Vai's blog

I've advocated for Mark Atuaia on here before Vai did. The reason why is that I am the father of a former BYU back who played for Atuaia/Reynolds, and I know he knows his football. My son mentioned several times instances where Reynolds turned over the instruction of a gameplan to him--literally--because Reynolds trusted Atuaia and knew he could do it effectively. Can you argue the results of the past 5 years? He was Reynolds right-hand man, and he knows football.



I'm in the HR business and we see resumes come across our desks all the time. Some of them "pop off the paper" at you as someone perfect for the job. But, the intangibles come into play when you actually start working and you see the resume didn't represent the entire picture, hence, being troublesome to the organization.



Vai's calling out Bronco on this premise: Mark was prepared (football wise), and all things considered, should have been hired for the intangibles he brought to the table that were uniquely his.



I've been reading things saying Atuaia was only considered because of his race. Not true. He has a high football IQ and many in the know KNOW that...which is why it was a hard pill to swallow.



Strictly from a football standpoint: Reynolds and Anae will vouch for Atuaia's football smarts and coaching ability. Coaching is also inspiration and motivation. Talk to former players (especially the backs) and they will tell you that Atuaia's life and educational pursuits were the reasons they looked up to him--aside from his football smarts. The minority players say that he was a stable force in their experience there and helped them cope with the culture shock of living in a different place.



Bronco's only defense with these hires is whether he thought Atuaia was "prepared" enough to be the running backs coach. Bronco's answer was obviously NO. Reynolds answer--if asked--would be totally different. Doman chose his friend over Atuaia for reasons that are only known to Doman and Bronco. And, I suspect we'll never know what the truth is. But, I will continue to advocate for Atuaia because he has had a profound affect on my son and he is a good man and is GREAT for BYU football. I just hope he still loves BYU after this experience.

The person best acquainted with Mark's intangibles and coaching ability decided that Joe Dupaix was a better fit.



You can argue all you want about how good a fit Atuaia would have been, but until you can show how Mark would have been BETTER than Dupaix, you're just arguing a moot point. The question isn't "who is a good fit," but rather "who is the BEST fit."



Neither you or Vai have addressed that. Instead, you try to cheapen the Dupaix hire as "Doman chose his friend over Mark," when what you and Vai are basically complaining about is that they didn't hire YOUR friend over Dupaix.



Bronco and Doman obviously thought that Dupaix not only was a better fit for runningback coach than Reynolds' right-hand man Atuaia, but also better than Reynolds himself. If you think you have hired someone better that Reynolds, and you just ran Anae out of town, why would you care whether Reynolds or Anae thing Atuaia was a better fit--you just fired one of them and replaced the other with Dupaix.



So, in all of your wisdom, tell me why Atuaia would have been better than Dupaix--that means you have to tell us something about Dupaix.....which you haven't done. To say Mark should have been hired, you are saying Dupaix shouldn't have been hired. But all you or Vai have done is tell us how great Mark is, which is only half of the story. Mark might have been a good hire, but Dupaix was a great hire, despite all of his whiteness.

Here are my thoughts from another thread just about Vai's crap-blog for those who don't care to go looking:



I thought it was a horrible blog, and it came across as Vai just whining. He lobbies in the article about the need for a Poly on the staff to keep the pipeline open, but he conveniently fails to mention that 10% of the full-time coaching staff is polynesian (looking at you Kaufusi). So what he's really pushing for is 20% polynesian in fairness?



He acts concerned that 2/3 of the coaching staff fired/let go this season were minorities. But there is absolutely no reason to think the Hill firing was racially motivated, and he himself was blogging a couple of months ago about how it might be time for his good friend Anae to relocate. But now that things have settled, this moves Vai thought were smart months ago are now disconcerting because a good friend of Vai's was passed up for a job??



