Friday, December 18, 1998
Salanoa passes
on ’Bows, picks
E. Washington
The Division I-AA school
By Paul Arnett
grabs him before UH can
Star-BulletinHawaii may have been interested in local quarterback Fred Salanoa, but he obviously wasn't that interested in the Rainbows.
The former Radford High School star signed a national letter of intent with Division I-AA Eastern Washington, it was confirmed by the Star-Bulletin yesterday.
"Yeah, we signed him first thing Wednesday morning because we heard Hawaii was trying to find him," Eastern Washington head coach Mike Kramer said. "We passed over a couple of quarterbacks just to sign him. He was a real steal for us."
Kramer said that after things didn't work out in Hawaii, Salanoa returned to Snow College (Utah) last fall and was relegated to a backup role.
"He only came in during the second half," Kramer said. "But we remembered him from his first season up there at Snow. He led the nation for junior college quarterbacks in passing yards."
Salanoa threw for 3,398 yards and 38 touchdowns his freshman season in 1997. He verbally committed to Hawaii last spring and was reportedly interested in returning here next year.
"I definitely think he was," Kramer said. "But they probably didn't have anybody in a position to sign him for the early period."
Hawaii currently has three quarterbacks on scholarship, senior Dan Robinson, junior Josh Skinner and redshirt freshman Shawn Withy-Allen. Walk-on Bronson Liana also saw time under center last season.
While the University of Hawaii assembles its recruiting machine, one of the unsuccessful candidates for the Rainbows' head coaching job has landed verbal commitments from at least three top Oahu players this week. Utah gets the early
By Pat Bigold
edge in prep recruiting
Star-BulletinSiuaki Livai, head coach of Oahu Interscholastic Association champion Kahuku, said last night that two of his players have given Utah head coach Ron McBride the word.
They are 6-foot, 263-pound guard James Tupola and 6-3, 192-pound strong safety Tavo Tupola.
Livai said both are academically qualified.
Tavo Tupola was a three-year starter for the team that was nationally ranked in USA Today for most of the past season. He had four interceptions and returned two for touchdowns. He also plays varsity basketball.
James Tupola, who bench-presses nearly 400 pounds and squats 600, was a two-year starter.
"He run-blocks real well, and he made a lot of the calls on our line," said Livai.
The Tupolas are cousins.
They join three other Kahuku players who have already established their value at Utah: starting linebacker Kautai Olevao, starting defensive tackle Maki Kemoeatu and strong safety Stevie Laulu.
Anthony Arceneaux, a 5-9, 165-pound St. Louis wide receiver, also gave his commitment this week to McBride's program. He will join his brother, Utes starting quarterback Darnell Arceneaux.
Livai said four of the starting five Kahuku offensive linemen are being recruited.
Livai's son, 6-3, 310-pound right tackle Siuaki Livai Jr., has also been offered a Utah scholarship. But he also is being looked at by Brigham Young, Washington, Washington State, Oregon and Oregon State.
The other Kahuku line prospects are 6-4, 300-pound guard Toniu Fonoti (who took a trip to the Kentucky campus), and 6-2, 288-pound tackle Kendal Buttell.
