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Five Oregon Players Make Preseason Polynesian Player of the Year Watchlist

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Five Oregon Players Make Preseason Polynesian Player of the Year Watchlist


The Polynesian Soccer Corridor of Fame has introduced their yearly preseason watchlist for the 2022 Polynesian Faculty Soccer Participant of The Yr, which consists of 85 gamers from 43 FBS colleges throughout the nation. Noah Sewell, Popo Aumavae, Mase Funa, Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu and Sam ‘Taki’ Taimani all made the checklist for the Geese.

Observe: “The Polynesian Faculty Soccer Participant of The Yr might be offered to essentially the most excellent school soccer participant of Polynesian ancestry that epitomizes nice capability and integrity”.

All 5 Geese have been listed for this preseason award final 12 months as properly, with Sewell being a finalist, making him the fourth finalist in Oregon historical past. The Geese have all the time represented the Polynesian tradition very properly up to now, even debuting their flash “Ohana” uniforms for the 2020 sport in opposition to the UCLA Bruins.

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Former quarterback and Heisman trophy winner Marcus Mariota gained the award in 2014, Penei Sewell introduced it house in 2019 and DeForest Buckner was chosen as a finalist in 2015. Now the Geese have the honour of including 5 extra gamers to signify Oregon and the Polynesian tradition.

READ MORE: Has Oregon Soccer turned the nook in fall camp beneath Dan Lanning?

LB Noah Sewell

Oregon linebacker Noah Sewell additionally landed on the Butkus award watch checklist for the nation’s prime linebacker.

Sewell has been the outright chief of the protection since arriving in Eugene as a real freshman in 2020. Main the Geese in tackles each seasons whereas ending second within the convention this previous season, Oregon might be seeking to the third-year starter not solely to make performs, however to even be a pacesetter.

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DL Sam ‘Taki’ Taimani

Sam 'Taki' Taimani adds proven production and depth to the interior of Oregon's defensive line.

Sam ‘Taki’ Taimani provides confirmed manufacturing and depth to the inside of Oregon’s defensive position.

Taiani transferred to the Geese from Washington this previous offseason including extra expertise to the inside defensive position. Whereas at Washington he led the defensive position in tackles with 43 in 11 video games. Taimani can have the chance to make a reputation for himself alongside returning veterans like Brandon Dorlus and Popo Aumavae.

OL Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu

Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu was the top offensive line recruit in the JUCO rankings when he committed to Oregon.

Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu was the highest offensive line recruit within the JUCO rankings when he dedicated to Oregon.

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The senior offensive lineman will return as essentially the most skilled within the group. He is performed a complete of 710 snaps on the proper sort out place and helped help Oregon’s run sport success with 202 speeding yards per sport a season in the past. Oregon nearly did not get him again earlier than the season, as he declared for the NFL draft following the conclusion of the common season. When head coach Dan Lanning arrived at Oregon this offseason he wasted no time getting the proficient lineman again within the fold.

READ MORE: LSU CB commit Daylen Austin planning fall official visits

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LB Mase Funa

Mase Funa is Oregon's most experienced edge rusher heading into the 2022 sesason.

Mase Funa is Oregon’s most skilled edge rusher heading into the 2022 sesason.

One other skilled backer for the Geese this upcoming season, Funa performed a complete of 411 defensive snaps final season regardless of an damage. Funa might be enjoying in his fourth 12 months for Oregon this season and he appears to be like to assist a robust linebacking corps come week one. Funa was additionally the primary recruit to decide to Oregon and begin the ‘Cali Flock’ motion, which represents Oregon’s recruiting success within the Golden State.

DL Popo Aumavae

Popo Aumavae anchored Oregon's defensive line in 2021 and is back to 100% after missing the Alamo Bowl due to injury.

Popo Aumavae anchored Oregon’s defensive position in 2021 and is again to 100% after lacking the Alamo Bowl as a result of damage.

Aumavae completed his junior marketing campaign with a career-high 36 whole tackles whereas enjoying in 13 video games for Oregon. He was additionally named Pac-12 all-conference first-team choice. The senior is seeking to end the season higher than he did the final by dominating within the trenches.

This award might be offered throughout the Polynesian Soccer Corridor of Fame Enshrinement Week Celebration Dinner on the Sheraton Waikiki. Together with the presentation, the winner might be acknowledged throughout the Polynesian Bowl being performed on January 20, 2023.

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A tale of patience and a bribe: Oregon State’s Parsa Fallah fulfills his basketball dream

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A tale of patience and a bribe: Oregon State’s Parsa Fallah fulfills his basketball dream


CORVALLIS — Parsa Fallah can make it look so easy at times on the basketball floor.

Oregon State’s junior forward has turned more than a few defenders into a pretzel with an arsenal of post moves early this men’s basketball season. The 6-foot-9 Fallah is the third-leading scorer at 10.8 points a game for the 12-4 Beavers as they head into West Coast Conference road contests this week at Santa Clara and Pacific.

