Samoa
Samoan History
The Samoan Islands officially became independent from New Zealand in 1962. Samoa is divided into two main islands: Upolu and Savai’i. There are 9 islands in total in the Samoan Islands. The capital of Samoa is Apia which is situated on the island of Upolu along with the main airport, Faleolo International Airport. On August 28, 1970, American Samoa was declared a commonwealth of the United States of America. The islands sit 6,642 miles (10,690km) away from right here in Cincinnati, Ohio. Finally on December 15th, 1976, Samoa was admitted to the United Nations. The islands were settled as a part of the general settlement of the Pacific by the Polynesian culture in 1000 B.C. By 200 B.C Samoa was a flourishing Polynesian community. In 1722, a Dutchman by the name of Jacob Roggeveen sighted the islands. Western Samoa was the first Polynesian state to gain, independence obtaining it from New Zealand in 1962 where shortly after became a commonwealth of the US.
Football in Samoa
American football in Samoa has been
around ever since John F. Kennedy was the President of the United States of
America. In 1961, Readers Digest
posted an article titled, “America’s
Shame in the South Seas.” This article explained that the simple lifestyle
of the islands were poverty and economy. President Kennedy noticed this
explanation soon after being published, and immediately traveled to the islands
to make changes. Kennedy ordered the US to build airports, schools, hotels, and roads. This brought television to the islands, and introduced American football to the Samoan people. By no surprise, the people welcomed the sport with open arms.
Everything on the island is done together just like on a football field. Each family has a job that must be carried out daily. The parents and the grandparents are the most respected in the family. Their job is to make sure the children learn about family values and the main culture on the island. The young have to take care of all the chores that are needed to be done within the household. Just like here in America, schooling and school work come before any type of athletics. Every year since 1995, the number of high school graduates from Samoa who go on to play college football increases. The University of Hawaii used to be the only college that would recruit student athletes from Samoa, but now, colleges like BYU, Arizona, USC, Texas Tech, Nevada and Western Kentucky all travel to the islands to recruit the young high school student athletes.
The major problem that lies with the Samoan athletes is that they tend to struggle to meet the NCAA academic standards. Most Samoans find the SAT extremely difficult to finish because most all of them grow up in a bilingual household. Often times, families will send their athletes with college football dreams to live with relatives on the mainland in hopes of better American education. There are currently about 30 Samoan players in the NFL and over 200 players in D1 College Football.
Everything on the island is done together just like on a football field. Each family has a job that must be carried out daily. The parents and the grandparents are the most respected in the family. Their job is to make sure the children learn about family values and the main culture on the island. The young have to take care of all the chores that are needed to be done within the household. Just like here in America, schooling and school work come before any type of athletics. Every year since 1995, the number of high school graduates from Samoa who go on to play college football increases. The University of Hawaii used to be the only college that would recruit student athletes from Samoa, but now, colleges like BYU, Arizona, USC, Texas Tech, Nevada and Western Kentucky all travel to the islands to recruit the young high school student athletes.
The major problem that lies with the Samoan athletes is that they tend to struggle to meet the NCAA academic standards. Most Samoans find the SAT extremely difficult to finish because most all of them grow up in a bilingual household. Often times, families will send their athletes with college football dreams to live with relatives on the mainland in hopes of better American education. There are currently about 30 Samoan players in the NFL and over 200 players in D1 College Football.
Samoan Born NFL Players:
David Dixon Vikings G 6-5 359 9th year in NFL
Pita Elisara Eagles G/T 6-4 280 1st year in NFL
Luther Elliss Lions DT 6-5 305 8th year in NFL
Mario Fatafehi Cardinals DT 6-2 296 2nd year in NFL
Toniu Fonoti Chargers OG 6-4 349 1st year in NFL
Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala Steelers RB 5-11 252 5th year in NFL
Setema Gali Patriots DE 6-4 245 2nd year in NFL
Edmund Elisala Ieremia-Stansbury Texans FB 6-0 257 1st year in NFL
Junior Ioane Raiders DT 6-4 220 2nd year in NFL
Faaesea Mailo Raiders G 6-3 320 1st year in NFL
Brandon Manumaleuna Rams TE 6-2 288 2nd year in NFL
Itula Mili Seahawks TE 6-4 258 7th year in NFL
Edwin Mulitalo Ravens LG 6-3 340 4th year in NFL
Kimo von Oelhoffen Steelers NT 6-4 305 9th year in NFL
Anton Palepoi Seahawks DE 6-3 279 1st year in NFL
Saul Patu Titans DE 6-3 272 2nd year in NFL
Siitupe Peko Seahawks C 6-4 298 2nd year in NFL
Joe Salave'a Titans DT 6-3 290 5th year in NFL
Ed Ta'amu Vikings G 6-1 335 1st year in NFL
Tiaina "Junior" Seau Chargers LB 6-3 250 13th year in NFL
Jerry Togiai Falcons DT 6-4 295 1st year in NFL
Mao Tosi Cardinals DT 6-6 305 3rd year in NFL
Marques Tuiasosopo Raiders QB 6-1 200 2nd year in NFL
Junior Tuipala Jaguars LB 6-1 244 3rd year in NFL
Albert Tuipolutu Steelers FB 5-11 240 1st year in NFL
Maugaula Tuitele Patriots LB 6-1 255 2nd year NFL
Tupo Tuupo Chargers DE 6-3 280 1st year in NFL
Anthony Weaver Ravens DT 6-3 295 1st year in NFL
Troy Polamalu Steelers S 5-10 200 5th year in NFL
Pita Elisara Eagles G/T 6-4 280 1st year in NFL
Luther Elliss Lions DT 6-5 305 8th year in NFL
Mario Fatafehi Cardinals DT 6-2 296 2nd year in NFL
Toniu Fonoti Chargers OG 6-4 349 1st year in NFL
Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala Steelers RB 5-11 252 5th year in NFL
Setema Gali Patriots DE 6-4 245 2nd year in NFL
Edmund Elisala Ieremia-Stansbury Texans FB 6-0 257 1st year in NFL
Junior Ioane Raiders DT 6-4 220 2nd year in NFL
Faaesea Mailo Raiders G 6-3 320 1st year in NFL
Brandon Manumaleuna Rams TE 6-2 288 2nd year in NFL
Itula Mili Seahawks TE 6-4 258 7th year in NFL
Edwin Mulitalo Ravens LG 6-3 340 4th year in NFL
Kimo von Oelhoffen Steelers NT 6-4 305 9th year in NFL
Anton Palepoi Seahawks DE 6-3 279 1st year in NFL
Saul Patu Titans DE 6-3 272 2nd year in NFL
Siitupe Peko Seahawks C 6-4 298 2nd year in NFL
Joe Salave'a Titans DT 6-3 290 5th year in NFL
Ed Ta'amu Vikings G 6-1 335 1st year in NFL
Tiaina "Junior" Seau Chargers LB 6-3 250 13th year in NFL
Jerry Togiai Falcons DT 6-4 295 1st year in NFL
Mao Tosi Cardinals DT 6-6 305 3rd year in NFL
Marques Tuiasosopo Raiders QB 6-1 200 2nd year in NFL
Junior Tuipala Jaguars LB 6-1 244 3rd year in NFL
Albert Tuipolutu Steelers FB 5-11 240 1st year in NFL
Maugaula Tuitele Patriots LB 6-1 255 2nd year NFL
Tupo Tuupo Chargers DE 6-3 280 1st year in NFL
Anthony Weaver Ravens DT 6-3 295 1st year in NFL
Troy Polamalu Steelers S 5-10 200 5th year in NFL