Tides Changing For Pasifika Football Players

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – There has never been a better time to be a quarterback with Pacific Island heritage. The tides have been slowly changing for Pasifika/Polynesians in the football world and we are just starting to see the waves now.

We saw the first ripples in 2014 when Marcus Mariota won the Heisman trophy. He was the first-ever Samoan winner and was a massive inspiration to many aspiring Pasifika/Polynesian athletes including a very young Tua Tagovailoa.

.@Tua drives down the field and Jordan Howard caps off the drive with a TD! #FinsUp

📺: #MIAvsAZ on CBS
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/LhAplcRHXB pic.twitter.com/UTTTjcJtmP

— NFL (@NFL) November 8, 2020

Tua Leading The Way

Now it’s Tagovailoa making headlines as the high-profile Samoan quarterback after he had another impressive game this past Sunday, leading the Dolphins to a down-to-the-wire stunner over the Arizona Cardinals.

Although the runs for first-down and out-of-the-pocket completions were spectacular, for me, the most impressive decision Tua made was his pregame attire the week before.

Aqua looking good @Tua 🔥 pic.twitter.com/xJ98d5LgxM

— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) November 1, 2020

Tua chose to dress in a white lava lava, an aqua aloha shirt, kukui nut lei and white slippers. He looked more like he was on his was to ekalesia than to crush the Rams. What a special, unique way to represent his culture knowing the world is watching. Island swagger and two wins in a row? Representation doesn’t get much better than that.

Your identity will be tied to whatever you give your heart to. Learn and grow 📖 pic.twitter.com/sSxOCAiQ9f

— Tua. T 🇦🇸 (@Tua) November 3, 2020

Stereotypes Of Pasifika Football Players Are Changing

The 2019 draft class showcased the most Polynesian people drafted (11 players) with four (Bradlee Anae, Julian Blackmon, Leki Fotu and John Penisini) coming from the University of Utah and even more athletes signed as undrafted free agents. The Utah boys are all fantastic athletes and positive role models that my son could, absolutely, look up to.

The largest Polynesian Draft Class in @NFL history.🌴

Polynesians represent 5.4% of the top 204 players selected in the 2020 @NFLDraft despite being only 0.3% of the U.S. population (18x community size).#PolyPride 🤙🏽 #NFLDraft2020 pic.twitter.com/2w9HR4RMlz

— Polynesian Football (@PolynesianFBHOF) April 25, 2020

However, what the world has come to expect as prototypical Pasifika NFL players are huge linemen like Jesse Sapolu or hard-hitting defensive icons like Junior Seau or Troy Polamalu. The Polynesian quarterback, on the other hand, used to be as rare as a blue pearl. I am happy to report that is changing. There have only ever been three other Polynesians to start an NFL game at quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa is the latest.

At the collegiate level you can find starting Polynesian quarterbacks all across the nation. DJ Uiagalelei lead the Clemson Tigers in a slugfest with Notre Dame. Tua’s brother, Taulia threw three touchdowns as Maryland smashed Penn State. Washington State started freshman QB Jayden De Laura who threw for three touchdowns.

Another great Polynesian college starting QB weekend! #PolyPride 🤙🏽🌴@DJUiagalelei (DJ Uiagalelei)@tauliaa12 (Taulia Tagovailoa)
Tevaka Tuioti@zachkapono (Zach Wilson)@iam_clcxii (Chevan Cordeiro)@jayden_delaura (Jayden de Laura) pic.twitter.com/bmFwVCUl1E

— Polynesian Football (@PolynesianFBHOF) November 8, 2020

Zach Wilson leads the now #8 BYU Cougars to a 8-0 record after dismantling Boise State on the blue turf.

Lots of love for @zachkapono tonight. 💙💙💙#W1LSONHE1SMAN #BYU #GoCougs #BYUFOOTBALL #BYUvsBSU https://t.co/BsEtxoBOZo

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 7, 2020

Utah High School Football As An Example

The greatest evidence of change can be found at the high school level. We are deep into the high school football playoffs and out of all the high schools that are still in the hunt, three of them have Polynesian quarterbacks.

Liu Aumavae and the Timpview Thunderbirds will play Salem Hills in the 5A semifinals. Micah Fe’a and the Orem Tigers are also moving on to the 5A semifinals facing Maple Mountain. In 6A, the Lone Peak knights led by senior Jonah Heimuli will face off with Skyridge in the semifinals.

‘Io, the tides are changing for Polynesian players and I can’t remember a better time to be a quarterback.

Here's the highlight reel from this past weekend of prep football – only a couple more weeks left of HS football😥@kslsports // @UHSAAinfo #KSLGameNightLive

📹: @matthewLksl @Samsworth_KSL @NateDowdle pic.twitter.com/zt2PQFvqH5

— 𝙷𝚎𝚖𝚊 𝙷𝚎𝚒𝚖𝚞𝚕𝚒 𝙹𝚛. (@x_hems) November 9, 2020

You can follow Hema Heimuli Jr. on Twitter here.