Then, what really gets me is the Mark Atuaia sob story. It's a good story--a sad story about failure driving success, but a story that ends in disappointment. The problem with Vai's approach is this--he tells his audience all about what a great guy this Mark kid is and why he might have been deserving. What he doesn't do is the one level of analysis that actually matters--Vai doesn't tell us why Mark Atuaia is better qualified for the runningbacks coach position than Joe Dupaix is. In essence what Vai is doing is saying Atuaia should've gotten EXTRA consideration for the job because of his race/cultural background. Forget coaching ability or recruiting know-how, Vai wants this rags-to-riches kid from the homeland to be on the staff just because he's a good kid from the homeland. The whole article just rang hollow after that. Vai gets a bit offended because Mark told him Bronco only gave him a cursory interview. Well, if you've worked with someone for a couple of years, how much more do you think you're going to learn in an interview? Instead of looking at the reality of the situation, Vai just can't look past the shared color of skin.



I think this article was absolute junk. If it was anything other than a blog, I don't think any editor at the DNews would have let it run as an article. Bronco is limited to hiring people who want to be at BYU and who fit the mindset he is trying to create, which severely limits his "finding pool." I think the hires made were near perfect, and unless Vai can show us someone who applied for and merited those positions more than the doughboys actually hired, he just comes across as lobbying for favoritism towards minorities despite all of his claims to be anti-quota and pro-equality. Extra positive consideration of the color of a minority's skin is still racism and is counter-equality.

Holy cow. Someone actually feels the same way I do about Vai's "article". I normally like what he writes, but this time I finished the blog and thought, wow, he's just pissed because Bronco didn't hire his poly friend. You know what Vai, apparently the people who know more than you felt differently about who to hire. To me, it came across as a cheap shot towards Bronco and as very disingenuous. Vai lost a lot of respect in my eyes because of that crappy piece he just wrote. Get over yourself Vai.

And besides, Mark isn't being left empty-handed. He now has a law degree from a prestigious university, and if he still wants to coach, there will be plenty of opportunities for that.

Snocythe: I'll concede the ONLY valid point that you've stated in your LONG posts--Dupaix COULD turn out to be a better hire than Atuaia. But, only time will tell and think he won't. Within the Reynolds/Atuaia era, 2 all-time leading rushers in BYU history and 3 FB's and 1 RB in the league. Reynolds, without Atuaia, had a slew of others that would fill the entire posts (like the junk that you wrote). Let's see what Dupaix does with Juice Quezada.



But the converse can also be true. Bronco could be wrong, and that's what Vai's is pointing out. HOWEVER, lost in all of this is that you, Snocythe, and those that hold views like you, don't realize that your views don't matter. Really. You all will support BYU no matter what. Vai's community and their loyalty is contingent on different elements. Hence, do you hate the fact that he points out his views from that vantage point and it doesn't coincide with your views.



I'm actually proud of him for standing up for what he thought was a gross oversight. That's his opinion! You have an opinion that is totally different from Vai's--and it's valid also.



My point from all of this is that Vai's community, a community he is far more familiar with than us or even Bronco, will not like the perception of these hires as a slight to Atuaia and will run with that at a detriment to the football program.





Snocythe, you're working under the assumption that BRONCO doesn't make mistakes, that he walks on water and is flawless. I think he made a mistake, Vai thinks so as well, and we (Vai and me) could both be wrong. But, leave us to our opinions.



A strengthening component to my argument is that I've read, on facebook, all the comments people are saying about this--people from Vai's community. They aren't taking it well. Plus, some very studly recruits from Hawaii's parents are close to Atuaia and have stated that they won't have their sons come to BYU because of this. Just thought I'd let you know that.



Plus, cutting and pasting is so overrated.

I'm not operating under any assumption that Bronco doesn't make mistakes. But I'm also not assuming Bronco is racist and intentionally hiring a less-qualified individual just because he's white. I'm just operating under the assumption that Bronco is the one closest to the situation, so to call him out as a racist and to label this as a bad move is way premature, especially when you whiners only look at Atuaia and fail to say why Dupaix was less qualified (other than being white).



