Some insight into Polynesian commitments
As pointed out by Vancougar in a recent comment and by several other blog readers via email, an article in Tuesday's Portland Tribune noted that Oregon State has received oral commitments from offensive linemen Benji Kemoeatu and Anthony Siilata of Kahuku High in Hawaii.
Obviously, that's surprising (and, if true, disappointing) news to Utah football fans because Kemoeatu and Siilata reportedly gave oral commitments to Utah coaches last Sunday just before leaving the U. campus to return to Hawaii.
Kemoeatu, Siilata and Kahuku linebacker Paipai Falemalu are all visiting Corvallis this weekend, according to the article.
Also, Dan Sorensen of the Web site Utezone.com is reporting today that the other Kahuku player who supposedly committed to the Utes, linebacker Alema Tachibana, is claiming he did not commit. Tachibana told Sorensen he is still leaning toward Utah, but is visiting Hawaii this weekend and needs to talk it over with his family before making a final decision.
Furthermore, there are reports on USC fan Web sites that Uona Kaveinga, the four-star linebacker who committed to BYU two weekends ago is now saying he wants to play for the Trojans.
What in the world is going on here?
I called BYU offensive coordinator Robert Anae this morning looking for some perspective on what seems like an ongoing communication problem. Anae grew up in Hawaii and recruits the islands for the Cougars, along with defensive line coach Steve Kaufusi.
Anae, who is recruiting in Waco, Texas, today, had some interesting things to say about understanding the Polynesian culture when it comes to 17- and 18-year-old kids dealing with figures of authority. It also should be noted that players of all ethnicities back out on commitments or are misunderstood, not just Pacific Islanders.
"For a Polynesian kid, anyone who is an authority figure is respected, so it is hard for them some times," Anae said. "They don't go around shooting that authority figure the straight shot. It is actually offensive in the culture to tell someone in authority something they don't want to hear."
Anae said that in a lot of cases, the recruiter hears what he wants to hear and takes it as a commitment when the player did not intend it that way.
"It is more on the coach than the kid," Anae said. "It is your coaches that read the commitment into it more so than the kids actually do. Putting it on the Polynesian kid isn't accurate all the time. I would rather put that on the coach. An over-eager coach claims the kid has committed, when in fact the kid was probably indecisive, and the coach tilted it one way or the other."
Obviously, that's surprising (and, if true, disappointing) news to Utah football fans because Kemoeatu and Siilata reportedly gave oral commitments to Utah coaches last Sunday just before leaving the U. campus to return to Hawaii.
Kemoeatu, Siilata and Kahuku linebacker Paipai Falemalu are all visiting Corvallis this weekend, according to the article.
Also, Dan Sorensen of the Web site Utezone.com is reporting today that the other Kahuku player who supposedly committed to the Utes, linebacker Alema Tachibana, is claiming he did not commit. Tachibana told Sorensen he is still leaning toward Utah, but is visiting Hawaii this weekend and needs to talk it over with his family before making a final decision.
Furthermore, there are reports on USC fan Web sites that Uona Kaveinga, the four-star linebacker who committed to BYU two weekends ago is now saying he wants to play for the Trojans.
What in the world is going on here?
I called BYU offensive coordinator Robert Anae this morning looking for some perspective on what seems like an ongoing communication problem. Anae grew up in Hawaii and recruits the islands for the Cougars, along with defensive line coach Steve Kaufusi.
Anae, who is recruiting in Waco, Texas, today, had some interesting things to say about understanding the Polynesian culture when it comes to 17- and 18-year-old kids dealing with figures of authority. It also should be noted that players of all ethnicities back out on commitments or are misunderstood, not just Pacific Islanders.
"For a Polynesian kid, anyone who is an authority figure is respected, so it is hard for them some times," Anae said. "They don't go around shooting that authority figure the straight shot. It is actually offensive in the culture to tell someone in authority something they don't want to hear."
Anae said that in a lot of cases, the recruiter hears what he wants to hear and takes it as a commitment when the player did not intend it that way.
"It is more on the coach than the kid," Anae said. "It is your coaches that read the commitment into it more so than the kids actually do. Putting it on the Polynesian kid isn't accurate all the time. I would rather put that on the coach. An over-eager coach claims the kid has committed, when in fact the kid was probably indecisive, and the coach tilted it one way or the other."
1 Comments:
This seems to make alot of sense. Sealver Siliga out of Copper Hills high school committed to byu last summer only to change his mind a few weeks later and commit to the Utes. He kind of said the same thing Anae is saying. He just didnt know how to tell the byu coaches no. Recruiting has turned into such a big deal these days the coaches are really turning up the heat. Plus the recruits are just kids really. Sometimes they dont know how to say no and why its important to keep your word.
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