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JAMM AQUINO / NOV. 19
Tua Tagovailoa looked to pass against the Kahuku Red Raiders in the state championship game.
The inaugural Polynesian Bowl is set to kickoff Saturday at Aloha Stadium, with or without two of its star attractions.
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa returned home to Hawaii on Wednesday night from Alabama and will be at the event. But as of today it was still unknown if he will play in the high school all-star game.
Polynesian Bowl officials learned Tuesday that the five-star Crimson Tide recruit who led Saint Louis to a state championship last fall might not be eligible because he is already enrolled in classes at Alabama.
“We’ve appealed to the NCAA and are still trying to get a ruling,” Kevin Kaplan of the Polynesian Bowl and Polynesian Football Hall of Fame said before today’s practice.
There is precedent for early college enrollees to play in high school all-star games, Kaplan said.
Tagovailoa said he does have the blessing of his new coach, Alabama’s Nick Saban, to play in the game.
“We talked to Coach Saban about that before committing,” said Tagovailoa, who played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl on Jan. 6, before he started classes at Alabama. “I really want to play, but it’s important for me to be here even if I don’t, to show my support for the event and for all kids of Polynesian ancestry. I’m not too sure if I’ll get to play, but we’re still trying.”
Tagovailoa is on the roster of Team Mariota, named for its honorary captain, Marcus Mariota.
Mariota participated by Skype in Monday’s player draft in Waikiki, and picked Tagovailoa, his fellow Saint Louis graduate. But because of recent surgery, it was uncertain if the Tennessee Titans quarterback and 2014 Heisman Trophy winner would be able to fly to Hawaii for Saturday’s game.
Mariota suffered a fractured right fibula Dec. 24 in Tennessee’s game at Jacksonville and underwent surgery the next week.
The game will feature 20 players rated in ESPN’s top 300 rankings and 37 of the top high school football players from Hawaii. Six Washington commits, five Michigan commits and three commits to both Oregon and Southern California are in the game, along with many of the top undecided recruits remaining.
This is becoming an attractive game for recruiting, especially when you get some 5 star recruits from all over the mainland. Sweet!
Sorry. I do not like any activities that exclude people based on race or ethnicity. Let everyone play or cancel this event. Why keep trying to divide people on the accident of their race?
This is an inclusive event. Players of many different ethnicities are in the game. You don’t have to be Polynesian to play in it. You don’t even necessarily have to be Polynesian to be in the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame.
Didn’t Tagavailoa play in the game last week?
He played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl all-star game, but since it was before Alabama started classes that seems to be where the NCAA is making a distinction.
Alabama classes began January 11, 2017. Tagovailoa played in the JPS Paradise Bowl on January 14, 2017.
Sorry. Looks like it was the brother, Taulia, who played in the JPS Paradise Bowl.
This game is too far from seasons end.
…and how many tickets have been sold to the Game?
wow, you mean the organizers of the event didn’t check it out first before publicizing that Tagovailoa could actually play in the game???? what a shame it this is the case and clearly false advertising. what about all the people who already purchased tickets to see this phenomenal athlete??? do they get money back? I’m sure a person who does not want him to play…and possibly tipped off the NCAA…is Alabama head coach Nick Saban.
They probably knew both of them couldn’t attend, but it would’ve hurt ticket sales, thus the last minute announcement.