LIBERIANS IN SPORTS
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Shifted from
defensive tackle to end entering his
junior season, Tamba Hali blossomed into
a relentless, playmaking force at his
new position in 2004. He was selected
second-team All-Big Ten by the coaches
and media and should be a candidate for
conference and national honors in his
senior season. Hali was a primary reason
why the Nittany Lions were ranked in the
top 10 in total and scoring defense and
was the nation's only team to not allow
more than 21 points in a game. A very
mature and driven leader, Hali was
chosen a preseason second-team
All-American by Athlon, an
honorable-mention All-American by Street
& Smith's and first-team All-Big Ten by
Athlon and Lindy's heading into this
season. Hali brings tremendous
athleticism, attitude and toughness to
the D-Line and will be counted on for
leadership and consistently productive
play. He has very good size and strength
and has the ability to be a dominant
physical presence. His quickness and
instincts also give him the opportunity
to consistently deliver big plays and he
wears down opposing defenses with an
engine and desire that never quits. He
has played in the last 35 games and is
the Lions' most experienced defensive
lineman. Hali was thrown into the fray
in the second game of his true freshman
season. But, making his collegiate debut
as an 18-year-old against Nebraska was
nothing compared to some of his
experiences in his native Liberia. The
African nation was ravaged by civil war
during Hali's youth and he fled the
country as a 10-year-old, joining his
father, Henry, a chemistry and physics
teacher who already was in the United
States. He has not seen his mother,
Rachel Keita, since, but maintains
contact with her and members of his
family in Liberia and is hopeful of
being reunited with them in the near
future.
2004 Junior Season
Hali was shifted from defensive
tackle to end during spring drills and
thrived in his new position. He was a
primary reason why the Nittany Lions
were ranked in the top 10 in four
categories and were the nation's only
team to not allow more than 21 points in
a game. A starter in all 11 contests, he
was selected second-team All-Big Ten by
the coaches and media. Hali tied for the
team lead and sixth in the Big Ten with
12 tackles for loss (minus-43 yards) and
was fifth on the team with 51 tackles
(29 solo). He added two sacks, one
interception, one forced fumble and a
pass breakup to greatly aid the stout
defense. Hali tied his career-high with
10 stops and added a tackle for loss in
helping hold the Ohio State offense to
seven points and posted six tackles and
a sack against Northwestern and Indiana
in a stellar three-game stretch at the
end of the year. He made four tackles
against Iowa (three solo), including two
TFL, and forced a fumble, in helping
hold the Hawkeyes to two field goals.
Hali posted at least one tackle for loss
in 10 of 11 games and, in the one game
he didn't, the season-ending victory
over Michigan State, he grabbed his
first career interception that set up an
eight-yard touchdown drive. He was on
the field for 734 snaps, highest among
the defensive linemen, and sixth-highest
on the team.
2003 Sophomore Season
Hali played in every game, starting
11, at defensive tackle. He ranked sixth
on the team with 53 tackles (23 solo),
including six tackles for loss (minus-16
yards), one sack, a fumble recovery and
a pass breakup. He was tied for third on
the squad in minusyardage plays. Nagging
injuries hampered him in several games,
but he still managed to plug the middle
effectively and post some outstanding
efforts. In the season-opening win over
Temple, Hali made six tackles with one
tackle for loss. He recorded five
tackles (four solo) and a TFL at
Nebraska and another five-tackle day
with two TFL at Iowa. He made a
career-high tying 10 tackles at
Northwestern and had six tackles (four
solo) and one TFL in a win over Indiana.
Hali made his first career sack and
added three tackles in a narrow loss to
Ohio State. He was on the field for 604
plays, topped by 66 against Northwestern
and 63 at Michigan State.
2002 Freshman Season
Beginning with the Nebraska contest,
Hali played in 12-straight games, and
was one of only three true freshmen to
see action. He made 10 tackles (five
solo), including a hit for a three-yard
loss in the 40-7 win over the Huskers in
his debut. Hali made two tackles each
against Nebraska and Michigan State and
posted a season-best three stops in the
Capital One Bowl contest with Auburn. He
was on the field for 156 snaps.
High School
Hali was an All-American for Coach
Dennis Heck at Teaneck HS. He was
selected an All-America defensive end by
G&W and SuperPrep ranked him as the
nation's No. 3 defensive lineman and No.
