Where in the NFL did that Hawaii guy go?
This article by Steve Kajihiro was originally written for and published in the
December 2007 issue of the Northwest Hawai’i Times Newspaper.
When I was a small kid growing up in Hawaii, my dad used to take me to Aloha Stadium to watch the University of Hawaii Football Team. Back then, UH was called the Rainbow Warriors but now they are just called the Warriors. I will never forget those days going to games with my dad and two brothers; it was fun. As a kid, I looked up to our Hawaii stars like the Noga brothers, Nuu Faaola, and Jesse Sapolu. After they left UH, I used to read the newspapers and watch the news, wondering which NFL team they ended up on and how they were doing.
Some of you islanders might remember watching the special on KHON-TV called the NFL Hawaiians. I remember that show, which updated all of us on the whereabouts of the ex-Hawaii stars who were current NFL athletes. We looked up to those guys because they were from Hawaii.
Now, there’s a section in one of the Hawaii papers called the NFL Islanders, which updates us weekly on the progress of Hawaii’s athletes. I really wish that section was there for me when I was a kid because it would have saved a lot of nights watching the news or searching the newspapers. But heck, since I didn’t like reading books, this got me to at least read something.
Today in the middle of the UH coach June Jones’ era, we could be here for a long time naming ex-UH players in the NFL. So for now, I will showcase several former UH stars now with the San Francisco 49ers who recently traveled to Seattle to play the Seattle Seahawks for Monday Night Football.
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First of them is the 49ers wide receiver Ashley Lelie. Ashley is a 1998 graduate of Radford High School in Honolulu, Hawaii and became the first UH player to be drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft. Lelie finished his UH playing career as the all time leader in receptions (194), receiving yards (3,341), and touchdown receptions (32).
There is Middle Linbacker Jeff Ulbrich from Morgan Hill, California. Ulbrich was drafted in the 3rd round in 2000 by the San Francisco 49ers. Ulbrich was a two year starter for the University of Hawaii and an All-WAC first team selection as a senior.
Next is defensive tackle, Isaac Sopoaga from Pago Pago, American Samoa. Sopoaga was at UH and a first team All Wac Selection in 2003. Sopoaga was drafted in the 4th round in 2004 by the San Francisco 49ers.
And we cannot forget retired 49er, Jesse Sapolu. Sapolu is a graduate of Farrington High School and the University of Hawaii. Sapolu was an offensive lineman for Hawaii from 1979 to 1982. While playing for Hawaii, he earned several All WAC honors. Sapolu was drafted in the 11 th round of the 1983 draft by the 49ers and is only one of six 49ers to own four Super Bowl Championship rings. Sapolu was selected to the NFL Pro Bowl twice in his career, is now retired and one of the 49ers alumni coordinators.
That’s it for now, but if you ever wondered what team your favorite Hawaii athlete ended up on or if you have any sports ideas, let us know and we will try to feature them.
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