Thursday, February 7, 2002
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Some recruits stay Several of the state's top high school football recruits spent the last few weeks with the words of The Clash ringing in their ears.
and some go as
signing day passes
Players express relief that
UH lands one, loses one
the recruiting season is over
and all the phone calls will stopBy Jason Kaneshiro
jkaneshiro@starbulletin.comShould I stay or should I go?
Most of them put the question to rest yesterday morning by signing national letters of intent.
"There was a lot of stress involved," Kahuku defensive lineman Jonathan Mapu said after signing with Tennessee. "I'm glad it's over with."
Eight local standouts, including Mapu, opted to sign with Division-I schools on the mainland. Another 12 signed with Hawaii to continue their football careers in front of friends and family.
"That's the biggest thing," Kamehameha's Abu Ma'afala said. "To walk out of that stadium and walk into your family's arms congratulating you or picking you up after a loss."
Yesterday was the first day high school seniors could sign binding letters of intent.
Mapu was among nine Kahuku players who signed their letters before a lunch-time gathering of friends and family in the school gym.
Similar scenes were played out at Kamehameha, Kailua and St. Louis.
Most of yesterday's signees had made verbal commitments as early as December, but a few kept everyone guessing to the very end.
Kahuku running back Mulivai Pula signed with Brigham Young after agonizing over the decision until Tuesday night.
"I prayed about it and that's where my heart told me to go," Pula said. "It was more a relief than anything. Now I can think in school, I just kept thinking about college. ... That was the best feeling, signing that paper."
Pula, who will be admitted to BYU as a non-qualifier, had questions regarding his academic status follow him throughout recruiting season. But he has an ally in former Kahuku and BYU running back Mark Atuaia, who attended yesterday's signing ceremony.
"I've already told him what to look for, things that are going to happen, things I didn't have somebody tell me before I went there," Atuaia said.
"I'm just happy that he has a chance to go to school. I already told him he's going to prove a lot of people wrong, it's not how you start it's how you finish. I'm telling him when you leave with a degree all those people who doubted you won't have anything else to say."
Relief was the word of the day as the players put their commitments into writing.
Ma'afala committed to Hawaii last month, but admitted to wavering on his choice as late as Tuesday night. But the defensive lineman ultimately stuck with his decision to become a Warrior.
"It's like when you get married, the night before you don't know if you're making the right decision," Ma'afala said. "Just cold feet. I woke up this morning, I felt confident, felt like I was doing the right thing.
"It's a good feeling knowing everything is said and done and I can just focus on going to UH and getting ready to compete with those guys."
His teammates, defensive lineman Brandon Ala and offensive lineman Enoka Lucas, are headed for the Pacific Northwest after signing with Washington and Oregon.
"At one point I thought we were going to stick together," Lucas said. "But stuff happens and things didn't go the way we wanted them to go."
Ala said Oregon made a strong push after he verbally committed to Washington, but he also stayed with his initial choice.
"I feel relieved knowing that all these calls late at night and early in the morning are finally going to come to a stop," Ala said. "Now I can sleep better knowing I don't have to worry about where I'm going to go."
Mapu, a Parade All-American and Star-Bulletin defensive player of the year, had local fans wondering where he would end up before choosing Tennessee over Hawaii, BYU and Washington last week.
Mapu said he will play for the Volunteers next season before embarking on a two-year Mormon mission.
Mapu's father, Simi, belted out "Go Volunteers" as he signed the parents' portion of the letter of intent yesterday.
"We appreciate the fans in Hawaii and the way they support the boys and our family and his decision to go away," Simi Mapu said.
"He's so relieved," he added. "His countenance was all relaxed, he was himself again. Before that I felt so bad for my son."
Kahuku offensive lineman Kalavi Blanchard wore a traditional Tongan tupenu and tauvala along with a shirt and tie when he signed with Hawaii, where he'll be joined by teammates Tala Esera and Inoke Funaki.
"That's going to be a comfort for us because we have each other, Blanchard said. "We don't have to go looking for a new crowd to be with."
Kailua quarterback Taleki Mailau also signed with Dixie College yesterday. Kailua coach Darren Johnson said the Dixie staff plans to use Mailau as a punt returner and wide receiver.
Kahuku running back Earvin Atuaia, offensive lineman Suliasi Lautaha and defensive back Sola Soliai and Waianae defensive back/quarterback Kekoa Reyes are also headed for the Utah school.
Hawaii lost a defensive lineman but gained a wide receiver yesterday. Otherwise it was a fairly routine letter-of-intent day. UH lands another
California star but loses
JC player from KahukuBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comUH had received all the letters of intent it expected yesterday, except for one.
Hausia Faleofa, a Kahuku graduate from College of the Canyons, apparently had second thoughts after pledging to the Warriors on Tuesday, and signed with Western Michigan, instead.
But Denny Flanagan, a wide receiver from Huntington Beach (Calif.) Edison, accepted a scholarship from UH yesterday after being caught in limbo for a week when a communications mix-up left him without a scholarship offer.
"It's been quite an interesting experience. I figure it happened for a reason," Flanagan said. "Hawaii has a lot of advantages I didn't know about until I visited. I chose San Diego State because it was closer to home. I left them a message, but as it turned out I didn't have a scholarship there."
Flanagan, 6 feet and 180 pounds, has been timed under 4.5 in the 40.
"I'm very happy for him and Hawaii is getting a great kid," Edison coach Dave White said. "Hawaii's getting our two best players and this is the best team I've had in 16 years."
Edison cornerback A.J. Martinez, a California all-stater, was one of the Warriors' signees yesterday.
Flanagan expects to send UH his signed letter of intent by the end of the week.
Flanagan and Martinez played their first varsity game when Edison met Punahou at Aloha Stadium in 1999.