Yet it was anything but simple for one of Iran’s best young players to fulfill a dream to play basketball in the United States. It was a road that included paying an alleged $300 bribe to an airport security guard and living in various lodging venues in Senegal, Africa for six months.

When former Southern Utah coach Todd Simon identified Fallah as a player he’d like to add to his program, he acknowledged getting a player from Iran to the U.S. “would be a little bit of a process.”

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The process as Fallah understood meant traveling to the U.S. Embassy in Senegal, Africa, as Iran doesn’t have an embassy. Once there, Fallah was told it would take a few days to secure a U.S. visa to travel to Utah. There, Fallah would begin college and play for the Thunderbirds during the 2021-22 season.

Days became weeks, and weeks became months.

“Every day I was like, should I go back home, or should I stay? I’m not sure if I’m going to get the visa. I don’t want to disappoint my family. My dad was like, just come home. No one will care. But as I’ve said, it’s a dream to come (to the U.S.) and play basketball. I’ll deal with it.”

Fallah grew up in Amol, a city in northern Iran with a metro population of about 400,000. Fallah describes it as city where people go to vacation “because it’s so green, and it has a beach.”

Fallah, who prefers to be known as Persian, is often asked about living in a war-torn country. He says it’s anything but that. Fallah said he’s never seen fighting anywhere near his city. The first time he saw a gun was in the U.S.

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“It’s really safe. I was so confused when people would think and say stuff like that. It’s a really safe for us and people who are living there,” he said.

Fallah adds that after living for a few years in the U.S., he gets the thought process.

“I feel like the news is just telling you some part of the truth. It’s not just your country here. It’s my country, too,” Fallah said.

If it was a sport, Fallah wanted to try during his youth. Fallah dabbled in power lifting, and played volleyball and of course, soccer, as do most kids from his country. Fallah said it was easy. Kids would drop a pair of shoes down as goal posts in a field and play all day. His father Ezzat is a youth soccer coach.

A basketball coach spotted Fallah one day playing soccer and suggested he try his sport. Fallah didn’t like it at first, but at his father’s urging, stuck with it.

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Turns out it can be a good sport for someone who grew to be 6-9. Fallah evolved into one of the country’s top young players, as he played key roles for Iran at FIBA U-19 and U-20 tournaments.

There’s only so much future for a basketball player in Iran, however. Fallah said basketball ranks no higher than fifth or sixth among sports in his country.

“It’s kind of a boujee sport back home,” Fallah said. “It’s like golf and tennis here. Rich people play that stuff.”

It was 2019 when Fallah arrived on Simon’s radar. In 2021, Fallah decided to make the move from Iran to Southern Utah. He packed a suitcase, put $500 in his pocket, hugged his parents goodbye and left for Senegal, where at the airport Fallah met his first hurdle.

The security officer told Fallah he needed a visa to enter the country. It was Fallah’s understanding that as an Iranian citizen, he didn’t need a visa. The two argued. Eventually, Fallah paid the man $300 to enter the country.

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“He kind of blackmailed me,” Fallah said.

Fallah recalls arriving in Senegal on a Sunday, as he had a Monday appointment regarding his U.S. visa. Then he was told to wait for a call or email. Days went by. Weeks, even. Fallah stayed in a barebones hotel, each day checking his email to see if this was the day he’d get visa appointment.

Fallah had friends in the basketball community who helped him out financially, so he had a place to stay and eat.

Fallah recalls times when he felt scared and alone. But his dream was to play basketball in the United States. Even when he was mentally challenged, like one morning when he woke up and saw a giant spider crawling on the wall next to his bed. Simon, now coach at Bowling Green, said he and his coaches regularly checked on Fallah to make sure he was safe and fed.

One day, to Fallah’s surprise, he opened up his email and discovered he had been approved for a visa.

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“Just the best day of my life,” Fallah said.

Fallah flew to Las Vegas, where he met Simon. They drove 2½ hours to Cedar City, Utah, where Southern Utah is located. As much as Fallah liked what he saw, the weird thing was eating.

“I remember my first meal. Coach bought me Chick-Fil-A. I couldn’t eat. I’m not sure if it was because I was stressed out, or nervous, but I couldn’t eat for two or three days,” Fallah said.

Fallah’s appetite quickly returned, but basketball, not so much. Because it took six months to get to Utah, the Thunderbirds’ 2021-22 season had about six weeks remaining. Fallah was nowhere near college basketball playing shape. He used 21-22 as a redshirt season.

Fallah came off Southern Utah’s bench during the 2022-23 season. It was five games into the campaign, during a game at Kansas, that Simon thought he had something.

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“He comes off the bench, and had eight (points) and eight (rebounds) in 13 minutes,” Simon said. “Right then we knew, OK, he’s not afraid of anything. He was the best big on the floor in that game. We knew he was going to be special.”

The following year, Fallah started every game, averaging 13.2 points and 6.0 rebounds a game. Late in the 23-24 season, Fallah began to think about transferring. He loved Southern Utah and the coaching staff. It’s where he met his wife, Ellie.

