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From WSU to Oregon, Joe Salave’a’s Polynesian pipeline is being felt around the Pac-12

Joe Salave'a left Washington State to become Oregon's defensive line coach after last season. He's already brought his pipeline of Polynesian linemen to the Ducks.

When Joe Salave’a finally sat down to weigh his scholarship offers, he traveled east to west. Miami? Too far. The SEC? He liked the color orange, but that was about it. The Big Eight? His older brother had played for Colorado, and Salave’a wanted to carve his own path.

Finally, he settled on Arizona. He was impressed by the academic support system and inclusiveness established by coach Dick Tomey, who knew the Polynesian culture well from his tenure at Hawaii.