HONOLULU – Arizona State football alums Dan Saleaumua and David Dixon were named as two of the 12 Finalists that will be on the ballot for induction into the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Class of 2019.
An Honorable Mention All-American in 1985, Saleaumua was twice a Second-Team All-Pac-10 pick. Beyond ASU, he had a 12-year NFL career including All-Pro honors in 1990 and a Pro Bowl selection for the Kansas City Chiefs in 1995. He played in 125 games over eight seasons in Kansas City. He finished his career with 35.5 sacks and 18 fumble recoveries - 17 of which came with the Chiefs, a franchise record that still stands. He also spent time with the Detroit Lions and Seattle Seahawks.
Saleaumua is of Samoan-American descent and coached in the Polynesian All-American Bowl in 2011. He was a seventh-round draft pick in 1987 and returned to ASU to receive his degree in 1997. He works closely with the American Cancer Society and a tireless fundraiser for the organization.
David Dixon, a member of the Sun Devils' offensive line for the 1990 and '91 seasons, played 11 professional seasons in the National Football League, and was just the second player of Maori descent to ever play professional football.
He spent the majority of his career with the Minnesota Vikings, making 134 starts and started 122 of a possible 128 games over the final eight years of his career - all at right guard. He appeared in 11 playoff games over six seasons with the Vikings and appeared in the NFC Championship games in 1998 and 2000. He also represented New Zealand in rugby in 1985 and received a Maori Sport Award in 2017, given to those of Maori descent for their contributions to sports. He was born and raised in Papakura, New Zealand.
The Finalists were selected from a field of over 100 nominees by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee which includes Coaches Dick Tomey (Chairman), Ron McBride and Dick Vermeil, past NFL player and Inaugural Inductee Olin Kreutz, past NFLPA President and Inaugural Inductee and current Sun Devil Football analyst Kevin Mawae, former NFL Player and Class of 2015 Inductee Ray Schoenke, ESPN Sportscaster Neil Everett, NFL Network writer and commentator Steve Wyche, and Honolulu Sportscaster Robert Kekaula.
The Selection Committee and all Hall of Fame Inductees will vote in the coming weeks to select the individuals who will be inducted as the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Class of 2019.
Four inductees will be announced on October 24, 2018. They will be honored during the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend and during the Polynesian Bowl on January 18 & 19, 2019.