Mosi Totupu was legendary prep athlete

By Fred Guzman

MauiNow.com

Mosi Totupu — one of Hawaii’s favorite football sons — has passed away at the age of 54.

Totupu was a legendary high school player at Punahou who went on to star at USC and became a fan favorite for the New England Patriots.

At the time of his death, Tatupu, a native of American Samoa and considered one of the greatest pep athletes in the history of Hawaii, was running backs coach at Curry College in Milton, Mass.

Tatupu had also coached his son Lofa Tatupu — now a linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks – in high school.

During an exceptional career at Punahou, Tatupu was an all-state selection in football, basketball and baseball.

But it was on the gridiron where Mosi Tatupu made a lasting mark in local legend, at one time holding state records for single-season and career yardage and scoring totals.

He became a starter at USC in his sophomore season, and later embarked on a successful 13-year career as a bruising fullback and a special teams standout with the Patriots.

At one point, he played in 169 consecutive NFL games.

Besides being a ferocious competitor on the field, Tatupu possessed an exceptionally friendly and engaging personality. He was regarded as one of the most popular players among both his teammates and fans in New England.