Football took Joe Salavea from American Samoa to the White House
My 2016 story for the National Football Foundation's Football Matters section. Joe Salavea was named to the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Class of 2019. He is now coaching at Oregon as an associate head coach/co-defensive coordinator/run game. By Tom Shanahan Football lore is filled with Horatio Alger-like stories of athletes from humble beginnings. Joe Salave’a’s special journey lifted him from American Samoa to a White House ceremony and into college coaching. White House invitations for athletes are…