Sports Spotlight

Tuesday, April 30, 1996

Mike Ulufale works out in hope of making it with the big boys.
Photo by Kathryn Bender, Star-Bulletin

But he couldn't help it when he walked into the Dallas Cowboys locker room for the first time last weekend.

"Just looking at everybody's names - Deion Sanders, Troy Aikman, Charles Haley - it was something," said Ulufale, a former Campbell High School and BYU player who was drafted by the Super Bowl champions in the third round.

Ulufale, a defensive lineman and the 95th pick overall, was in Dallas for the team's minicamp. He returned to his Ewa Beach home Sunday night.

The 24-year-old said he left the jitters in the clubhouse, though, and that everything went well on the practice field - even though he was suddenly banging helmets with some mighty big offensive lineman.

These two numbers stood out like license plates on a Mack truck: 79 and 73. They are worn by 6-6, 322-pound tackle Erik Williams and 6-3, 325-pound guard Larry Allen.

"On the double-team all of a sudden you have over 600 pounds coming at you," Ulufale said. "If you don't stay low they'll drive you 20 yards down the field."

The 1990 Campbell graduate, who was a quarterback for the Sabers, said he played for the Cowboys' first unit at defensive tackle and end on a rotation basis.

He also had an ally on the team's offensive line, veteran tackle Mark Tuinei, who played at Punahou and the University of Hawaii.

"Mark helped me out a lot," said Ulufale, who worked for a year before attending San Bernardino (Calif.) Valley College and then moving on to BYU. "He gave me some good tips.

"And he told me the defensive line coach (John Blake) really likes me because I have good footwork, good hands and I get off the ball well."

Ulufale helped his draft cause - and the ensuing $500,000 a year package he hopes to receive - by running a 4.72 seconds 40-yard dash in front of several team scouts, including Dallas'.

He said he has a simple goal for the upcoming season: to get a chance to play.

"I just want to get in the rotation and get some playing time during the season," he said. "After that, I want to play for as many years as I can."

Ulufale and his wife, Carrie, have a 3-year-old son, Maika, and a 1-year-old daughter, Jasmine.

They will move to Dallas on June 1, he said.

His family and friends in the islands were excited when he was picked by the Cowboys.

"They're all happy for me," he said. "I had to come a long way - I didn't get the recognition out of high school or even a scholarship."

Hawaii didn't recruit him since he was a Proposition 48 player. The Rainbows came calling when he improved at the junior college, but he said it was too late and opted for the Cougars.

"It was better overall," he said. "It was a good place to go to get to the next level - there is so much notoriety up there and they're always on television."

Despite being drafted in the third round and seemingly well respected by the Dallas coaches, Ulufale said he isn't taking anything for granted.

He will stick with the same plan that has put him within reach of his lifelong dream to play in the NFL.

"I'm going to work my butt off and go up there prepared," he said. "I don't want to be a fluke draft pick."

Ulufale also passed along this message to all of the young players who have a similar dream:

"Set your goals high, but go slowly and chip away each day," he said.

"The road is a long one to be an NFL player and only a small percent make it.

"But never stop believing in yourself. I never did."