polynesian players

#1
O

orangeknight55

Member
Joined
Sep 1, 2014
Messages
19
Likes
27
#1
Why are there so many polynesian players in college and pro football?Do they even play football on the islands or are they mostly mainland kids from polynesian backgrounds?
 
#4
#4
orangeknight55 said:
Why are there so many polynesian players in college and pro football?Do they even play football on the islands or are they mostly mainland kids from polynesian backgrounds?
Click to expand...
Yes, they play football in Hawaii, plus a lot of these guys grew up on the mainland anyway.

When I lived in Hawaii eons ago, there was professional gambling on HS football. Other than UH, it was pretty much the only game in town.
 
#5
#5
Tongan and Samoan. They're husky people. Hawaii produces some talent, and high school football is huge there. I went to high school at St Louis, and had several classmates play P5 football
 
  • Like
Reactions: YorkVol, BUBear and peaygolf
#6
#6
Wasn’t there a study released saying Polynesians are more likely to make it to the NFL?

No sauce, just trying to remember.
 
#10
#10
They either play football, or hear book'em Dan-o, so they get good.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BUBear
#11
#11
Treading cautiously here, but a lot of them are blessed to grow up in really strong family systems, so many have a layer of protection against the crap that afflicts young teenaged males, and especially those who are regarded as football studs and excused from requirements for common-sense, respectful behavior. You can be gifted athletically and possess the physique for big-time football, but if you go off the rails at 16, you probably won't get very far.

My high school homeroom and history teacher was one of the first Samoan players in college football (later wound up on Hawaii Five-O, go figure.) Our high-school football coach was Hawaiian and had bitten off the tip of his tongue in a (pro?) football game per legend and lisped as a result. He taught our 10th grade health classes, universally called "Thophomore Thex." Not to his face though; no one was going to mess with Coach!
 
  • Like
Reactions: BUBear, beneVOLence and joevol33
#12
#12
VolNExile said:
Treading cautiously here, but a lot of them are blessed to grow up in really strong family systems, so many have a layer of protection against the crap that afflicts young teenaged males, and especially those who are regarded as football studs and excused from requirements for common-sense, respectful behavior. You can be gifted athletically and possess the physique for big-time football, but if you go off the rails at 16, you probably won't get very far.

My high school homeroom and history teacher was one of the first Samoan players in college football (later wound up on Hawaii Five-O, go figure.) Our high-school football coach was Hawaiian and had bitten off the tip of his tongue in a (pro?) football game per legend and lisped as a result. He taught our 10th grade health classes, universally called "Thophomore Thex." Not to his face though; no one was going to mess with Coach!
Click to expand...
I disagree

Where did you go to high school
 
#16
#16
VolNExile said:
Windward and Leeward? Which side did you grow up on, and how’d you wind up here?

I was Army brat during Viet Nam years. Lived on Fort Kam during the paradise years.
Click to expand...

Winward...Raised there first half of my life. My maternal kapuna (grandpa) is from Kahuku/North Shore area.

My mom met my pops (a Tennessee boy) while he was stationed in Hawaii. He used to spend all his free time on the North Shore obsessing about learning how to surf. Fell in love, got married, made me and my siblings.

My Tennessee side of the family made damn sure me and my siblings caught the Big Orange fever
 
  • Like
Reactions: BUBear, joevol33, UT_Dutchman and 2 others
#17
#17
LLcoolDave said:
Winward...Raised there first half of my life. My maternal kapuna (grandpa) is from Kahuku/North Shore area.

My mom met my pops (a Tennessee boy) while he was stationed in Hawaii. He used to spend all his free time on the North Shore obsessing about learning how to surf. Fell in love, got married, made me and my siblings.

My Tennessee side of the family made damn sure me and my siblings caught the Big Orange fever
Click to expand...
Growing up around North Shore/ Kahuku - that had to be heaven.

Still live Hawaii? I know things have changed a lot since I left (graduated 1972).
 
#19
#19
VolNExile said:
Growing up around North Shore/ Kahuku - that had to be heaven.

Still live Hawaii? I know things have changed a lot since I left (graduated 1972).
Click to expand...

I took Hawaii for granted and didn't learn to really appreciate her until I moved to TN. It was "heaven" and a wonderful place to grow up. I miss her but when I am there, I miss Tennessee just as much

I live in TN now and made it home since '05. I go back to Hawaii to spend family time with my Ohana every few yrs if they don't come down here for a visit.

Both states are home to me but at this stage of my life, TN is the place where I will hang my hat.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BUBear and VolNExile
#22
#22
hooperj75 said:
The LDS church has brought lots of the Samoan community to the mainland US. Salt Lake City and Provo have a large population
Click to expand...
They have done extensive missionary work in Hawaii, Samoa, and the rest of Polynesia.

I’m not a member and not an admirer, but I do give them a lot of credit for their support for families. (As they define “family”, anyway.)
 
  • Like
Reactions: BUBear
#23
#23
Without looking it up... Does anyone remember who the "Throwin' Samoan" was? Good QB in college... average in the NFL.
 
New Posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

Advertisement



Back
Top