Some details of the Samoa recruitng trip

[Garret]

http://blogs.starbulletin.com/uhsportsextra/joint-venture/

Just got word that Alex Gerke is actually just one of five UH coaches headed to American Samoa next week, with five SMU coaches. The others are Greg McMackin, Nick Rolovich, Brian Smith and Craig Stutzmann. They will be joined by June Jones, Dennis McKnight, Wes Suan, Jeff Reinebold and Frank Gansz of the SMU staff.

They will be there to conduct the first June Jones American Samoa Football Academy.

Reinebold’s wife, a health care professional, will be going as a medical missionary, also sponsored by the June Jones Foundation.

According to Kevin Kaplan, director of the June Jones Foundation, the academy will involve 550 athletes, and five will each win a $2000 scholarship that can be used at any U.S. college — not just SMU or UH.

The joint venture in American Samoa follows the June Jones Celebrity Golf Classic at Hokulia on the Big Island on Sunday and Monday.

[Alaric]

Thanks Garret. Nice touch to make those scholarships available at any school.

[StallionsModelT]

June sounds like a really good man. Glad he is representing our university.

[smu diamond m]

Who are the celebs playing in the classic?

[Garret]

More details:

http://starbulletin.com/2008/06/20/sports/notebook.html

Current and former NFL players Jesse Sapolu, Maa Tanuvasa, Mel Purcell, Reagan Mauia, Paul Soliai and Leo Goeas are also scheduled to appear, Kaplan said.

Reagan Mauia and Mel Purcell finished their playing careers in Hawaii in 2006 and both were drafted by the NFL. There are numerous examples of athletes from Samoa who have great college careers and make it in the NFL.

Here is a photo of one of the starting OL that Hawaii has that is from Samoa.

http://warriorbeat.honadvblogs.com/files/2008/06/ahsoon.JPG