It's the middle of June. One of the slowest times in all sports, not just football, which is precisely why Blue Cougar Football has chosen now to release its annual top 10 list.
It has been a few years since the site has been fully functional in June, so for those who are new or may have forgotten, Blue Cougar Football takes these top 10 lists very seriously. Which is why there is just one each year, and it takes two weeks to countdown from 10 to one. Copious amounts of research have been done. Much thought has been put into not just who made the list, but where on the list is the right place for each player. In order to give each player the respect he deserves, they each receive an in depth look at their achievements, and only one is spotlighted each day (Monday-Friday) until the list is complete.
As the title indicates, this year's top 10 concentrates on a specific group of players that have an intregal part in the success and identity of BYU football. This site has made a commitment to give this group the attention it deserves, so it only seems natural this year to countdown the Top 10 Polynesian players in BYU football history.
It was not easy. Any given season there are a handful of Polynesians who play a huge role in the team's success. That made identifying the 10 best over the last seven decades a truly daunting task. For those who didn't make the cut, there will be an honorable mention list on the final day of the countdown.
Now, on to the countdown.
10. Mekeli Ieremia, DT, 1974-77
It didn't take long after LaVell Edwards became head coach and decided to redouble the schools efforts to attract Polynesian players for him to land one of the most dominating defenders to ever come through Provo. Growing up in Western Samoa, Mekeli Ieremia wasn't exposed to American football until he migrated to the United States in 1972. He played just one season at Sleepy Hollow High School in Tarrytown, New York.
Ieremia did benefit from being a physically imposing 6-foot-3 1/2 inches tall and 235 pounds. He also had the ability to "flip the switch" when he stepped on the field. By all accounts, he was a perfect gentleman off the field, but with a helmet and shoulder pads on, he was an intense warrior. Despite his lack of experience, Ieremia became a starter on the defensive line as a sophomore in 1975. That year he was third on the team in tackles (110), he tied for the most sacks (5), and was fifth on the team in defensive points with 156.
Editor's note: It used to be common for coaches to award defensive players points for making a play on defense. An unassisted/solo tackle was worth two points, a sack was worth three points, an interception was worth five points, etc.
That sophomore season he gained a reputation for coming up big in goal line stands, particularly in the Arizona State game, which kept the Cougars in the game into the fourth quarter. His strong play that entire season helped bring accolades Ieremia's way after another good season in 1976.
Ieremia came out of the gates with 11 tackles in the first game of his junior season. He made two big plays to help BYU to a key win against Arizona early in game three. The first play was a vicious block to help Tony Hernandez pick up 29 yards on an interception return. The bigger play, however, was a 10-yard sack with just a minute left. The game was tied 16-16, and Ieremia's sack helped get the ball back for the Cougars who won the game with a 43-yard touchdown pass with three seconds left on the clock. Against UTEP, he set a school record for defensive points with 45 (that included seven unassisted tackles, thirteen assisted tackles, two sacks, two tackles for loss, one forced fumble, and one quarterback hurry. He was named the WAC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance.
He was controversially ejected from the Colorado State game in the fourth quarter after the referee ruled Ieremia hit the Rams quarterback with his fist.
Ieremia finished the year with a school record 17 sacks and 23 quarterback hurries, which earned him first-team All-WAC and honorable mention AP All-American honors.
His senior season started by earning WAC Defensive Player of the Week honors against Kansas State. Ieremia's best game of the season, however, was against New Mexico (game three). He totaled 14 tackles, one sack, four tackles for loss, forced two fumbles, and had four quarterback hurries. Teams must have learned by that point to avoid Ieremia, because his numbers took a huge dip the rest of the season. Nevertheless, he was still named first-team All-WAC and honorable mention AP All-American for the second straight season.
Ieremia was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the sixth round of the 1978 NFL Draft, but ended up playing for the Buffalo Bills that seasons. He appeared in two games. It was his only season in the NFL.
Top 10 Polynesian Players
10. Mekeli Ieremia, DT, 1974-77
9. Kurt Gouveia, LB, 1982-85
8. Reno Mahe, WR/RB, 1998, 2001-02
7. Glen Kozlowski, WR, 1981, 1983-85
6. Aaron Francisco, DB, 2001-04
5. Vai Sikahema, PR/KR/RB, 1980-81, 1984-85
4. Kai Nacua, FS, 2013-16
3. Lakei Heimuli, RB, 1983-86
2. Harvey Unga, RB, 2006-09
1. Kyle Van Noy, LB, 2010-13
The Editor appreciates all feedback. He can be reached via email at bluecougarfootball@gmail.com
It has been a few years since the site has been fully functional in June, so for those who are new or may have forgotten, Blue Cougar Football takes these top 10 lists very seriously. Which is why there is just one each year, and it takes two weeks to countdown from 10 to one. Copious amounts of research have been done. Much thought has been put into not just who made the list, but where on the list is the right place for each player. In order to give each player the respect he deserves, they each receive an in depth look at their achievements, and only one is spotlighted each day (Monday-Friday) until the list is complete.