“I was really sad to leave there. But I need to do the sacrifice to go somewhere bigger,” Fallah said.

Turns out, Oregon State was that somewhere bigger. Earlier in the season, Beavers coach Wayne Tinkle was scouting a Southern Utah opponent on video when he noticed Fallah. Tinkle told then-OSU assistant Eric Reveno, if Fallah goes in the portal, we need to get him.

Of the seven transfers to sign with Oregon State last spring, Fallah was the first one. He was ready for a “bigger” experience; Fallah has started each of OSU’s 16 games this season, scoring double figures nine times, with back-to-back 25-point games in December.

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One entertaining aspect of Fallah’s game are his post moves. Fallah is difficult to defend near the basket one-on-one because of the complexity of moves he’ll put on his man. Simon said when he coached Fallah at Southern Utah, they’d tried to get him to shoot three-pointers.

“I think there’s a future in that for him, but when you’re shooting 65 percent from two or whatever he’s at right now…it’s hard to argue with him leaving the paint,” Simon said.

Fallah thinks his childhood activity paid off.

“I was one of those tall people that could really move my feet, and I also had a really good touch,” Fallah said. “It might be because I tried a lot of new sports. Soccer and volleyball helped me a lot.”

Fallah is unsure of the future beyond Oregon State. He’d like to take a run at the 2028 Olympics, playing for Iran. Fallah would like to remain in U.S. after college, but his family is a factor.

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“I need to bring my family here. Family is really big for me, my little brother, my parents,” Fallah said. “I would love to stay here. I really love America. It’s like my second home.”

–Nick Daschel can be reached at 360-607-4824, ndaschel@oregonian.com or @nickdaschel.

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Former Oregon State star Isaiah Hodgins signs with San Francisco 49ers

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Former Oregon State star Isaiah Hodgins signs with San Francisco 49ers


Former Oregon State receiver Isaiah Hodgins is returning close to home after signing a futures contract Tuesday with the San Francisco 49ers.

The 6-foot-4 Hodgins, who played at OSU from 2017-19 and was a sixth-round selection by Buffalo in the 2020 NFL draft, grew up in Oakley, California, northeast of San Francisco.

Hodgins, who played for the Bills and New York Giants during the first five years of his NFL career, was on the Giants practice squad for the entire 2024 season. Hodgins has 60 receptions for 634 yards and seven touchdowns during a 31-game playing career.

A futures contract doesn’t count against an NFL team’s salary cap until the start of league’s next year. Teams can sign players who are part of a 53-man roster and on the practice squad or eligible for free agency to futures contracts.

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Among Oregon State’s all-time receivers, Hodgins ranks second in touchdowns (20), sixth in career receptions (176) and seventh in yardage (2,322).

— Nick Daschel can be reached at 360-607-4824, ndaschel@oregonian.com or @nickdaschel.

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Oregon town among 25 adult spring break 2025 destinations recommended by travel magazine

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Oregon town among 25 adult spring break 2025 destinations recommended by travel magazine


While spring break vacations are often thought of as a time for students to cut loose, Condé Nast Traveler suggests that adults deserve their own spring break getaways, and offers a list of 25 places to do just that.

The travel publication and website notes that spring break trips are “shining examples of one of the greatest travel hacks out there,” in that they can be enjoyed in the transitional months outside summer and winter peak travel periods.

To get a head start on making travel plans, Condé Nast Traveler rounded up 25 adult spring break destinations for 2025. And, no surprise, an Oregon town made the cut, another example of how Oregon hotels, campsites, beaches, food and more tend to show up on these kinds of best-of lists.

The Oregon spot that landed among the adult spring break recommendations is Bend, the central Oregon town known for its scenic beauty, nearby recreational opportunities, comfortable lodging, delicious food, and more.

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According to the Condé Nast Traveler article, “The Pacific Northwest is one of the most beautiful parts of the United States. To soak up all that nature but still get the perks of city living, head straight to Bend, Oregon (about three hours south of Portland). The town receives an annual average of 300 days of sunshine, giving visitors ample opportunities to go hiking through the Cascades or kayaking and fly fishing on the Deschutes River. Make sure you set aside some time to visit a brewery (or five) along the Bend Ale Trail.”

Bend is in eclectic company where adult spring break destinations are concerned. The Condé Nast Traveler list also includes New York City; Puerto Rico; Belize; Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; Samaná Bay, Dominican Republic; Oaxaca, Mexico; Anguilla; Holland; Kyoto, Japan; Panama City, Panama; Antigua; Bolivia; Vancouver Island, Canada; Healdsburg, California; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; Grand Canyon National Park; The Azores; Miami, Florida; Black River, Jamaica; Costa Rica; Alabama’s Gulf Coast; and San Diego, California.

— Kristi Turnquist covers features and entertainment. Reach her at 503-221-8227, kturnquist@oregonian.com or @Kristiturnquist

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