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Coming to America As he jostled for sleeping space on the floor of the garage in a townhouse meant for two people that he shared with 20, Luani repeatedly reminded himself that his dream was worth it. Worth giving a good life in American Samoa where he was the international soccer team’s brightest young star. Worth telling his parents, Pentito and Niukini, that he would be leaving in one week, that he had no ticket back, and so it would certainly be years before they saw each other again. Worth getting on a plane and flying to Austin, Texas, to play for the Under-19 national team against the Americans, French and Panamanians, knowing that he had to do enough in those three games to convince some American college coach to give him a spot. “Did not have a college,” Luani said. “Just left to find something.” Luani was named the Most Valuable Player in the game against the U.S. team, as much for his punting as for his four tackles or the 25-yards he gained on a fake punt. The performance was enough to garner Luani a spot at Chabot College, a typically successful junior college in Hayward, California, where he could hope to attract the attention of a four-year school. American Samoans are social by nature – have a friend of a friend who lives on the island, and you’ll find a feast and a party waiting for you on the island when you arrive. The families are big, and you are a brother or sister even if the relationship is not biological. Maybe that made it easier for Luani to slum it in that overstuffed apartment in Hayward, California. When Luani and his 20 roommates were evicted, for the obvious reason that you cannot have 10 people per bedroom, Luani came perilously close to being without a home, a ticket back to American Samoa or even a team. A living situation was not even the most pressing of Luani’s concerns. He could not afford tuition at Chabot, so he was allowed to practice with the team, but he could play in games. Fortunately, a chance introduction solved both problems. One of his many roommates had introduced Luani to a local pastor and his family, who were willing to take in the young safety. The pastor’s brother-in-law was a coach at the powerhouse City College of San Francisco, and he recommended Luani try out for the team. Two years later, a litany of prominent college football teams were offering Luani football scholarships. In Pullman, he found the best combination of family atmosphere, academic support and a seemingly trouble-free environment to keep his dream of playing professional football on track. Life at WSU He has not seen his parents in years and to even talk with them requires a three-way conference call connection with a brother who lives in Arizona. He sends what little stipend money is left over after rent and utilities are paid for back to Pentito and Niukini … Prosecutor decided not to press charges. Education, football, but came perilously close to throwing it away…