StarBulletin.com

Signings mark end, beginning


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POSTED: Wednesday, February 03, 2010

In some respects, signing day offers a sense of finality for college football coaches and recruits.

In the broader picture, it's just the beginning.

Once they arrive at their offices, the Hawaii coaches figure to spend much of the morning hovering around the fax machine as oral commitments become official with the arrival of signed letters of intent.

The letters represent the payoff for a process that included a “;junior day”; last spring to give prospects an up-close look at the program. Then came the series of phone calls, letters, home visits and hosting official on-campus recruiting visits to assemble the class.

“;We think we know who's coming and now we just have to wait for those letters to come in,”; Hawaii head coach Greg McMackin said. “;It's a year to a two-year process.”;

Many of the local recruits will sign their national letters of intent at a ceremony hosted by the Pacific Islands Athletic Alliance at the Sheraton Waikiki.

On the other end of the process, McMackin will discuss the Warriors' incoming class for the first time at a press conference this afternoon and again at a public function at the Hukilau Restaurant downtown.

Among the last-minute moves before signing day, Saint Louis defensive end Moses Samia accepted a scholarship offer from UH, and plans to sign with the Warriors this morning.

Samia—a 6-foot-2, 240-pound pass rusher—had been considering Baylor and Weber State and took an official visit to Hawaii last weekend. After thinking he might be headed to the mainland, Samia said UH's offer caught him by surprise and he jumped at the chance to stay close to home.

“;It means a lot. I always wanted to play in front of my family,”; Samia said. “;I'm grateful to have my parents be able to see me play in college at the Division I level.”;

Samia was an honorable-mention All-State selection last season and also made the third-team of the Star-Bulletin's All-State baseball team last spring.

“;If the coaches allow me to, that's something I'd look into,”; Samia said of playing baseball in college, “;but football is my first priority.”;

While signing day provides a tangible payoff for the recruiting efforts of college coaches, scrawling a signature across the bottom line often caps an even longer journey for the high schoolers.

“;People would say I'm so lucky,”; said T.J. Taimatuia, a linebacker from Artesia (Calif.) High, who committed to UH in the fall and will sign his letter in a campus ceremony. “;I tell them I'm truly blessed. It wasn't easy getting this far. ... One phone call changed my life, that's all I can say.”;

Taimatuia struggled in the classroom early in his high school career, but with the guidance of his aunt and uncle, Lori and Roger Saleapaga, he has since raised his grade-point average from a 1.5 as a freshman to above a 3.0 and is academically qualified to compete in college.

“;When I sign, it'll be a big relief,”; Taimatuia said. “;I grew up never knowing I would go to college. Although at times I felt like giving up, they never gave up on me and they believed in me and what I could accomplish. (Today) is a big thing for me.”;

Signing day will also provide answers to some of the lingering questions regarding a few of Hawaii's most heralded prospects.

Farrington linebacker V.J. Fehoko, Kapolei safety Shaydon Akuna, Punahou safety Jeremy Ioane and Kahuku defensive end Kona Schwenke went into the late stages still considering their options.

Fehoko was considering UH and Utah. Ioane and Schwenke were reportedly deciding between Notre Dame and Washington. Akuna had schools such as Arkansas, Florida State, Oregon State and West Virginia on the radar.

Sneak preview

The Warrior Football Recruit Review, set for the Hukilau Restaurant at the Executive Center, starts at 4:30 p.m., with the program, which will include highlight videos of each recruit, starting at 6. There is no cover charge. Food, beverages and validated parking ($1 for the first 3 hours) will be available.