Football Notes: Haka Sweeping Team

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Junior linebacker Tooolefua Samuelu grew up playing rugby and brings a lot of the game into his play on the football field. His latest contribution is starting to grab the attention of the team. Watch the Video

Samuelu, who is from Samoa, with teammate Kainoa Pe’a, has been teaching his teammates the Haka, a traditional dance form of the Maori of New Zealand that has been made popular recently by the All Blacks, the international rugby union team of New Zealand. They perform it prior to international matches.

“Part of the experience in the NAU football family is celebrating and experiencing common culture,” said Head Coach Jerome Souers, who is the only Native American Head Football Coach in Division I. “We have guys on our team from different cultures and different walks of life. Opportunities to share in that are fun and helps break down the barriers in the differences in people.”

War haka (peruperu) was originally performed by warriors before a battle, proclaiming their strength and prowess in order to intimidate the opposition. Today, haka constitutes an integral part of formal or official welcome ceremonies for distinguished visitors or foreign dignitaries, serving to impart a sense of the importance of the occasion.

“It is a native New Zealand warrior dance,” said Samuelu. “We originally did it in rugby. It is basically introducing your self to an opponent. It is a pump dance to get everyone up and intense and ready to go to battle.”

The Lumberjacks plan on performing the ritual prior to games directed to their fans. They performed it following the scrimmage Saturday and have been practicing the dance after recent workouts.

“It is a great experience for the Polynesian kids in our program to share with the rest of guys what is means and what it stands for and to participate in it,” said Souers. “It is something that comes from our team and our players choose to participate in.”

The Lumberjacks also perform a war lance ceremony after wins.

Linebacker U: Northern Arizona has a strong tradition of linebackers under Head Coach Jerome Souers. The linebackers are featured in the defense run by the Lumberjacks and play an integral part of the success of the unit.

“As the linebackers, we are one of the strengths of the defense,” said senior Zac McNally. “We have to step it up for the younger guys that are playing around us.”

In 2009, NAU returns a solid group at the position with experience. The top two returning tacklers on the team are both linebackers: Anthony Llanos (54 tackles) and Stevon Thomas (48). With senior Zac McNally (30 tackles) and junior Scott McKeever (11) both back this season with All-Big Sky Preseason first-team selection Cody Dowd (32), the Lumberjacks have a group that played a combined 55 games last season and made more than 160 tackles.

“We have the core group of guys and have a lot of experience,” said McNally after a recent practice. “That is going to help us. We have a great group of guys that are coming up that are going to help us that are underclassman. Everyone is looking forward playing together and having fun running around the field.”

Bully Beatdown: Former Lumberjack tight end Jason Thomas has been working in California since graduating in 2007 and was recently presented an opportunity to appear on the MTV show Bully Beatdown and a chance to win $10,000.

Thomas, who is originally from Bakersfield, Calif., played football at NAU from 2005-07. He will appear in the second episode of the 2009 season set to air on Thursday, Sept. 3 on MTV at 9:30 p.m. It was previewed in the season premier last week.

Thomas will be put in the ring with a mixed martial art fighter picked by show host Jason "Mayhem" Miller. The first round is grappling and second is kick boxing. Based on his performance, he could win $10,000. He presented as the “pretty boy” who has tormented his brother and his friend Josh for the longest time.

More Scrimmage Notes: The Lumberjacks ran back a kick during special teams work Saturday. It just was not with the ball that was kicked off. Conrad Meadows took the ball back while his teammate ran the ball back that was kicked.

“We were going to just hand the ball to the returner but clearly one of our returners did not get that,” said Souers. “That would be worth some deception if we could pull that one off.”

Up a Tree: The Lumberjacks have a beautiful practice facility surrounded by pine trees. It is scene that Sports Illustrated has picked twice in recent years to feature in their magazine. Saturday it proved to be trouble.

Kicker Andy Wilder booted a point-after attempt that lodged in the trees behind the goal posts. It took a host of people trying to knock the ball loose before Equipment Coordinator George Fox came to the rescue and got the ball out.