1 overall prospect in New Jersey. He was
a nominee for New Jersey 2001 Gatorade
Player-of-the-Year. During his superb
senior year, he collected 64 solo
tackles, including 23 tackles for losses
and eight sacks. As a junior, he had 45
unassisted tackles, with 24 TFL and 12
sacks. Hali also played basketball.
Personal
Full name is Tamba Boimah Hali. He is
a journalism major. Born November 3,
1983. |
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| Year: |
Sr. |
| Position: |
LB |
| Height: |
6-2 |
| Weight: |
235 |
| Hometown: |
Woonsocket, R.I. |
| Previous School: |
Woonsocket HS |
2003: Played in all 12 games, starting the final 10
at DE ... Made 38 tackles (24 solo), seven TFLs, 3.5
sacks, two FFs, one FR, and three QBHs … Had five
tackles (three solo), two sacks and a FF at Middle
Tennessee ... Made a career-high seven tackles (four
solo) versus Virginia Tech ...
2002: Played in all 12 games, making one start ...
Started versus Syracuse ... Made 15 tackles (10 solo),
one TFL, one PBU, one QBH, one FR and one FF ... Had a
season-high four tackles (three solo), one TFL, one FR
and a QBH against Cincinnati ...
2001: Unable to participate under NCAA guidelines ...
HIGH SCHOOL: A 1998 graduate of Woonsocket (R.I.) HS
… A two-year varsity letterwinner at both WR and LB …
Was a first team all-division LB … Also participated in
track & field … Was the state champion in 110-meter high
hurdles, 45-meter indoor hurdles and the high jump … Was
a two-time state pentathlon champion …
PERSONAL: Born September 21, 1980 in Monrovia,
Liberia … Business administration major that has been
cited on the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll ... Son of
Roland Dunbar Sr. and Athelia Tubman Davies ... Dunbar’s
grandfather, the late William V.S. Tubman, was the
President of Liberia for 27 years before passing away in
1971 ... Dunbar is also a descendant of 19th century
abolitionist Harriet Tubman. |
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Number: 15
Name: Richard Yancy
Position: Safety
College: Cedar Hill High School
Height: 6-1
Weight: 195
DOB: 01/31/79
Experience: 1st NFL Season
Acquired: Free Agent - 2005 through NFL International Development
Practice Squad program
Hometown: Berlin, Germany
Will remain on Chargers’ practice squad throughout 2005 NFL
season... spent 2004 season with San Francisco in same program...
six-year veteran of NFL Europe... played for Berlin Thunder from 2000-01
and Rhein Fire from 2002-05... tied as team’s third-leading tackler with
42 stops in 2005... named to All-NFL Europe Team in 2004... played in
three consecutive World Bowls from 2001-03... won World Bowl
championship ring with Berlin in 2001... named NFLE National Player of
Week three times during career... in 1996 attended Trenton High School
in Trenton, New Jersey and Cedar Hill High School in Cedar Hill,
Texas... played for Berlin Adler in German Football League first
division in 1997... represented Team Europe in 1998 and 1999 Global
Junior Championships and German National Team in 2000... son of Russian
mother and Liberian father... has worked as fitness coach... born Jan.
31, 1979 in Berlin, Germany.
- High School Record
Groveport Madison High School (Oh)
Averaged 13.7 points
8.5 rebounds
2 blocks per game
Team MVP as Senior
Second-team All Conference
Graduated with a 3.66 GPA
- Ohio University Record
1998-1999 (Freshman)
One-time MAC defensive player of the Week (Dec. 21)
10 Games with 2 or more blocks
1999-2000 (Sophomore)
5th in MAC with 37 blocks
64 career blocked shots
Bhawoh Jue
is ready for a fresh start in San Diego. The former third-round draft pick
is eager to realize his potential. Chargers General Manager A.J. Smith
showed his confidence in Bhawoh by signing him to a three-year contract on
March 3, 2005.
Bhawoh was born in the African nation of Liberia, though his family moved
from the war ravaged country when he was a year old. He lived in California
and Rhode Island before his family settled in Virginia. His name Bhawoh
means “very powerful man.” His great-great grandfather on his mother’s side,
Todall, was regarded as a great warrior and a very powerful man during the
civil war that raged in Liberia. Bhawoh’s grandmother, Gromah Quenah, gave
Bhawoh his name.
Bhawoh has given his time to the Special Olympics and “The Second Mile,” a
charitable program for children, which was founded by Jerry Sandusky, his
former defensive coordinator at Penn State.
