|
Polynesian Football Hall Of Fame
The Polynesian Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame that honors the greatest players, coaches, and contributors of Polynesians, Polynesian descent in the sport of American football. It was established in 2013 by former National Football League (NFL) players Jesse Sapolu and Maa Tanuvasa. Board members include Troy Polamalu, Via Sikahema, June Jones, and Reno Mahe. The hall is located at the Polynesian Cultural Center in Oahu, Hawaii. Inductees ;2014 * Kurt Gouveia * Olin Kreutz * Kevin Mawae * Junior Seau * Jack Thompson (American football), Jack Thompson * Herman Wedemeyer * Ken Niumatalolo ;2015 * Luther Elliss * Jesse Sapolu * Ray Schoenke * Mosi Tatupu * Mark Tuinei * Russ Francis ;2016 * Charley Ane * Rocky Freitas * Troy Polamalu * Vai Sikahema * Al Lolotai ;2017 * Junior Ah You * Riki Ellison * Chris Naeole * Maa Tanuvasa * John Manumaleuna ;2018 * Bob Apisa * Herman Clark * Ma'ake Kemoeatu * Manu Tuiasosopo * Kimo von Oelhoffen ;2019 *Joe Salave'a *Dan Saleaumua ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hall Of Fame
A hall, wall, or walk of fame is a list of individuals, achievements, or other entities, usually chosen by a group of electors, to mark their excellence or Wiktionary:fame, fame in their field. In some cases, these halls of fame consist of actual halls or museums that enshrine the honorees with sculptures, plaques, and displays of memorabilia and general information regarding the inducted recipients. Sometimes, the honorees' plaques may instead be posted on a wall (hence a "wall of fame") or inscribed on a sidewalk (as in a "walk of fame", "walk of stars", or "avenue of fame"). In other cases, the hall of fame is more figurative and consists of a list of names of noteworthy people and their achievements and contributions. The lists are maintained by an organization or community, and may be national, state, local, or private. Etymology The term "hall of fame" first appeared in German with the Ruhmeshalle (Munich), Ruhmeshalle, built in 1853 in Munich. The Walhalla (memorial), W ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jack Thompson (American Football)
Jack Thompson (born May 18, 1956), nicknamed "the Throwin' Samoan", is an American Samoan former professional American football quarterback. Thompson played in the National Football League for six seasons, four with the Cincinnati Bengals and two with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He played college football at Washington State University. His nickname was bestowed on him by '' Spokesman-Review'' columnist Harry Missildine during Thompson's breakout sophomore season at Washington State in 1976. College career As a collegian at Washington State University in Pullman, Thompson set numerous school, Pac-10 and NCAA records. In the second game of 1976, he took over on offense after senior starter John Hopkins was injured making a tackle in the second quarter at Minnesota. In a 2002 story, Thompson explained why he chose to attend Washington State and how his first series against Minnesota in 1976 was almost his last until offensive coordinator Bob Leahy convinced head coach Jackie Sherr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Riki Ellison
Riki Morgan Ellison (born 15 August 1960) is a New Zealand-American former professional player of American football who was a linebacker for ten seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He was known as Riki Gray while playing college football for the USC Trojans, earning all-conference honors in the Pac-10 in 1982. He is the first New Zealander to play in the NFL and the first New Zealander to win a Super Bowl. Ellison is also the founder of the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance and the Youth Impact Program. High School career Ellison played for the Amphitheater Panthers in Tucson, Arizona, where he won a State Championship in 1975. Ellison was the first All American at Amphitheater High School, and in 1977, he won Arizona Player of the Year. Ellison's jersey number, 35, has since been retired. Ellison is also a member of the Pima County Hall of Fame. College career Ellison was part of a USC Trojans team that won two Rose Bowls in 1979 and 1980 and won a National Cham ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Junior Ah You
Miki "Junior" Ah You (born December 30, 1948) is a former college and professional Canadian and American football player who played primarily at the defensive end position. Ah You enjoyed most of his professional career success with the CFL Montreal Alouettes, from 1972 to 1981, and was a former collegiate standout at Arizona State University. Ah You's jersey #77 is one of ten retired by the Alouettes, and he was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1997. Ah You is also a member of the Arizona State Sports Hall of Fame and the Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame. In 2006, Ah You was voted to the Honour Roll of the CFL's Top 50 players of the league's modern era by Canadian sports network TSN. Early life Born in American Samoa, Ah You and his family later moved to Hawaii, where Ah You excelled in high school basketball and football at Kahuku High School. Ah You graduated from high school in 1969, and left Hawaii to play college football at Arizona State. College foot ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Al Lolotai
Albert Lolotai (June 22, 1920 – September 30, 1990) was a Samoa-born American football offensive lineman. He played college football at Weber Junior College. Lolotai was the first Samoan American and Polynesian to play professional American football. Born in the Western Samoa Trust Territory, Lolotai grew up in Laie, Hawaii. He attended Kahuku High School and graduated from 'Iolani School in Honolulu, Hawai'i. He then attended Weber Junior College (now Weber State University) in Ogden, Utah, playing on the Weber Wildcats football team from 1941 to 1942, and served in the Hawaii Territorial Guard during World War 2. From 1945 to 1949, Lolotai played professional football, first in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins in 1945, then the Los Angeles Dons in the All-America Football Conference from 1946 to 1949, playing in 59 games with 32 starts and making one interception with Washington in 1945. Lolotai would eventually graduate from Colorado A&M, and wi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Vai Sikahema
