Go Bears! This is a big get. I'm so psyched about our defense as the line is always the essence of it. If we can stop the run and force the pass, we will pick off plenty of balls and teams will suffer. Watch how any of the top teams win, and it's in the lines.
Landing more defensive talent seems like gilding the lily and I'm very much here for it. Love to hear such positivity about our culture from Odua and welcome to him! How many years of eligibility does he have?
I live in Hawaii. Odua Isibor is NOT a Polynesian name. I never heard of the name Odua so I searched... and it seems to be of African origin and is one form of the name of a fundamental Santeria deity (the actual religion which is often caricaturized under the name Voodoo.) Isibor is apparently of Nigerian origin. So'oto does not result in real hits. Vic's full name could be of Polynesian origin (Ta'aga looks Samoan). There is no V or S in Hawaiian but there is in Samoan. Personally, I suspect that more Polynesian players is just because Islanders are starting to get good at western sports. Locals here pride themselves on doing well at western competitions (going at least back to Paniolos beating cowboys at major competitions in the early 1900's) particularly as the mainland is seen as losing interest in some sports (i.e. football is losing players due to violence...).
If memory of history serves... there were three major Polynesian groups that dispersed over time... Tongan (Tongan/Somoan), Marquesan, and Tahitian. Ikahihifo is definitely Polynesian, and I would guess Maori which is usually tied to Tongan. The dispersements reached all the way to Easter Island off the coast of S. Am. Because of the convergence of Scots, Polynesian and resources New Zealand is a rugby powerhouse. The Scots love it. The Maoris have adopted it. NZ might seem like a small country, but it is bigger than any of the Pacific islands and focuses on rugby more than most any bigger country.
My wife always wanted to retire to Dunedin even though she does not drink wine... I've been going for over 40 years. Auckland used to be cool... My favorite "touristy" thing in the world is the Hobbiton tour! ... and agree that Cal Rugby going to NZ would be awesome!
I never lived there. Well after I visited the first time, I coincidentally went to work for a (Swedish) company that Pacific offices in the Hutt Valley and I would travel there regularly on business. Since then, I still go back from time to time. My wife and I were there (including a couple day side trip to Sydney) for a couple of weeks in Dec 2019. I doubt we would have gone back again yet, but we haven't really travelled since due to COVID...
Makes sense that we can experiment with things a bit when we're flush with talent. And agree that the current defensive staff seems to have the trust of the players to try some different things.
Go Bears! This is a big get. I'm so psyched about our defense as the line is always the essence of it. If we can stop the run and force the pass, we will pick off plenty of balls and teams will suffer. Watch how any of the top teams win, and it's in the lines.
Loading up, hopefully, on talented athletes who will only improve what is expected by most prognosticators to be an elite defense.
Landing more defensive talent seems like gilding the lily and I'm very much here for it. Love to hear such positivity about our culture from Odua and welcome to him! How many years of eligibility does he have?
I live in Hawaii. Odua Isibor is NOT a Polynesian name. I never heard of the name Odua so I searched... and it seems to be of African origin and is one form of the name of a fundamental Santeria deity (the actual religion which is often caricaturized under the name Voodoo.) Isibor is apparently of Nigerian origin. So'oto does not result in real hits. Vic's full name could be of Polynesian origin (Ta'aga looks Samoan). There is no V or S in Hawaiian but there is in Samoan. Personally, I suspect that more Polynesian players is just because Islanders are starting to get good at western sports. Locals here pride themselves on doing well at western competitions (going at least back to Paniolos beating cowboys at major competitions in the early 1900's) particularly as the mainland is seen as losing interest in some sports (i.e. football is losing players due to violence...).
If memory of history serves... there were three major Polynesian groups that dispersed over time... Tongan (Tongan/Somoan), Marquesan, and Tahitian. Ikahihifo is definitely Polynesian, and I would guess Maori which is usually tied to Tongan. The dispersements reached all the way to Easter Island off the coast of S. Am. Because of the convergence of Scots, Polynesian and resources New Zealand is a rugby powerhouse. The Scots love it. The Maoris have adopted it. NZ might seem like a small country, but it is bigger than any of the Pacific islands and focuses on rugby more than most any bigger country.
My wife always wanted to retire to Dunedin even though she does not drink wine... I've been going for over 40 years. Auckland used to be cool... My favorite "touristy" thing in the world is the Hobbiton tour! ... and agree that Cal Rugby going to NZ would be awesome!
I never lived there. Well after I visited the first time, I coincidentally went to work for a (Swedish) company that Pacific offices in the Hutt Valley and I would travel there regularly on business. Since then, I still go back from time to time. My wife and I were there (including a couple day side trip to Sydney) for a couple of weeks in Dec 2019. I doubt we would have gone back again yet, but we haven't really travelled since due to COVID...
OLB would be great...if he can play the position that increases his attractiveness to the League in the future.
Makes sense that we can experiment with things a bit when we're flush with talent. And agree that the current defensive staff seems to have the trust of the players to try some different things.