TEMPE, Ariz. – A pair of former Sun Devils, Junior Ah You (1972) and Dan Saleaumua (1987), are among a group of 18 finalists for the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Class of 2017, announced by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame.
Finalists were selected from a group of more than 200 nominations with five inductees to be selected for the Class of 2017. The induction class will be announced on Oct. 12, 2016, with the inductees to be honored during the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend, Jan. 21-22, 2017, on O'ahu Island in Hawaii.
Ah You enjoyed an illustrious playing career in the Maroon and Gold, earning All-America honors by both the AP and United Press following the 1971 season. Ah You was also a two-time first-team All-Western Athletic Conference selection, earning first-team honors in both the 1970 and '71 seasons.
Following his career at ASU, Ah You continued his playing career with the Montreal Alouettes, after turning down an opportunity to play for the New England Patriots, who drafted him with the 425th pick in the 1972 NFL Draft. Ah You enjoyed a nine-year playing career with the Alouettes, helping the team win the Grey Cup Championship in 1974 and '77. In 1981, Ah You made the jump to the USFL where he played two seasons with the Chicago Blitz before returning to Arizona to finish his football playing career with the Arizona Outlaws.
Saleaumua played four season for the Sun Devils where he earned All-America honors following the 1985 season. Following his four-year career for the ASU, Saleaumua became the fifth Sun Devil to be drafted in the 1988 NFL Draft as he was picked by the Detroit Lions in the seventh round.
Saleaumua enjoyed a 12-year NFL career spending two years with the Lions before joining the Kansas City Chiefs 1989. While in Kansas City, Saleaumua set the Chiefs' career record for fumbles recovered with 18, a mark that still stands as a franchise best today. Following the '96 season, Saleaumua joined the Seattle Seahawks where he played two seasons before ending his playing career in 1998.
Following his NFL career, Saleaumua became a volunteer defensive line coach for Desert Vista High School in Phoenix. Saleaumua ended his coaching career in 2001 and focused his attention to helping raise money for the American Cancer Society.
Finalists were selected from a group of more than 200 nominations with five inductees to be selected for the Class of 2017. The induction class will be announced on Oct. 12, 2016, with the inductees to be honored during the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend, Jan. 21-22, 2017, on O'ahu Island in Hawaii.
Ah You enjoyed an illustrious playing career in the Maroon and Gold, earning All-America honors by both the AP and United Press following the 1971 season. Ah You was also a two-time first-team All-Western Athletic Conference selection, earning first-team honors in both the 1970 and '71 seasons.
Following his career at ASU, Ah You continued his playing career with the Montreal Alouettes, after turning down an opportunity to play for the New England Patriots, who drafted him with the 425th pick in the 1972 NFL Draft. Ah You enjoyed a nine-year playing career with the Alouettes, helping the team win the Grey Cup Championship in 1974 and '77. In 1981, Ah You made the jump to the USFL where he played two seasons with the Chicago Blitz before returning to Arizona to finish his football playing career with the Arizona Outlaws.
Saleaumua played four season for the Sun Devils where he earned All-America honors following the 1985 season. Following his four-year career for the ASU, Saleaumua became the fifth Sun Devil to be drafted in the 1988 NFL Draft as he was picked by the Detroit Lions in the seventh round.
Saleaumua enjoyed a 12-year NFL career spending two years with the Lions before joining the Kansas City Chiefs 1989. While in Kansas City, Saleaumua set the Chiefs' career record for fumbles recovered with 18, a mark that still stands as a franchise best today. Following the '96 season, Saleaumua joined the Seattle Seahawks where he played two seasons before ending his playing career in 1998.
Following his NFL career, Saleaumua became a volunteer defensive line coach for Desert Vista High School in Phoenix. Saleaumua ended his coaching career in 2001 and focused his attention to helping raise money for the American Cancer Society.