Again, you haven't addressed why Dupaix was the wrong hire. If the Poly community is going to be offended because only 10% of our staff is Polynesian and because we chose not to promote Atuaia, they can take their reverse racism and get bent with it. They wanted a quota hire when they already had more than their quota. Everyone close to the program who is not named Atuaia, Anae, or Vai thinks the Dupaix hire was a homerun. You've yet to point out any reason why Dupaix was a bad move other than the fact that is isn't brown and named "Mark Atuaia."



If you and the poly community choose to be offended because Bronco made a color-blind hiring choice instead of giving extra special back-pats the the islanders, maybe you should look for another bandwagon that pampers minorities and treats them extra special. We don't need players, coaches, or even fans who think they are entitled to extra attention because they are minorities.

snoscythe wrote:
I'm not operating under any assumption that Bronco doesn't make mistakes. But I'm also not assuming Bronco is racist and intentionally hiring a less-qualified individual just because he's white. I'm just operating under the assumption that Bronco is the one closest to the situation, so to call him out as a racist and to label this as a bad move is way premature, especially when you whiners only look at Atuaia and fail to say why Dupaix was less qualified (other than being white).



Again, you haven't addressed why Dupaix was the wrong hire. If the Poly community is going to be offended because only 10% of our staff is Polynesian and because we chose not to promote Atuaia, they can take their reverse racism and get bent with it. They wanted a quota hire when they already had more than their quota. Everyone close to the program who is not named Atuaia, Anae, or Vai thinks the Dupaix hire was a homerun. You've yet to point out any reason why Dupaix was a bad move other than the fact that is isn't brown and named "Mark Atuaia."



If you and the poly community choose to be offended because Bronco made a color-blind hiring choice instead of giving extra special back-pats the the islanders, maybe you should look for another bandwagon that pampers minorities and treats them extra special. We don't need players, coaches, or even fans who think they are entitled to extra attention because they are minorities.

Couldn't have said it any better. We just got rid of all of our entitled "minority" coaches.



The collective before the individual is absolute BS and is disproven in every true tenet of faith, and every rational thinking human being.



Nationalism is just a form of collectivism for people with the same color skin.

And any form of collectivism involving people is inherently evil.



Collectivism, and it's racist child Nationalism will be the death of America, and society as a whole.















Expand your mind, before it is too late for you.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collectivism" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nationalism" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Here is my opinion on the blog....I disagree with it. If I were Mark Atuaia(sp?) I would be irritated that he wrote it. Mark was probably upset that he didn't get a job that he wanted really badly, happens to all of us. I have been passed over for jobs that I wanted and I was upset at the time but you pick yourself up and move on. If he is such a great coach, go get a job somewhere else and prove it. When multiple people are applying for a job, someone has to get it and someone has to not get it. As far as the "token interview" thing, a resume gets you the interview, the interview gets you the job. IMO something in the interview ruled him out for the job or maybe Dupaix's(sp?) interview was just that much better. Bottom line is, Vai is looking petty, and making Mark look petty in the process. Like I said above, if someone wrote this about me, I would be irritated for that person making me look petty in a very public way.

I don't always agree with Sno, but he is blowing "whatsmyname2" out of the water on this one.

Bronco has listed the qualities of Dupaix that set him apart: passion for BYU, fiery-enthusiastic-high expectations, strong usage of technology (offense, recruiting, game plans, etc.), proven expeience with RBs (check out Navy's rushing totals), strong recuiting connection in Dallas-Ft. Worth (got 30 recruits there for Navy) and he is now in charge of recruiting, worked with a Poly coach Ken Tuiasopopo and I am sure knows how to attract Polys. Perhaps, Mark had many of these qualities but Dupaix had something he didn't. Therefore, the selection of Dupaix. Doesn't mean he isn't the other piece when Reynolds retires..



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Funniest part of whatsmyname2's argument is that he said Sno thinks Bronco can't do anything wrong. Sno may be one of the posters that is most critical of Bronco on this or any BYU forum.



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I do not know Mark Atuaia or Joe DuPaix. I do not know Brandon Doman or Bronco either. What I do know is that Bronco made a change to his staff midstream last year, and it worked amazingly well. His instinct paid off. Because of that, he deserves the benefit of the doubt with all hires this offseason. He has earned it with results.



