Friday, January 22, 1999
Siofele
down to Nebraska
and Arizona
Cornhuskers head coach
By Pat Bigold
Frank Solich will visit the
islands early next week
Star-BulletinSt. Louis linebacker Joe Siofele said last night he has narrowed his college choices to the two teams who played each other in the 1998 Holiday Bowl -- Nebraska and Arizona.
Siofele insisted he has yet to decide between the two schools but the Star-Bulletin learned yesterday that Cornhuskers head coach Frank Solich will be in Hawaii Monday.
''I'm aware he's coming, but we'll see if I make a decision before then," said Siofele.
Asked if any of the Arizona coaches would be visiting next week, Siofele said, "No."
He would not confirm that Solich will visit his home. Siofele also denied a report on the SuperPrep Magazine Web site that he has committed to Arizona.
Allen Wallace, editor of the magazine, said he had learned of Siofele's college choice from Siofele's father. The elder Siofele said last night he never told Wallace of his son's intentions.
''That's wrong," said Joe Siofele, who had 11.5 sacks last season in leading St. Louis to its 13th straight Oahu Prep Bowl title.
He was the Star-Bulletin's 1998 defensive player of the year. Tony Tata, who redshirted at Nebraska last season, was the Star-Bulletin's 1997 defensive player of the year.
Siofele said he earned a 4.0 grade point average his last quarter at St. Louis and a 3.5 semester GPA.
He said he currently is taking course work in British literature, social issues, consumer education and Hawaiian history. Siofele said he wants to become an engineer.
Arizona completed the 1998 season with its highest ranking ever, No. 4 in both the Associated Press and USA Today/ESPN coaches polls. Nebraska finished No. 19 in the AP poll and No. 20 in the USA Today/ESPN poll. The Wildcats defeated the 'Huskers, 23-20, in the Holiday Bowl.
