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Burly Lineman Tupai Joins Lightning

May 15, 2008 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Stockton Lightning News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Lightning have been assigned OL/DL Tai Tupai (Too-PY-ee, Ty), Head Coach Doug Murray announced today. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The Lightning also announced the following roster transactions: œ OL/DL Bryan Deemer placed on injured reserve œ WR/DB Clarence Cunningham activated off injured reserve œ WR Kenyatte Morgan placed on re-assignment œ LB Carl Walker placed on injured reserve

gWe were faced with a tough decision based on roster numbers, with an AFL-caliber player like Justin Taplin coming in and another AFL-caliber player like Clarence Cunningham coming off injured reserve,h said Murray. gThe efficiency of our evolving offense simply depends on players with different skill sets. Wefre thankful for the time that Kenyatte gave us with his contributions and wefll always consider him a part of our football family.h

Tupai, who turns 27 on May 24, enters his first season of professional football after spending his college career with Washington State University (NCAA). The 6-foot-4, 325-pound lineman appeared in 49 career games for the Cougars while tallying 63 tackles, 16 tackles-for-loss and 6.0 sacks. Tupai registered a season-best 25 tackles in 13 games for Washington State as a 2003 senior and helped guide the national-power program to an appearance in the 2003 Rose Bowl.

Tupai is reunited on the Lightning roster with former Washington State teammate Tupo Tuupo.

The Monterey, Calif. native spent his high school career at Monterey High, where he earned three varsity letters and was an ESPN Top-100 and Super Prep Magazine All-American selection.

The Lightning return to play at home with a Week 8 matchup against the Amarillo Dusters, beginning at 7:00 p.m. from Stockton Arena on Saturday, May 17. The game can be heard on radio at 1420-AM KSTN and seen online, free-of-charge, through www.stocktonlightning.com (courtesy of NifTy Online TV).

Season tickets and individual tickets for the 2008 Lightning regular season are on sale now. For more information on season tickets, merchandise, or other information, please call the Lightning at (209) 373-1500 or visit www.stocktonlightning.com.



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