Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Announces Finalists for the Class of 2015

At a glance:

Twenty-five Finalists have been selected from over 200 nominees.
Finalists represent 17 NFL & Super Bowl Championships, 17 Pro Bowl selections and four College Football National Championships.
Six Inductees will be selected for the Class of 2015, which will be announced on October 8, 2014.
Inductees will be honored during the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend on January 23 & 24, 2015 in Oahu, Hawai’i.

HONOLULU, HI (September 11, 2014) – The Polynesian Football Hall of Fame announced today 25 Finalists will be on the ballot for induction into the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame. The list includes 20 players and five coaches/contributors.

The Finalists were selected from a field of over 200 nominees by a Selection Committee composed of past college football head coaches Dick Tomey (Chairman), LaVell Edwards and Ron McBride, ESPN SportsCenter anchor Neil Everett, NFL player personnel expert Gil Brandt, past NFLPA president and Inaugural Inductee Kevin Mawae and Hawai’i sportscaster Robert Kekaula.

The committee will meet again in the coming weeks to select the six members (five players and one coach/contributor) who will be inducted as the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Class of 2015.

“Over the past several weeks the Selection Committee has been deliberating over the 2015 Finalists,” said Dick Tomey. “Each year, the task of selecting Polynesia’s great players, coaches and contributors is a major challenge because there are so many worthy candidates.”

Last year, the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame enshrined legends Junior Seau, Kevin Mawae, Kurt Gouveia, Jack "The Throwin' Samoan" Thompson, Herman Wedemeyer, Olin Kreutz and Ken Niumatalolo as the Inaugural Class.

This year’s inductees will be announced on October 8, 2014. They will be honored during the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend, to be held on January 23 & 24, 2015 in Oahu, Hawai’i. For more information you can visit www.PolynesianFootballHOF.org.

PLAYER FINALISTS

George Achica (DT) USC, Pro: NFL (IND) & USFL 3 years, Samoan ancestry
Junior Ah You (DE) Arizona State, Pro: CFL & USFL 12 years, Samoan ancestry
Bob Apisa (FB/HB) Michigan State, Pro: NFL (GB) 1 year, Samoan ancestry
Charles "Charlie" Teetai Ane, Jr. (OL) USC, Pro: NFL (DET) 6 years, Samoan ancestry
Herman “Buddy” Piikei Clark (OL) Oregon State, Pro: NFL (CHI) 4 years, Hawaiian ancestry
Riki Morgan Ellison (LB) USC, Pro: NFL (SF, OAK) 8 years, Maori ancestry
Luther John Elliss (DT) Utah, Pro: NFL (DET, DEN) 9 years, Samoan ancestry
Rockne Crowningburg Freitas (OL) Oregon State, Pro: NFL (DET, TB) 10 years, Hawaiian ancestry
Ma'ake Tu'amelie Kemoeatu (DT)Utah, Pro: NFL (BAL, CAR, WAS) 11 years, Tongan ancestry
Todd Lyght (CB) Notre Dame, Pro: NFL (STL, DET) 12 years, Marshallese ancestry
Chris Naeole (G) Colorado, Pro: NFL (NO, JAX) 11 years, Hawaiian ancestry
Alapati “Al” Noga(DL) Hawai’i, Pro: NFL (MIN, WAS, IND) 6 years, Samoan ancestry
Niko Noga (LB) Hawai’i, Pro: NFL (AZ, DET) 8 years, Samoan ancestry
Dan Saleaumua (DT) Arizona State, Pro: NFL (DET, KC, SEA) 12 years, Samoan ancestry
Jesse Sapolu (C) Hawai’i, Pro: NFL (SF) 15 years, Samoan ancestry
Ray Frederick Schoenke (OT/OG) SMU, Pro: NFL (DAL, WAS) 12 years, Hawaiian ancestry
Vai Sikahema (RB/KR) BYU, Pro: NFL (AZ, GB, PHI) 8 years, Tongan ancestry
Ma’a Tanuvasa (DE) Hawai’i, Pro: NFL (STL, PIT, DEN, SD, ATL) 9 years, Samoan ancestry
Mosiula “Mosi” Faasuka Tatupu (RB/KR) USC, Pro: NFL (NE, STL) 14 years, Samoan ancestry
Mark Pulemau Tuinei (OT) Hawai’i, Pro: NFL (DAL) 15 years, Samoan ancestry

COACH & CONTRIBUTOR FINALISTS

Russ Francis, Advocate for Polynesian Football, Super Bowl Champion and three time Pro Bowl selection
Thomas Ka’auwai Ka’ulukukui, Former Head football Coach at University of Hawai’i, Hawaiian ancestry
Albert “Al” Lolotai, First Polynesian to play Professional Football, Samoan ancestry
John Manumaleuna, Southern California Advocate for Polynesian Youth, Samoan ancestry
Charlie Wedemeyer, Former Head Football Coach, Los Gatos High School (CA), Hawaiian ancestry

About the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame

The Polynesian Football Hall of Fame honors Polynesia’s greatest players, coaches and contributors. As a 501(C)(3) organization, the Hall of Fame serves as a resource for Polynesian football history, provides scholarships for Polynesian student-athletes and hosts educational programs for Polynesian youth.