Samson news from the Florida papers

PBP = Palm Beach Post
SFSS = South Florida Sun-Sentinel
MH = Miami Herald

About how Samson’s injured shoulder was worse than they thought, his agent Leo Goeas said:
“I didn’t know how bad it was until he had an MRI taken. I don’t know how he played with it. There was a chunk of bone that had broken loose and taken part of his labrum with it.” (SFSS)

About how Samson is going through rehab now and should be ready to start the season, Goeas said:
“If he is healthy, he can go up against any nose tackle.” (SFSS)

SFSS Note: “Goeas said Satele was not surprised by the trade, since the Dolphins had made it clear by acquiring Grove that Satele was not part of their future plans at center.”

About how Samson isn’t upset with the Dolphins, Goeas said:
“There are no hard feelings. He enjoyed his time with the Dolphins and now is glad to be in a place where he is wanted and will be appreciated.” (SFSS)

About trading Samson, Miami GM Jeff Ireland said:
“We signed another center and feel like we had to get better in that area. It’s pretty critical that we did. We saw there was some value out there with Samson. We felt like if we kept Samson we would have moved him to guard and let him compete. But we found out there was significant value for Samson.” (PBP)

“We just felt like we had to get better. Physical stature is not applicable in this case.” (PBP)

“We feel like we had to get better in that area. It’s pretty critical that we did.” (SFSS)

MH Note: “Ireland confirmed that the Dolphins received a sixth-round NFL Draft pick from the Oakland Raiders in exchange for center Samson Satele and also swapped fourth-round picks as part of the deal. Miami’s pick in that fourth round improves 18 spots.”

About how Bill Parcells wants his own players, NY Giants owner John Mara said:
“His quote was always, if you’re going to cook the meal, they ought to let you pick the groceries out. He obviously does a pretty good job picking the groceries. He obviously has an eye for talent and knows how to put a winning program together.” (SFSS)

SFSS Note: “It didn’t help Satele, a second-round pick in 2007, that Parcells didn’t bring him to South Florida. Sunday’s move continued the turnover of Dolphins’ personnel since Parcells was hired in December of 2007. Of the 65 players on the roster, 21 were with the team when Parcells arrived.”

Another update about Samson going to the Raiders

About Miami trading him, Samson said:
“They went in another direction. But it worked out good and I can’t wait to get to Oakland and start fresh.” (HSB)

About Samson’s expectations with the Raiders, his agent Leo Goeas said:
“Sam’s very excited to get to the west coast, closer to family and friends. And with the Raiders, he’s expected to start at center, be a Pro Bowl player and be the leader of the offensive line.” (HSB)

Feature story on Alex Dunnachie

TA = The Age

TA Note: “FOR Alex Dunnachie it’s not so much like a dream come true as living an unimaginable fantasy. Last June, the 18-year-old was happily plugging away at his VCE at Marcellin College, playing school footy on Friday afternoons and having a kick with Banyule on weekends. His immediate plans were to pass school, defer uni for a year, get some money behind him and see what happened next.”

About how he was encouraged to attend the try outs for ProKick Australia, a new punting school set up by Nathan Chapman (former Brisband and Hawthorn defender), Dunnachie said:
“It was a bit wet the morning of the try-outs and I just wanted to stay in bed.” (TA)

Still having trouble believing that his UH scholarship is real, Dunnachie said:
“Everyone’s still just trying to wrap their heads around it, like it doesn’t exist. You don’t even think about something like this, so how can it be happening?” (TA)

About the three football scholarships (Jordan Berry to Eastern Kentucky and Tom Duyndam to Portland State) from Melbourne teenagers who attended his camp, Chapman said:
“This is huge. Even in America, it’s not often that you’ll get a punter walk straight into a full scholarship. For us to get three guys across the line, it’s unheard of.” (TA)

“These three are the exact target we’re trying to hit — kids just out of high school, who missed the AFL draft. We’re giving them another option.” (TA)

Happy Berry and Duyndam got scholarships also, Dunnachie said they have:
“all been in this together, being led blindly without really knowing what was going on”. (TA)

About how he knew nothing about American football a year ago, Dunnachie said:
“I’m still learning the rules now, trying to anyway.” (TA)

