and take your money and drugs.
But just as we were about to move into your camp,
We saw that you were surrounded by 26 armed guards.

At this, I laughed and said that I was
Certainly all alone in that jungle campsite.
The young man pressed the point, however, and said,
'No, sir, I was not the only person to see the guards,
My friends also saw them, and we all counted them.
It was because of those guards that
We were afraid and left you alone.'

At this point in the sermon,
One of the men in the congregation jumped to his feet and
interrupted the missionary and asked if he could tell him the
exact day this happened. The missionary told the congregation
the date, and The man who interrupted told him this story:

'On the night of your incident in Africa,
It was morning here and I was preparing to go play golf.
I was about to putt when I felt the urge to pray for you.
In fact, the urging of the Lord was so strong,
I called men in this church to meet with me here
In the sanctuary to pray for you.

Would all of those men who met with me on that day stand up?'
The men who had met together to pray that day stood up.
The missionary wasn't concerned with whom they were,
He was too busy counting how many men he saw.

There were 26.

This story is an incredible example of how the Spirit of the Lord
moves on behalf of those who love Him.
If you ever feel such prodding to pray, go along with it,
you don't know what it can mean to that person...

Nothing is ever hurt by prayer except the gates of hell.
I encourage you to share this with as many people as you know.
If we all take it to heart,
We can turn this world toward God once again.
As the above true story clearly illustrates,
'With God all things are possible.'

More importantly, how God hears and
Answers the prayers of the faithful.

After you read this, please pray for someone in needs
Give God thanks for the beautiful gift of your faith,
For the powerful gift of prayer, and for the many miracles
He works in your own daily life... And then pass it on
Who says God does not move on the earth today?

I asked the Lord to bless you as I prayed for you today.
To guide you and protect you as you go along your way.
His love is always with you, His promises are true,
and when we give Him our cares you know
He will see us through.
So when the road you're traveling on seems difficult at best, Just
remember I'm here praying, and
God will do the rest.

Pass this on to those whom you want God to bless
I Can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

Stephen Paea won't get any Youtube bucks from "South Park" as an Internet sensation, but he may cash in next April after the NFL draft.

The defensive tackle for the Oregon State football team looked into turning pro this year, but decided to come back for his senior season.

Paea considered the financial ramifications, but it came down to being the first in his family to earn a degree and the joy he has playing for the Beavers.

"I felt good about him coming back because Stephen went into it wanting to come back," coach Mike Riley said. "His family wanted to go through the process."

Read Article from Gazettetimes.com

There are currently more than 30 Samoans in the NFL and another 200-plus playing Division 1 college football. There are just 65,000 people living on the islands. “What if there were 120 million Samoans,” wonders Polamalu. “How many Samoans would there then be in the NFL?”
 

Sack Master Mauga Commits to Vandals