Former Trojan fullback and the father of Lofa Tatupu, Mosi Tatupu, died yesterday. Mosi was a member of the 1974 national championship team and played in the NFL for 14 years.
Mosi was born in Pago Pago, American Samoa. He played at USC from 1974-1977. In 1977 he won the Offensive Player of the Year and Most Inspirational awards.
He spent most of his NFL career as a New England Patriot (1978 - 1990). He played on their Super Bowl team in 1986 and made the Pro Bowl that same year as a special teamer.
The Mosi Tatupu award is given every year to the best special teams player in college football.
His cause of death is yet to be determined. He was 54 years old.
Three Trojans will be suiting up in Super Bowl XLIV next Sunday in Miami when the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints meet up to decide the NFL championship. Tailback Reggie Bush (New Orleans Saints), defensive lineman Sedrick Ellis (New Orleans Saints) and defensive lineman Fili Moala (Indianapolis Colts) will appear in the game, meaning at least one Trojan... more »
Troy Polamalu (S, Pittsburgh) had one of the crazier weekends in the NFL. His three tackles (one for a 4-yard loss) and 4-yard interception return were pretty typical. His broken-up lateral returned for a touchdown was not. Referees incorrectly overturned the play, and later admitted their mistake. The Steelers pulled out a 11-10 victory over San Diego, the first... more »
Matt Cassel (QB, New England) isn't getting sacked as much, and that means he can get his job done. He's doing so well, some are considering him as the Pat's MVP. On Sunday he threw 23-of-34 for 234 yards. On the ground, he picked up 22 yards on 9 carries, as well as a touchdown. He fumbled once. New... more »
Some familiar names are on the ballot for this year's NFL Pro Bowl. Check out the former USC players under consideration: Ryan Kalil (C, Carolina) Deuce Lutui (G, Arizona) Sam Baker (T, Atlanta Falcons) Matt Cassel (QB, New England) Carson Palmer (QB, Cincinnati) Justin Fargas (RB, Oakland) LenDale White (RB, Tennessee) Reggie Bush (both as RB and Kick Returner,... more »
Matt Cassel (QB, New England) was the most watched Trojan in week two. Nothing spectacular, no mistakes, it was a simply a solid performance that got the job done. He completed 16-of-23 for 165 yards and picked up 7 yards on 2 carries. As he pointed out in a post-game interview, all that matters are W's. He earned one... more »
Reggie Bush (RB, New Orleans) is up to his old tricks, taking 8 receptions for 112 yards and a touchdown in addition to 51 yards on 14 carries. His score was the game winner (24-20 over Tampa Bay), and his longest playes were 26 yards on the ground and 42 in the air. Fellow running back Deuce McAllister did... more »
Marcia C. Smith column: Former USC defensive stars Lofa Tatupu, Lawrence Jackson and Dallas Sartz reunited as Seattle Seahawks teammates — for a while.... more »
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando Clare Farnsworth of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer says Mike Holmgren wasn't happy with a pass-interference call levied against Seattle cornerback Kevin Hobbs. I watched the play repeatedly and thought Hobbs played the ball well, except for when he reached his right hand around the right shoulder pad of the receiver. That was the only appearance... more »
A past ESPN article estimated that "a Samoan boy is 40 times more likely to reach the NFL than a boy growing up in the United States." And there's good reason why. USC knows firsthand the physicality, size and strength of their Polynesian Trojan players. With the nation's top trainers and one of the largest national platforms, USC has helped its Poly-players (both native and ancestral) excel in the next level. Just take a look at Junior Seau or Lofa Tatupu or Troy Polamalu and the soon to be NFLers Rey Maualuga and Fili Moala...just to name a few.
Now there's a new name on that list. USC's 11th addition to its already stellar '09 class is Tongan native Hebron Fangupo. A JC transfer out of Mt. San Antonio College, the 6-2, 330-pound defensive tackle has the raw size, speed and talent to become the next Polynesian super star. As reported on Scout, Fangupo had this to say of his new-found home:
"I like the tempo. I just like the coaching environment. I like coaches that get a little crazy because I like to get crazy....As a Polynesian, we have a scream that we do before we go into battle, and he (Coach Watson) just kept doing it. I liked that because he has been around a few Polynesians and knows how we work."
By the time you hear that war cry...it will already be too late.
No one seemed to know what to expect from Seattle's first round pick. There was talk of it being an offensive grab. A tight end, maybe. Others claimed it would be a defensive tackle. And some even speculated they would go for a quarterback. Well, the debate is now over. The Seattle Seahawks have added one more weapon to their defensive arsenal by drafting defensive end Lawrence Jackson with pick #28. Jackson had big stats at USC, including 60 tackles, 17 for loss and 10.5 sacks in 2007. Lawrence Jackson and Lofa Tatupu on the same field? Can you say...ouch?
With his selection, Jackson rounds out four Trojans selected in the first round of the 2008 NFL draft. Check out SI.com to see the complete draft list.
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