Irrelevant Week: Thanks for the memories

Richard Dunn

NEWPORT BEACH - College football was never a consideration for Mr.

Irrelevant XXVI, Tevita Ofahengaue.

Now, the former BYU tight end has something on Virginia Tech

quarterback Michael Vick, the overall No. 1 selection in this year’s NFL

draft.

“I feel bad for Michael Vick. He got a lot of money (a six-year, $62

million contract), but he can’t buy this,” Ofahengaue said, referring to

Irrelevant Week, which concluded Friday with the Survivor Challenge at

the Palace Park in Irvine.

Ofahengaue, the 246th and absolute dead last pick in the draft, seemed

to be the ideal honoree in many ways during the zany, weeklong

“celebration of the underdog.”

When Ofahengaue was asked on stage during the Arrival Party how to

pronounce his name, he said, “It’s like Smith ... John Smith.”

Not only was Ofahengaue one of the wittiest IW honorees, he was the

most distinctive in the 26-year history of the event, founded by Linda

Isle’s Paul Salata.

Before Ofahengaue walked on at BYU, earned a scholarship and became a

three-year starter, he was truly Mr. Irrelevant on the field.

“I had no intention of playing (college football),” said Ofahengaue,

26 and married for 10 years.

After making all-conference as a free safety his senior year at Kahuku

High in Oahu, Hawaii, Ofahengaue went to work to support his family. He

mowed lawns, sold vacuums and painted curbs and sidewalks.

“I did many different jobs, but I needed a better (paying) job, so I

left (Hawaii) to go to Dallas and work for American Airlines (as a

baggage handler),” he said.

Education was always stressed in his family growing up, so when he

mentioned to his mother, Faleola, and father, Moana, that he was

interested in pursuing a bachelor’s degree, they supported his decision.

“But they didn’t know much about American football,” Ofahengaue said

Tuesday night at the All-Star Sports Banquet, where he was presented the

Lowsman Trophy, Irrelevant Week’s answer to college football’s Heisman

Trophy.

Ofahengaue’s brother, Kelepi (then a BYU linebacker), and friend,

Itula Mili (now with the Seattle Seahawks), talked him into walking on at

BYU.

As a junior in high school, Ofahengaue was a backup free safety to

Mili.

“I never played offense until I got to BYU,” Ofahengaue said.

Asked why, Mr. Irrelevant XXVI said, “At my high school, there were so

many good players. You were just a dime a dozen. Everybody’s good. Maybe

I wasn’t fast enough in high school; maybe I wasn’t big enough.”

Ofahengaue, a 6-foot-2, 254-pound package who has been clocked in the

40-yard dash in 4.7 seconds, might not be guaranteed any wages by the

Arizona Cardinals, who drafted him last. But the city of Newport Beach

and Irrelevant Week organizers are guaranteed a lifetime of good memories

from Mr. Irrelevant XXVI.