His hobbies include electronic gadgetry, playing basketball, listening to
music and playing PlayStation2. He began tinkering with electronics in
college and enjoys working with computers, digital cameras, editing
software, MP3 recorders and CD burners. He uses his video camera to record
events and later edits them on his computer and adds music. Bhawoh has
shared some of his computer knowledge with his parents and has considered a
post-football career in movie editing. He recently moved into a new home in
Fairfax, Virginia that is wired for hi-fi throughout the house.
TRANSACTION HISTORY: Third-round draft choice (71) by Green Bay,
April 21, 2001... signed with Chargers, March 3, 2005.
College: Honorable mention All-Big Ten and selected to play in 2001
Senior Bowl following senior season... ranked fourth in Big Ten as senior
with 16 passes defensed... tied for team lead with three interceptions...
finished career with 99 tackles, seven interceptions and 28 passes defensed...
played at Penn State from 1997-2000... needs one class to complete his
degree in telecommunications.
Personal: Born May 24, 1979 in Monrovia, Liberia... USA Today
All-America and Associated Press all-state at Chantilly High School in
Chantilly, Virginia... named region and conference Defensive Player of
Year... led team to AAA state championship as senior... played defensive
back and tailback... lettered three years in football and basketball... has
residences in San Diego and Fairfax, Va.
A 5th-round draft choice in 2004, Tapeh is a bruising back who can play
fullback, running back and contribute on special teams. However, last season he
suffered a dislocated hip late in the 4th quarter at StL (12/27/04) and was
placed on IR two days later. After rehabbing in the offseason, Tapeh was placed
on the PUP/Reserve list on 8/30 and will be eligible to return to practice with
the team between weeks 6-9 of the regular season.
BIRDSEED
Grew up playing soccer in Liberia before moving with his mother, Cecily Woiwor,
and his two sisters, Vickey and Winifred, to St. Paul when he was 9 years old.
Said Tapeh of that transition, "I had to learn how to speak English. I was
alone. All I had was my mother and sisters. I really did not fit in with the
other kids and I did not have any friends. So it was real hard for me."
Credits cartoons for helping him learn English. "Cartoons helped me a lot. There
was 'Tailspin.' There was 'Thundercats.' All those cartoons, that's what I
watched, and I mimicked how they spoke. Later on I figured out how the words
were put together."
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Appeared in seven games in 2004, primarily on special teams (3 tackles on those
units). Finished the season with 12-42 rushing and 2-15 receiving numbers.
PERSONAL
Resides in a home located in St. Paul, MN, built by Habitat for Humanity.
Thomas, in fact, helped build that house.
Has a brother, Archie, and a third sister, Amy.
Growing up without a father in his life, Tapeh received special guidance from
Von Shepard, his high school guidance counselor, and Steven Scroggins, his
junior high basketball coach. Shepard engrained this quote into Tapeh's mind,
"If there is no enemy from within, the enemy inside can do you no harm."
Graduated with a degree in family social sciences and youth studies. "I want to
change lives the way Steve and Von, along with my extended family, did with me,"
said Tapeh. "If they can change my life, I want to be in a position to change
many more."
Was a USA Today second-team All American and Minnesota State player of the year
at Johnson High School in St. Paul. Holds the St. Paul City Conference records
for points in a career (296), season (158), game (37), and TDs in a game (6).
Was also an all-conference selection in basketball and track.
Was a guest at the Multicultural Community Family Services annual fundraising
dinner in the Philadelphia area in 2004. The event featured a Liberian cultural
dance performance by Princess Hawah Daisy Moore.
Considers himself a devoted Christian.
Full Name: Thomas Teah Tapeh (pronounced: Tuh PAY)
COLLEGE
A bruising fullback who also saw time in one-back offensive sets, played in 43
games (15 starts), totaling 1,957 yards and 24 TDs on 410 carries. Also went
18-213-2TDs receiving. As a senior, helped the Gophers rank third in the nation
in rushing going 119-570-11TDs, including three TDs in the Sun Bowl. In 2002,
posted 905 rushing yards and 8 TDs. As a freshman, ran for 344 yds. and 2 TDs
and connected with WR Ron Johnson on a 64-yd. TD pass vs. Penn State before
suffering a season-ending foot injury. Redshirted in 1999.
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Copyright © 2005 by Welcome Liberia
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