As the title indicates, this year's top 10 concentrates on a specific group of players that have an intregal part in the success and identity of BYU football. This site has made a commitment to give this group the attention it deserves, so it only seems natural this year to countdown the Top 10 Polynesian players in BYU football history.
It was not easy. Any given season there are a handful of Polynesians who play a huge role in the team's success. That made identifying the 10 best over the last seven decades a truly daunting task. For those who didn't make the cut, there will be an honorable mention list on the final day of the countdown.
Now, on to the countdown.
 |
| Courtesy BYUCougars.com |
10. Mekeli Ieremia, DT, 1974-77
It didn't take long after LaVell Edwards became head coach and decided to redouble the schools efforts to attract Polynesian players for him to land one of the most dominating defenders to ever come through Provo. Growing up in Western Samoa, Mekeli Ieremia wasn't exposed to American football until he migrated to the United States in 1972. He played just one season at Sleepy Hollow High School in Tarrytown, New York.
Ieremia did benefit from being a physically imposing 6-foot-3 1/2 inches tall and 235 pounds. He also had the ability to "flip the switch" when he stepped on the field. By all accounts, he was a perfect gentleman off the field, but with a helmet and shoulder pads on, he was an intense warrior. Despite his lack of experience, Ieremia became a starter on the defensive line as a sophomore in 1975. That year he was third on the team in tackles (110), he tied for the most sacks (5), and was fifth on the team in defensive points with 156.
Editor's note: It used to be common for coaches to award defensive players points for making a play on defense. An unassisted/solo tackle was worth two points, a sack was worth three points, an interception was worth five points, etc.
That sophomore season he gained a reputation for coming up big in goal line stands, particularly in the Arizona State game, which kept the Cougars in the game into the fourth quarter. His strong play that entire season helped bring accolades Ieremia's way after another good season in 1976.
Ieremia came out of the gates with 11 tackles in the first game of his junior season. He made two big plays to help BYU to a key win against Arizona early in game three. The first play was a vicious block to help Tony Hernandez pick up 29 yards on an interception return. The bigger play, however, was a 10-yard sack with just a minute left. The game was tied 16-16, and Ieremia's sack helped get the ball back for the Cougars who won the game with a 43-yard touchdown pass with three seconds left on the clock. Against UTEP, he set a school record for defensive points with 45 (that included seven unassisted tackles, thirteen assisted tackles, two sacks, two tackles for loss, one forced fumble, and one quarterback hurry. He was named the WAC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance.
He was controversially ejected from the Colorado State game in the fourth quarter after the referee ruled Ieremia hit the Rams quarterback with his fist.
 |
| Courtesy 1977 BYU Media Guide |
Ieremia finished the year with a school record 17 sacks and 23 quarterback hurries, which earned him first-team All-WAC and honorable mention AP All-American honors.
His senior season started by earning WAC Defensive Player of the Week honors against Kansas State. Ieremia's best game of the season, however, was against New Mexico (game three). He totaled 14 tackles, one sack, four tackles for loss, forced two fumbles, and had four quarterback hurries. Teams must have learned by that point to avoid Ieremia, because his numbers took a huge dip the rest of the season. Nevertheless, he was still named first-team All-WAC and honorable mention AP All-American for the second straight season.
| Tackles |
Solo
| Assist | TFL | PD | Int | Sacks | QBH | FF | FR | TD | |
| 1974 |
4
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
| 1975 |
110
|
11
|
99
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
5
|
9
|
1
|
2
|
0
|
| 1976 |
95
|
29
|
66
|
8
|
0
|
0
|
17
|
23
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
| 1977 |
48
|
14
|
34
|
6
|
0
|
0
|
5
|
16
|
2
|
2
|
0
|
| Career |
257
|
56
|
201
|
15
|
0
|
0
|
27
|
48
|
5
|
5
|
0
|
Ieremia was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the sixth round of the 1978 NFL Draft, but ended up playing for the Buffalo Bills that seasons. He appeared in two games. It was his only season in the NFL.
Top 10 Polynesian Players
10. Mekeli Ieremia, DT, 1974-77
9. Kurt Gouveia, LB, 1982-85
8. Reno Mahe, WR/RB, 1998, 2001-02
7. Glen Kozlowski, WR, 1981, 1983-85
6. Aaron Francisco, DB, 2001-04
5. Vai Sikahema, PR/KR/RB, 1980-81, 1984-85
4. Kai Nacua, FS, 2013-16
3. Lakei Heimuli, RB, 1983-86
2. Harvey Unga, RB, 2006-09
1. Kyle Van Noy, LB, 2010-13
The Editor appreciates all feedback. He can be reached via email at bluecougarfootball@gmail.com
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