As to the content of Vai's article--it missed the mark badly. BADLY. Listen, I am all for diversity on the BYU staff. That is why I would have liked to have seen Bronco add an African American or two to the list. If there is a gap in this staff now, it is not any type of Polynesian gap. BYU hasa coach, several GA's and other around the program who are of Poly descent. And I am all for it. Of the 11 coaches on staff, 1 is Poly, 0 are black. I understand Vai going to bat for someone, but it was the wrong place to do it, and the really wrong time to air that laundry. He should have written that article before any coaches got named as an endorsement of a guy. Instead, it came across as a bitter letter and did Atuaia no favors at all. To be honest, it looked like Vai was taking a cheap shot and was very unseemly.



I have a law degree and can tell you that mine cost a small fortune because I was not able to attend BYU. If Mark got his for free while working for BYU, that time on staff was paid to him well above just a small salary or living stipend. Trust me. BYU took care of him in that regard. A paid for education gets dismissed way too often in sports and it always bothers me tremendously.



Best of luck to Mark all the same, and I hope Vai uses better restraint with his articles next time. He missed with that one.

Do you know what else I can't believe? Bronco didn't hire any girls either, now what's going to happen to any future recruits who might have a mother or even a sister???? I didn't see any Hispanics on staff either, how will we get any of the recruits from Latin America?? Bronco is soooo narrow minded! (and not to mention a racist) :roll:

If Atuai files a petition for reconsideration with Bronco, we'll know we've got a problem......

whatsmyname2 wrote:


Snocythe, and those that hold views like you, don't realize that your views don't matter. Really. You all will support BYU no matter what. Vai's community and their loyalty is contingent on different elements.



My point from all of this is that Vai's community, a community he is far more familiar with than us or even Bronco, will not like the perception of these hires as a slight to Atuaia and will run with that at a detriment to the football program.

First, I am one of "those that hold views like (Sno)" on this one, so apparently my "views don't matter. Really," but, I am going to express them anyway.



If people like Sno and I, and all the others who have sided with his views will "support BYU no matter what," but apparently the polynesian population needs special treatment in order to support BYU, I guess we know who the true blue fans are. It is extremely immature to even threaten to abandon your "fanhood" of your team over such an inconsequential issue.



Secondly, it seems to me that if Vai is a BYU guy through and through, which I believe he is, and if he knows that "his community and their loyalty is contingent on different elements," (whatever said elements may be) wouldn't it make sense for him to address this privately instead of bringing this to the forefront and inflaming the "elements" that may undermine his community's loyalty to his alma mater? This definitely would have been a lesser issue if it had been left at what happened between Mark Atuaia and Bronco. In trying to defend a friend on such a public stage, Vai is actually creating a rift between BYU and the poly pipeline. Wouldn't it have been better to be the bigger man and privately been the peacemaker?



I'm sorry, but even though I love Vai Sikahema, and always will, I think he owes more loyalty to BYU than he showed in this piece. After all, BYU provided him a stage for his talents, which he clearly used to its fullest advantages. In fact, without BYU's investment in Vai, there would be no Deseret News blog position for him, so there would be no story. By this I am not implying that he couldn't have had a similarly successful career somewhere else, but Vai was only one part of an incredible BYU team, and the way the team performs has bearing on the individual professional opportunities of its players.



In a similar manner, Mark Atuaia owes loyalty to BYU for the same reasons. BYU offered the stage for Atuaia's athletic and educational development. As was mentioned by Lawboy, education is not cheap, and although I am sure that he worked hard and earned the right to have that education paid for, it still shouldn't exempt him from being grateful for a world class education with no monthly student loan payments coming due at graduation.



It isn't like Mark Atuaia is the only alumnus with coaching skills who has been turned down by BYU. Isn't Louis Wong from Timpview an alumnus with significant coaching experience (albeit in the H.S. ranks) who has applied several times for coaching positions at BYU without success? I've never heard any public uproar over that one, and he is polynesian, and somehow players keep coming from his program to BYU, and I have never heard of him discouraging anyone from coming.



