Sal Aunese

Date of birth:	May 8, 1968(1968-05-08)
Place of birth:	Oceanside, California
Date of death:	September 23, 1989 (aged 21)
Place of death:	Boulder, Colorado
Career information
Position(s):	Quarterback
Organizations
As player:
1986-1988	University of Colorado
Career highlights and awards
Honors:	Big Eight Newcomer of the Year

Siasau "Sal" Aunese (May 8, 1968 – September 23, 1989) was a college football player who played for the University of Colorado. Aunese was from Oceanside, California in San Diego County and was of Samoan descent.^[1] He died from inoperable stomach cancer and lung cancer on September 23, 1989 at the age of 21.^[2]

Contents 1 Early life 2 College career 3 Death 4 References

[edit] Early life

Born in Oceanside, CA located in northern San Diego County. He was raised there with his six siblings. His parents spoke Samoan at home growing up and this caused him to struggle in school. He was an All-American Quarterback at Vista High School(Vista,CA), where he attracted interest from several college programs including the University of Nebraska and the University of Colorado.^[1]

Aunese's final high school transcript and his low ACT scores caused him to fall under the 1983 Convention Proposal No. 48, commonly referred to as Prop 48.^[1] Because of this provision, he would miss the freshman year of his college career.

[edit] College career

Aunese chose to attend the University of Colorado after heavy recruiting from Colorado assistant coach Les Miles and Colorado head coach Bill McCartney.^[3] Because of the Prop 8 conditions, Aunese missed his first year of eligibility with the team in 1986. He came into the 1987 season and soon took over the starting job at quarterback that same year. In 1987, he led the Buffaloes to a 7-4 record but the team failed to reach a bowl game. He was awarded the Big Eight Newcomer of the Year award after the season. In 1988, the team finished with a 8-4 record but lost in the Freedom Bowl to Brigham Young University.^[4]

During his playing days in Colorado, Aunese had a secret affair with McCartney's daughter Kristy. They had a child together name Timothy Chase McCartney, better known by the name of T.C. T.C. now is a reserve quarterback for the LSU Tigers and is being coached by the same man who recruited Sal to play for Colorado, Les Miles.

[edit] Death

During his participation in the Freedom Bowl, coaches, players, and family noticed that Sal was not his usual self. Teammates told him he looked sluggish on the field and family members wished he would be taken out of the game.^[1] In the months following the bowl game, Aunese experienced a multitude of different symptoms including not participating in workouts or drills, coughing consistently, refusing food and water, and vomiting blood.

Aunese was examined in February 1989 and doctors diagnosed him with a rare form of stomach cancer which was inoperable. He was given six months to live after his initial diagnosis. Over the course of the next several months Aunese would continue to visit Colorado games and practices but would also continue to get weaker from the cancer. He finally succumbed to the disease on September 23, 1989.

Aunese's funeral was held at his alma mater Vista High School. The auditorium was packed with over 2,000 mourners and hundreds more outside.^[2] He was laid to rest at Eternal Hills Memorial Park located in Oceanside, CA. The University of Colorado football team dedicated their season to Sal, customizing the teams jerseys with Sal sewn into their sleeves. They ended their season 11-1, losing the Orange Bowl against the University of Notre Dame.^[4]

[edit] References