Vai Sikahema (born 29 August 1962) is a former professional football player and broadcaster, who has served as a general authority seventy of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) since April 2021. Of Tongan descent, he is a former American football player who led his team to the 1979 high school state championship game. The first Tongan ever to play in the National Football League (NFL), he played running back and kickoff returner in the league for eight seasons, from 1986 to 1993. He played college football for the Brigham Young University (BYU) Cougars, and was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals (later the Phoenix Cardinals) in the tenth round of the 1986 NFL Draft. He also played for the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles before retiring after the 1993 season. After retiring from the NFL, he served as Sports Director for NBC 10, the NBC owned-and-operated station in Philadelphia from 1994 to 2020. Early life Sikahema was born in Nukuʻalofa, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rocky Freitas
Rockne Crowningburg Freitas (September 7, 1945 – June 8, 2022) was an American professional American football, football player who was an offensive tackle for the Detroit Lions and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in an eleven-year career that lasted from 1968 to 1978 in the National Football League (NFL). Freitas played college football at Oregon State University and was drafted in the third round of the 1967 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was selected to the Pro Bowl after the 1972 season. His son Makoa Freitas, Makoa was selected in the 2003 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts. Following his NFL career, Freitas served in various leadership roles in education, including at Ke Aliʻi Pauahi Foundation, Kamehameha Schools, and GRG Enterprises. He also served as the chancellor of Hawaiʻi Community College for six years, as vice president for university relations for the University of Hawaiʻi System, and as associate athletic director for the University of Hawaiʻi at Māno ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Charley Ane
Charles Teetai Ane Jr. (January 25, 1931 – May 9, 2007) was an American football offensive lineman who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Detroit Lions. He played college football at the University of Southern California. Early years Ane excelled in baseball, basketball and track as well as football at the Punahou School in Honolulu, Hawaii. He was a key two-way lineman on the powerful Buffanblu teams of the late 1940s. He was inducted into the Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame. In 2015, he was inducted into the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame. College career Ane attended Compton Community College, before transferring to the University of Southern California. He was a two-way tackle and quarterback in the single wing offense. He also played baseball before leaving a year early for the NFL. He was an All-Coast selection in the early 1950s. In 2007, he was inducted into the USC Athletic Hall Of Fame. Professional career Ane was selected by the Detroit Lions ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Russ Francis
Russell Ross Francis (born April 3, 1953) is a former American football player who was a tight end for thirteen seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers. Francis finished his NFL career with 393 receptions for 5,262 yards and 40 touchdowns. He was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1993. In 2021, the Professional Football Researchers Association named Francis to the PFRA Hall of Very Good Class of 2021 Early life Francis began high school at Kailua High School on Oahu, Hawaii, and finished at Pleasant Hill High School in Oregon, southeast of Eugene. He set the national high school record for the javelin as a senior in 1971 at ; the record stood until 1988. Francis was also a decathlete for Pleasant Hill. At the University of Oregon in Eugene, Francis threw the javelin and played only 14 games of varsity football for the Ducks. Injured after three games as a sophomore in 1972, he played in 19 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mark Tuinei
Mark Pulemau Tuinei (March 31, 1960 – May 6, 1999) was an American football offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys. Known as a "gentle giant", his career lasted for 15 years (1983–1997) and his ability to protect quarterback Troy Aikman and to run-block for running back Emmitt Smith helped them win Super Bowls in 1992, 1993, and 1995 and the NFC East Division in 1985 and 1992-96. He was also selected for the Pro Bowl in 1994 and 1995. Early years Tuinei was born in Oceanside, California, and raised in Nānākuli, Hawaii. He attended Punahou School in Honolulu. He was named the Hawaii Prep Lineman of the Year as a senior, won the state shot put championship and was an All-Star basketball player on the same team as Barack Obama. College career Tuinei played for two seasons at UCLA where he started at defensive tackle as a sophomore, finishing fifth on the team in tackles. The next year, he decided to drop out of the school before facing t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mosi Tatupu
Mosiula Faasuka Tatupu (April 26, 1955 – February 23, 2010) was an American professional football player who was a running back for 14 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at the University of Southern California (USC). He played in the NFL as a running back and on special teams with New England Patriots from 1978 to 1990 and the Los Angeles Rams in 1991. He was elected to the Pro Bowl in 1986. He became a football coach after his playing career. High school career Tatupu was a standout player at Punahou School in Honolulu, where he set many Hawaii state rushing records. He graduated in 1974. College career Tatupu attended the University of Southern California, playing in the 1978 Hula Bowl and finished his career with 223 rushing attempts for 1277 yards (5.73 yards per attempt avg.). The , given annually to the College Football Special Teams Player of the Year by the Maui Quarterback Club and the Hula Bowl, bears his name. NFL career ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ray Schoenke
Raymond Frederick Schoenke (born September 10, 1941) is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins. He played college football at Southern Methodist University. Early years Born in Hawaii to Olivia Pualani Alapa, a full-blooded native Hawaiian and Raymond F. Schoenke, of German descent from Minnesota, who was stationed with the U.S. Army 3rd Engineering Corp, Schofield Barracks in Hawaii where he was an All-Star athlete on their baseball and basketball teams in the late 1920s and 1930s. Schoenke's family moved to Texas when he was 10–13 years then returned to Hawaii, where he attended Punahou School in Honolulu for grades 9-11 where he received recognition in football with an All-Star Award (the equivalent of all-State since Hawaii at the time was still a Territory). For his senior year in high school his family returned to Texas where he was an All-State football player for Weatherford High Sch ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
