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Noga means football in Samoan. A football family that keeps giving
By Nick Abramo
nabramo@starbulletin.comNo it doesn't, but it might as well.
Three players from the Noga clan of Kalihi played in the NFL, and several more went on to compete in college and other pro leagues.
The family's football odyssey began after Iosefo and Noela Noga married, started a family and moved to Hawaii from Samoa.
They had 10 kids, including eight boys destined for the football field.
Falaniko Noga, their fourth offspring and third boy, was the first to step up to the pros. He was a huge impact player as a linebacker and a crowd favorite for Hawaii in the early 1980s before breaking through to play for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1984.
Pete Noga, another linebacker, followed Niko's path from UH to the Cardinals in 1987, while Al Noga kept the Rainbows-to-NFL string going, joining the Minnesota Vikings as a defensive end in 1988.
"Niko was the complete package," said Al Noga, 36, now the defensive coordinator of the Hawaiian Islanders arenafootball2 league team. "He ran track, and he was the strongest in lifting weights, and he was fast, whew, he was fast. He ran a 10.7 for the 100, and that might not be fast now, but it was fast back then.
"Pete had the most natural ability and the most natural style of running. He was on the defensive side, but he had the speed and shifty movements of a running back.
"Then came me, who never had loads of talent, but I was a hard worker and a quick learner. ... I had to push myself over and over with hard-core training and hard-core conditioning."
Al uses that same kind of conditioning with the Islanders' linemen, meeting with them at Ala Moana Park early in the morning for some running, and pushing them to work harder at practice.
"At least they'll have an idea of how it's done," Al said, referring to the effort it takes to make it to the top of the profession.
George was next in line, becoming yet another Noga standout at UH, and he headed up north to play in the Canadian Football League.
Niko moved on to play for the Detroit Lions and had short stints with the Oakland Raiders and Atlanta Falcons, while Pete went on to play for the Indianapolis Colts before playing a short time in Canada.
Al, who became Hawaii's first, and only, first-team All-American in 1986, went to the Washington Redskins and the Colts before returning to the Vikings. He also spent several seasons playing in the Arena Football League.
"Niko and I and Pete, when we get together, we talk about the old times," Al said. "Niko will always be the guy who started the tempo, the one who had UH fans chanting 'No-ga, No-ga, No-ga.' You can look, but it's hard to find three brothers anywhere else all making it to the NFL."
The two oldest brothers -- John and Tino -- and the two youngest brothers -- Ropeti and Michael -- all played football at Farrington High School, just like Niko, Pete and Al. There are also two sisters -- Sulia Liua and Leilani Hernandez.
George, who went to St. Louis School, was the only brother who didn't go to Farrington, while John and Michael both played in junior college.
Niko works for the American Samoan government's education department, and Pete is back in school getting a degree.
Al Noga isn't shy about sharing what he believes is the main reason behind the family's football success.
"It's from the man upstairs," he said. "Everything we do here, we give thanks to the Lord above. My mom still goes to church every morning, and she's been doing it since the time she lived in Samoa. The family has a very religious base, and that's why we receive special glory.
"And my mom would be very upset if I didn't say the Lord was the reason behind it all."
Al keeps the Noga football fire going.
"Al has pride in his linemen," said Jesus Salud, the former world champion boxer who is now in community relations for the Islanders. "He's got them out there at 6 a.m. and he's trying to prove he's a good coach. He knows football at the highest level, and he's applying that to his new business (as a coach)."
Al would like to continue coaching, and his goal is to make it as an NFL assistant.
Dad Iosefa died in 1994, but it's doubtful the Noga football legacy he helped create will end soon.
John, the eldest brother, has 12 kids, including eight boys.
"John wants six of his boys to play football, and two to learn from Jesus Salud and go into boxing," Al said.
Niko's son, Falaniko, is carrying on the Farrington tradition as a member of the Governors' football team.
It sounds like a new generation of young family-oriented Samoans will be excelling at the fine sport of Noga ... correction ... football.