Dolphins' Samoans 'A little different breed'

Reagan Mauia's unlikely path from overweight player to NFL draft pick is just one example of Samoan pride among four first-year Dolphins.

By JOSEPH GOODMAN

The Dolphins selected Mauia in the sixth round of the NFL Draft.

He's proud of where he is, proud of where he came from and proud to tell the story of his journey.

It started on a tiny island in the Pacific Ocean. Along the way, he got fat.

Mauia used to weigh 380 pounds -- pretty big, but especially big for a guy only six feet tall. He went on a diet, lost more than 100 pounds and became a fullback. Here's the secret to Mauia's diet: no sugar, no carbohydrates, extra helpings of dedication and Samoan pride. He now weighs 270 pounds, runs the 40-yard dash in 4.8 seconds and answers to the nickname ''Juggernaut,'' a reference to a comic book character who, once given even the slightest amount of momentum, can plow his head and body through any object.

There's more to Mauia's story -- struggle, self-discovery and running through walls -- but as for being a proud Samoan, well, that's kind of redundant.

It's like calling water wet or fire hot. What is the essence of pride? Mauia says Samoans consider themselves a warrior class of people.

''We're a little different breed,'' Mauia said. ``I really don't know how to explain it, but coaches see it.''

For Samoans, warrior pride is rivaled only by an unflinching family bond, which, in turn, is challenged only by brute strength and size. There are four players of Samoan heritage among coach Cam Cameron's new-look Dolphins: Mauia, offensive linemen Samson Satele and Tala Esera and defensive tackle Paul Soliai.

''What we've seen in these guys is that spirit of enthusiasm and that pride,'' Cameron said. ``When they step onto the football field they know they represent someone bigger than themselves. And that's important. We believe in that. We believe you play for something bigger than yourself, obviously the team. I think they play for family and have a lot of pride.''

Pride, unity and natural strength -- it's a combination that helped alleviate some of the Dolphins' draft-day guesswork. The Polynesian pattern is far from a coincidence for an organization attempting to revamp its blocking and reinvent its locker room chemistry.

Satele, Mauia and Esera each played for the University of Hawaii, and in drafting Satele (second round) and Mauia, the Dolphins doubled the organization's number of players taken from the school in its previous 41 drafts. Soliai played for the University of Utah and was drafted in the fourth round. Esera signed as an undrafted free agent.

''It's awesome having two teammates and another guy from American Samoa here, because then hopefully [Miami] will get a feel of how close we are -- Polynesians -- because we're very family-oriented,'' Esera said. ``Hopefully, guys will see that and it will rub off.''

In his eighth season as coach at Hawaii, June Jones has immersed himself in the Pacific islands' Polynesian culture. He said he has made it a priority to recruit players from the islands. Prior to his arrival, Hawaii featured just 19 of 105 players of Polynesian descent, couldn't win a game and had not had a player drafted in 11 seasons.

Hawaii finished the 2006 season 11-3 and did it with 76 players of Polynesian heritage. Five players were drafted by NFL teams -- a school record.

''I think the numbers show that there is some real truth and value to having this culture on your team,'' Jones said. ``The kids are very respectful by nature, and the Polynesian families respect their elders.''

SPORTS OF CHOICE?

About 30 players of Samoan roots represent a small collection of islands in the Pacific in the NFL. Only in recent years has football started to rival rugby as the sport of choice.

Through the years, more than 150 players of Polynesian descent have played in the NFL, including more than 100 of Samoan heritage. The population of American Samoa (57,291 according to the 2000 census) could fit comfortably into Dolphin Stadium, but according to one estimate, an ethnic Samoan is 40 times more likely to play in the NFL than a non-Samoan American.

''Growing up, we didn't know organized football,'' Mauia said. ``Everyone just wanted to be Junior Seau. Even if you were playing quarterback you were Junior Seau.''

Seau might be the most famous NFL player of Samoan heritage to come through Miami but is by no means the most famous Samoan to play football in South Florida. That honor would go to Dwayne ''The Rock'' Johnson, who played defensive tackle at the University of Miami before launching his pro wrestling and acting careers.

South Florida's latest Samoan football players seem to be every bit as charismatic as Johnson.

The Dolphins used their third draft pick to secure Satele, a 6-2, 310-pound offensive lineman athletic enough to play guard or center. He has long hair, and when people pull it during games he gets angry.

''I'm like the Hulk,'' he said.

Soliai, a 6-4, 345-pound defensive tackle, was drafted in the fourth round. Born in Pago Pago, American Samoa, Soliai moved to the United States after high school and enrolled at Coffeyville Community College in Kansas.

Originally an offensive lineman, he moved to defensive line upon transferring to Utah.

''Samoan culture is all about family,'' Soliai said. ``That's why we're here -- to help our families.''

Esera (6-3, 300 pounds) is the designated war chant specialist and, according to his college coach, is the group's natural leader.

''Esera should have been drafted because he's certainly good enough,'' Jones said. ``He was just a little sick during the [scouting] combine.''

A BIG SURPRISE

While Satele, Soliai and Esera each commands attention in the locker room, Mauia is the personality headliner and one of the biggest surprises of the NFL Draft. He had no expectations of being drafted. In fact, he said he would have been content with a chance in the CFL or Arena League. Instead, he's in the NFL. As Mauia likes to say, the Dolphins ''shocked the entire island of Hawaii'' when the team drafted the once-fat fullback in the sixth round.

''I wasn't supposed to be here,'' Mauia said. ``I'm just so grateful. This is what I've dreamed of, being a part of this.''

Mauia, who says he ''dinked around in high school'' before dedicating himself to football, wasn't even recruited by Hawaii. While playing junior college football in California, he fell in love with Hawaii's program after watching a video entitled Polynesian Power, a documentary narrated by ''The Rock'' about football in the islands. After watching the film, Mauia, born in American Samoa but raised in Stockton, Calif., was inspired to reconnect with his Polynesian culture.

''I just built up the nerve to call Coach [June] Jones,'' Mauia said. ``I took it upon myself to walk onto the team. I told [Jones] not to give me a scholarship if I didn't earn it. I wanted to earn it.''

He first played nose tackle for Jones but the coach moved Mauia to fullback after watching him play rugby one day before practice. Jones now calls Mauia ''the most powerful player I've ever coached'' and likens him to former NFL fullback Craig ''Ironhead'' Heyward. It's an interesting comparison considering Mauia once ran headlong through a wall. A homemade video of the feat can be found on YouTube. It's a senseless act of bravado but also serves as a metaphor. In another YouTube video, Mauia screams, ''Polynesian wrecking crew,'' as Esera slams his head through the same wall.

''It's all about the warrior's mentality,'' Mauia said.

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