Since his death on
Wednesday 2nd May 2012 there has been a lot of talk around the
circumstances of his death. Instead of talking about the end I
wanted us to remember the man, father and NFL Icon that is Junior
Seau!
Born in San Diego
California on the 19th January 1969 to Tiaina Seau Sr and Luisa Mauga
Seau, Junior was their fifth child. Growing up Seau attended
Oceanside High School where his athletic prowess prevailed at an
early age.
At high school Seau was a
starting linebacker and tight end, he also played basketball and was
a part of the track and field team. For such a great linebacker
surprisingly as a senior Seau was named the Avocado League offensive
MVP and led the Oceanside Pirates team to the San Diego 2A
Championship.
Following his triumph Seau
was selected to Parade magazines high school All American team. As
mentioned it wasn’t just football that Seau excelled at being named
the California Interscholastic Federation player of the year in the
San Diego section for basketball. His track and field performances
also saw him become shot put champion.
Junior Seau’s list of
high school accomplishments before heading to college just shows that
he was always destined for great things. His career wasn’t always
peaches and cream however as in his first year at college he was
ineligible to play after falling 10 points short of the required
minimum on his entrance exam!
This set back seems to
have really fired up Seau’s passion to succeed by becoming eligible
to play in his last two seasons at USC posting 19 sacks in 1989 and
was selected to the first team All American selection.
Following this achievement
Seau decided to make himself eligible for the NFL draft after his
junior season and was selected fifth overall by the San Diego
Chargers in 1990. Junior quickly became one of the most popular
players in San Diego and recorded 85 tackles in his rookie season.
In 1990 following his 85 tackles he was named as an alternate for the
pro bowl.
During his second year in
1991 Seau recorded 129 tackles and 7 sacks leading to him being named
to the 1992 pro bowl. Junior then went on to dominate the league for
the next twelve years being named to an astounding 12 consecutive pro
bowls. For me in today’s era with so much talent in the league, to
be at that level for so long is simply amazing.
It is fair to say that
1994 was Seau’s best season as he recorded 155 tackles and lead the
team to SuperBowl XXIX. En route to the big game, Junior had an
amazing AFC championship game against the Steelers. Playing with a
pinched nerve he recorded a staggering 16 tackles.
During his time in San
Diego his performances and antics gained him the nickname ‘Tasmanian
Devil’. Unfortunately in 2003 San Diego and Seau would part ways
with him being traded to the Miami Dolphins. In his first season as
a Dolphin he started 15 games and was one of their best defenders in
a 10-6 season. After this season Seau was plagued by injuries only
making a handful of appearances in each season until he was released
by Miami on the 6th March 2006.
Following his release
Junior announced his first retirement from football. This did not
last long as just four days later he signed a one year contract with
the New England Patriots. Seau went on to play for the Patriots
until his retirement in 2010 playing a key part in their 16-0 regular
season in 2007.
Outside of football and
apart from his 3 children, Seau’s biggest contribution was creating
the Junior Seau foundation in 1992. The foundations mission was to
educate and empower young people through the support of child abuse
prevention, drug and alcohol awareness, recreational opportunities,
anti-juvenile delinquency efforts and complimentary educational
programs.
The foundation annually
awards the individual who exemplifies their mission statement and
past winners have included fellow icons like Marcus Allen and
Marshall Faulk.
In conclusion I think it
is essential we remember everything that he gave us rather than how
he left us. Junior Seau was a phenomenal athlete and a great man.
It is with a heavy heart say RIP Junior Seau you will be missed like
you can’t imagine!
