Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele showcased an impressive understanding of the legacy of successful Division I quarterbacks from Hawaii during a press conference for the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl. His remarks brought a light-hearted moment as he acknowledged the historical figures in Hawaii’s football landscape, often referring to them as role models from an era before his time. “You grow up watching these guys, or knowing who they are. Obviously, they played before I was born,” Sagapolutele remarked, which elicited laughter from those in attendance. He expressed pride in following the achievements of players like Nick Rolovich, now the interim head coach for California, and Timmy Chang, the head coach for Hawaii.
Sagapolutele, who holds Hawaii’s high school passing record with 10,653 yards and 114 touchdowns achieved over three seasons at Campbell High, made a significant impact during his freshman year at Cal, starting in every game. He completed 63.6% of his passes, accumulating 3,117 yards and 17 touchdowns while leading his team to a 7-5 record and a bowl game.
In his second season, Cal posted a 4-4 record in the Atlantic Coast Conference, which was enough for another bowl invitation, this time against Hawaii and Coach Chang. Chang praised Sagapolutele for his talent, noting that he had previously been a regular presence at practices and games during high school. Chang reflected on their unique journey: “Just months ago, Jaron would be on the field with us for our games… and just months later the young man is playing in a bowl game,” emphasizing the speed of Sagapolutele’s progression into a collegiate star.
Remarkably, Sagapolutele is the only Power 4 and second FBS true freshman to commence his career with 12 consecutive games of passing for over 200 yards. His impressive 3,117 passing yards rank sixth on California’s all-time single-season passing list.
Cal’s current roster features four players who are Hawaii high school alumni, showcasing the school’s connection to its roots. Aiden Manutai, a freshman defensive back, joined Sagapolutele at the press conference, expressing excitement about returning to play in Hawaii. “We’re just super grateful and excited to show our other teammates around,” he said.
Sagapolutele echoed this sentiment, highlighting the joy of competing in a bowl game, especially against familiar opponents: “It was just a big opportunity for us to play against guys we’ve played before, play against guys we’ve played with before. Just being able to do that and play in front of our family meant the world.”
The Sheraton Hawaii Bowl is set to take place on Wednesday at 3 p.m. at Ching Complex, featuring a matchup between Hawaii (8-4) and California (7-5), televised on ESPN. This game not only represents an exciting opportunity for the players but also underscores the strong ties to the Hawaiian football community, adding an emotional layer to the competition.