About a conversation he had with UH coaches when he went to Hawaii on a recruiting visit (his first time out of Australia), Dunnachie said:
“They asked what the biggest crowd was I’d played in front of. I said, ‘Maybe 150.’ They’re like, ‘That’s 150,000?’ I said, ‘No, that’s 150 people.”‘ (TA)

Asked about how he could be playing in front of 60,000 people now, Dunnachie said:
“It’s a bit daunting when you look at it like that.” (TA)

TA Note: “BANYULE will have to get by without him, as the college wants him in residence by the end of May to start training, begin a sports medicine degree and work towards a masters in physiotherapy.”

Dunnachie said that his scholarship is worth around $15,000, and:
“all my needs are paid for.” (TA)

About how his Australian rules football teammates used to tease him for kicking the ball so far, Dunnachie said:
“they reckoned I wouldn’t pass, just tried to kick it as far as I could.” (TA)

http://www.theage.com.au/news/sport/taking-a-punt-leads-to-hawaiian-shores/2009/03/23/1237656851240.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap3

Samson Satele is happy with the trade to Oakland

About how Samson is happy with his trade to Oakland, his agent Leo Goeas said:
“Samson is excited about the trade. He wanted to be some place where he would be appreciated. As soon as Jake Grove signed with the Dolphins, the Raiders wanted (Satele) at center.” (HA)

About the trade to Oakland, Samson said:
“I’m happy. It’s close to home. It’s just a hop over the ocean.” (HA)

“When I got the call from the (Dolphins’) GM, I thanked him. It’s a business. They went one way. I’m happy to go to the Raiders. It’s a fresh start.” (HA)

HA Note: “Satele started every regular-season game in 2008 despite a torn labrum in his right (snapping) shoulder. During the postseason surgery, doctors discovered that there was a piece of bone that was broken off from the shoulder. A procedure was performed to correct that tear. Goeas said the surgeries were successful, and Satele will be ready to play. Satele will earn $460,000 in base salary this season, and $550,000 in 2010.”

Update on #1 LT Aaron Kia

About how he’s still trying to gain back the weight he lost after the Hawaii Bowl, Kia said:
“I got sick after the bowl game. I dropped weight like crazy. I’ve had a hard time gaining it back.” (HA)

HA Note: “He said he hopes to gain five to 10 pounds this week. Spring practice starts March 30.”

About being the #1 LT now, Kia said:
“I’m just happy I still have my starting spot, and (the coaches) have faith in me. I’m going to produce for them the best I can with what I have.” (HA)

Update on Inoke Funaki at the Bulldog position

About the hybrid RB/slotback position that he’s expected to play during spring training, Inoke said:
“Bulldog? I thought they were talking about Kaimuki.” (HA)

HA Note: “For Funaki, the key will be his ability to block. Funaki said he has picked up blocking tips from Kealoha Pilares, who is moving from running back to slotback this spring.”

About how running from the RB or slotback position is different than running as a QB, Inoke said:
“it’ll be different. It’s not like when you’re scrambling, and everyone is more scattered out.” (HA)

About adjusting to the slotback position, Inoke said:
“I’m working on footwork, speed, cutting and catching the ball. It’s not as easy as these guys tend to make it look. You gain a lot of appreciation when you go out and do it.” (HA)

Wishing that they would rename his position “Raider”, Inoke (who played for Kahuku) said:
“I wouldn’t complain about that.” (HA)

Updates on Alema Tachibana and PaiPai Falemalu

About how he’s been trying to gain weight, but he’s still at the 200 pounds that he played at as a Kahuku senior, Alema Tachibana said:
“I eat breakfast, lunch, dinner, proteins. It’s not working.” (HA)

About trying to get his weight up, Tachibana (who is competing at DE even though he’s at 200 pounds now) said:
“I want to get up to 220.” (HA)

HA Note: “But the coaches note that Melila Purcell III and Ikaika Alama-Francis both weighed about 205 when they first joined the UH football team. Both filled out, and both are now in the NFL.”