What about Eric Drage? He has been coaching for a while now and has applied before and been rebuffed. I've never heard threats of the population of Herriman, UT reconsidering being fans of BYU. ;)



When it comes to "diversity," I like what Elder Dallin H. Oaks had to say at a BYU devotional entitled "Weightier Matters" in February 1999:

"We must not confuse means and ends. The vehicle is not the destination. If we lose sight of our eternal goals. . .



My last illustration of the bad effects of confusing means and ends, methods and goals, concerns the word diversity. Not many labels have been productive of more confused thinking in our time than this one. . . . Even in religious terms, we sometimes hear "celebrations of diversity," as if diversity were an ultimate goal.



Diversity for its own sake is meaningless and can clearly be shown to lead to unacceptable results. For example, if diversity is the underlying goal for a neighborhood, does this mean we should take affirmative action to assure that the neighborhood includes thieves and pedophiles, slaughterhouses and water hazards? . . . .



Our Church has an approach to the obvious cultural and ethnic diversities among our members. We teach that what unites us is far more important than what differentiates us. Consequently, our members are asked to concentrate their efforts to strengthen our unity--not to glorify our diversity.

http://speeches.byu.edu/reader/reader.php?id=6647



I sure hope that the lack of diversity on the BYU staff, in the minds of our polynesian brothers and sisters doesn't blind them to the eternal goals that a BYU education and environment will encourage for their children.

Sno--you crack me up. You're over here wanting me to tell you what Dupaix's flaws are. I told you I could be wrong about Atuaia being better than Dupaix (if you would have read objectively instead of with your white-anger eyes). I stated that right at the beginning of my post. HOWEVER, what if Bronco was wrong and didn't hire Atuaia because of favoritism to Dupaix? Is that possible? Of course it is! And it's from that vantage point where Vai writes from. The possibility that it could be true.



Again, I ask you a question that you haven't answered--what if Atuaia was the better candidate and Doman favored his friend over him? Is that possible? Well, is it? Of course it is. And the lot of you just say that you trust that Bronco made the right decision. I don't think so--and neither did Vai.



Also, I'm glad you think that of the Polynesian community. You can sit behind your computer screen and talk big as if it doesn't matter. Bud, it matters a huge deal and you'll see when Kaufusi and whatever other white guy BYU tries to go to the Poly community to get kids to play for this elitist school. "If we choose to be offended then take a look at another bandwagon" sheesh, big talk from an ignorant person.



Race is something you all have a hard time dealing with--plain and simple. All I know is Utah just hired its 3rd Poly coach. Watch them mop up all the elite Poly players and leave BYU with the rest.



Have a good one big talker...you'll see soon what I mean.

I'm not a Polynesian, but if I was, I think I would be greatly offended when someone implies that I will go to a school simply because some of the coaching staff has ancestors who come from the same place that my ancestors do. Say whatever else you will, but the Island Pipeline isn't going to shut down just because one Poly coach wasn't hired on staff. What a shame that we interchange "ethnicity" and "background" when they are not at all the same thing.

Therewith lies your ignorance to the Polynesian community. Some are quiet because they know what I speak is the truth. Again, you don't know the community like Vai and I do. You just don't. The repercussions are going to be severe.



Whatever. You see this situation through your eyes and not Vai's--which is why you'll never understand.

"whats my name" should change his user name to "what's my argument?" because he still hasn't found one.



You keep saying, "is it possible that Atuia is a better coach? Of course it is."



Well do me a favor and show me where he has more credentials than DuPaix. He doesn't. Just put it down on paper.



And, addressing your lame threats about the Poly community starting to hate BYU... If they decide not to come to a school because we have only one Poly coach rather than 3, then I would rather they do go somewhere else. We have enough false claims of racism in the school and the church, without real, true, racists running around. Nationalism is just another form of racism. Ask Hitler, Stalin, Mao, and the KKK.



Take your racist sympathies and go somewhere else.