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THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 2008
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Strong arms, kinshipWhen it comes to Samoan Pac-10 QBs, no man is an island
Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 10.09.2008
Lyle Moevao's friend came up with the idea — a way to share the old Samoan sense of family in a very modern way.
He founded a group on Facebook.com called "Throwin' Samoans Pac-10."
The group had three charter members who, together, might be doing more for Samoan quarterbacks than anyone since Jack Thompson, the original "Throwin' Samoan."
Arizona's Willie Tuitama, Stanford's Tavita Pritchard and Oregon State's Moevao use the social networking site as a way to keep up with each other, to share ideas and atta-boys. Their friends joined too.
The quarterbacks are rivals — Tuitama and Pritchard face each other Saturday — but they also share a familial bond.
"It's something you grow up with," Pritchard said. "This is maybe the last arena you feel it would spill over into. But when it does, it feels great."
Samoan quarterbacks have never been more prominent in the Pac-10 than this season.
Four Pac-10 quarterbacks who have started a game or more this year — the trio plus Oregon's Jeremiah Masoli — have Samoan roots but grew up in the United States.
Pritchard said he first met Tuitama at a camp before their senior years of high school when "our big Samoan dads immediately saw each other and started talking."
The two have kept an eye on each other ever since; Tuitama even bumped into Pritchard at Stanford during last Christmas break when he went to see friends.
"It's more just a common respect thing," Tuitama said. "I actually talk about it whenever we play each other. It's rare. Most Polynesians, you've got linemen or playing somewhere on defense or something like that.
"Now that we've got three of them in the Pac, that's kinda neat."
Thompson has been watching — and not just because Pritchard is his nephew.
The former WSU quarterback threw for 7,818 yards from 1975 to 1978, wearing his colorful nickname like a badge of honor.
"Don't kid yourself — I was alone, few and far between," said Thompson, now a mortgage banker in Seattle. "It takes a group, and those guys are icebreakers.
"I may have been knocking on the door, but those three are breaking the door down."
The Pac-10 has boasted a few successful Samoan quarterbacks. George Malauulu played for the Wildcats from 1989 to 1992. Washington's Marques Tuiasosopo — who is cousins with both Moevao and Tuitama — was a Rose Bowl MVP.
"Those guys are a big influence to us growing up, wondering if we could play this position at this level," said Moevao, who leads the Pac-10 with 280.4 yards per game.
Since 1985, the Wildcats have boasted at least 50 players with ties to Polynesia, a region that includes more than 1,000 south and central Pacific islands and includes Hawaii, Samoa and Tonga.
Of those, only three — Malauulu, Tuitama and Hawaiian Bryson Beirne — have played quarterback.
Malauulu now runs The AIGA Foundation, a group devoted to helping athletes from the United States and throughout Polynesia land athletic scholarships. Aiga means family in Samoan.
Malauulu said Tuitama and Pritchard have the perfect size to play the position, and coaches "are always looking for the prototype player."
Tuitama and Pritchard are 6-3 and 6-4, respectively. What the 6-foot Moevao lacks in size he makes up for with a lightning-quick delivery.
Pritchard said size "does play into" Samoans playing either offensive line or defense as kids but said the passion and attitude of a good defender can extend to quarterback, too.
Moevao, Tuitama and Pritchard were raised to be quarterbacks. Tuitama was a drop-back passer by age 9, and Pritchard followed in his uncle's footsteps. Moevao's father, who came to America as a boy, played quarterback in high school.
Thompson said he was not sure why there have not been more signal-callers. Maybe, he said, Samoans have been stereotyped as linemen or linebackers. But he is thrilled to see more of them.
"I wish I had a very sensible response to that, but I don't have one," said Thompson, who was born in American Samoa. "I guess it's just a numbers thing."
Specialization has helped, Malauulu said. High school players from all over can attend camps to get noticed. Pritchard has even spoken to an AIGA camp, trying to inspire more young quarterbacks.
When Pritchard plays against other Polynesians, he usually makes a point to say hello, even if he doesn't know them.
"I think Polynesians, or Samoans in general, feel the same sense of kinship," he said.
Moevao first heard about Masoli, a junior college transfer, last year. He followed his recruitment from afar and wants him to join the Facebook group.
Thompson will be watching all four quarterbacks, calling his support "a family thing."
Malauulu called the quarterbacks "usos" — brothers — who are carrying on a tradition.
"A lot of Samoan brothers," he said, "are very proud of them."
Comp.-Attempts
Yards
TDs
INTs
Comp.-Attempts
Yards
TDs
INTs
102-154
1,207
13
2
79-136
873
6
7
Comp.-Att. Yards TDs INTs
118-188 1,402 10 4
Comp.-Att Yards TDs INTs
46-77 537 4 1
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