About other Warriors who were able to gain weight and make it into the NFL, Tachibana said:
“There’s hope.” (HA)

About how his recovery from right shoulder surgery has gone well but he’ll be restricted during spring practice (he can compete in agility drills and light weight lifting), Paipai said:
“I’ll just run and learn my plays.” (HA)

About how he suffered his shoulder injury (diagnosed with a torn labrum) initially in high school, Paipai said:
“I thought it was a little sore, but I kept playing. When I got here, they told me I tore something.” (HA)

HA Note: “Falemalu, who weighed 215 at Kahuku, is now up to 242. He said he hopes to tone up, but not necessarily drop a lot of weight, this summer.”

Warriors prepare for Pro Day on April 2

About trying to improve his 40-yard dash and agility drill times before their Pro Day, Adam Leonard said:
“I wish it was sooner. I’m just taking every day to prepare my self and go out there and give my best effort.” (HSB)

HSB Note: “Leonard trained at Sports and Field in Tampa, Fla., before moving back to the West Coast to finish out his training in the Bay Area as he looks forward to his opportunity to perform for the pro scouts. Elimimian finished his career in December as UH’s all-time tackles leader and has been training with Doug Hix of Play Fast Athletics in San Diego. Among those joining Elimimian in the training sessions have been former Boise State running back Ian Johnson, Michigan State running back Javon Ringer and Nebraska running back Marlon Lucky.”

About the other players that he’s been training with, Sol said:
“It’s a lot of competition, it’s been fun, it’s been good training.” (HSB)

About trying to maintain his weight at 230 pounds while putting on more lean muscle and cutting down his time in the 40, Sol said:
“That’s something I’m working on and I have confidence it’s going to be where it should be by the time I’m ready to run.” (HSB)

Shawn Withy-Allen is back at QB for the Fayetteville Guard!

FO = Fayettville Observer

About convincing Shawn Withy-Allen to come out of retirement to play QB for the Fayetteville Guard, head coach Charles Gunnings said:
“One of my first priorities this year was to get my quarterback. We missed him last year.’’ (FO)

FO Note: “Gunnings believes bringing Withy-Allen back for a full season in 2009 will be a key element in the Guard rebounding from a 5-9 finish last year that kept them out of the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.”

FO Note: “Withy-Allen, a former University of Hawaii player, led the Guard to 27 wins, including one unbeaten season, as their quarterback between 2005 and 2007. But he decided to step away from the game after the 2007 season to concentrate on his profession as a Christian youth minister and spend time with his new wife, Sarah.”

About retiring after coming back for 3 games (going 2-1 and throwing 15 TD in the 3 games), Withy-Allen said:
“I thought it was probably time to hang it up after last year. I had a couple of tryouts with some NFL teams, the (Carolina) Panthers and (Philadelphia) Eagles, but nothing seemed to be working out there. Plus, I had my job and my wife was pregnant with our first child. So, it kind of seemed like the time to retire for good this time.’’ (FO)

About how he had to convince Shawn’s wife to let him play, Gunnings said:
“I talked to his wife. You can see the look in her eyes when she watches him play. And I think she knew he’d be miserable if he stepped away right now.’’ (FO)

About the WRs on their team, Withy-Allen said:
“We really have some great receivers and it’s exciting to work with them.” (FO)

http://www.fayobserver.com/article?id=321733

Warrior Updates from the Star Bulletin

About how they plan to work hard during Spring Break, as Spring Practice starts after Spring Break is over, Rocky Savaiigaea said:
“We understand how it is, there is no spring break for us. It’s just straight ahead to spring ball, that’s what we train for.” (HSB)

About how the Warriors have been working hard during the offseason, Mac said:
“They guys are working hard, but that’s what I expect of them. Mel DeLaura and Tommy (Heffernan) have done a great job of getting our guys in condition and now we have to maintain that.” (HSB)

HSB Note: “McMackin is hosting a group of coaches from Japan today and a larger group is expected to attend UH’s coaches clinic next month.”

HSB Note: “Several former Warriors are also busy training for UH’s pro day set for April 2 in Carson, Calif. Solomon Elimimian is training in San Diego. Adam Leonard was working out at a facility in Tampa, Fla., earlier and is now training in the Bay Area in preparation for a shot to perform for the scouts.”