Mike Akiu
{{Short description|American football player and coach (born 1962)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Mike Akiu
| number = 86
| position = Wide receiver
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1962|2|12}}
| birth_place = Kailua, Honolulu County, Hawaii, U.S.
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 9
| weight_lb = 182
| high_school = Kailua (HI) Kalaheo
| college = Hawaii
| draftyear = 1985
| draftround = 7
| draftpick = 170
| pastteams =
- Houston Oilers ({{NFL Year|1985|1987}})
- San Francisco 49ers ({{NFL Year|1988}})*
- Buffalo Bills (1988)*
- Houston Oilers ({{NFL Year|1989}})*
| pastcoaching =
- Kalaheo Mustangs (2000–2002) (HC)
| statlabel1 = Receptions
| statvalue1 = 6
| statlabel2 = Receiving yards
| statvalue2 = 99
| statlabel3 = Total touchdowns
| statvalue3 = 1
| pfr = A/AkiuMi20
}}
Karl Michael Akiu (born February 12, 1962) is an American former professional football wide receiver who played two seasons with the Houston Oilers of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Oilers in the seventh round of the 1985 NFL draft. He first enrolled at Washington State University before transferring to the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Akiu attended Kalaheo High School in Kailua, Honolulu County, Hawaii. He was also a member of the San Francisco 49ers and Buffalo Bills.
Early life
Akiu played high school football for the Kalaheo High School Mustangs from 1976 to 1979.{{cite web|url=http://www.kalaheofoundation.org/newsletter/v6i2200011.pdf |title=FOCUS ON ALUMNI: Peggie Tester and Mike Akiu |publisher=kalaheofoundation.org |date=November 2000 |accessdate=December 30, 2016 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150807180907/http://www.kalaheofoundation.org/newsletter/v6i2200011.pdf |archivedate=August 7, 2015 }} He played defensive back, running back, and wide
receiver for the Mustangs while earning all-state honors.{{cite web|url=http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2003/Mar/06/sp/sp30a.html |title=Akiu quits as Kalaheo coach |publisher=honoluluadvertiser.com |date=March 6, 2003 |accessdate=December 30, 2016 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150807015720/http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2003/Mar/06/sp/sp30a.html |archivedate=August 7, 2015}} He was also a centerfielder on the baseball team from 1977 to 1980 and a state champion in track and field.{{cite web|url=http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2010/Jun/06/sp/hawaii6060398.html |title=Class of 1980 might be best of all time |publisher=honoluluadvertiser.com |date=June 6, 2010 |accessdate=August 6, 2015 |author=Nakama, Wes |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150807013736/http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2010/Jun/06/sp/hawaii6060398.html |archivedate=August 7, 2015 }}
College career
Akiu attended Washington State University on a track scholarship from 1980 to 1982.
Akiu transferred to play college football for the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors of the University of Hawaii at Manoa from 1982 to 1984.{{cite web | url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/michael-akiu-1.html | title=Mike Akiu | publisher=Sports Reference LLC | work=sports-reference.com | accessdate=August 6, 2015}}
Professional career
Akiu was selected by the Houston Oilers with the 170th pick in the 1985 NFL draft.{{Cite web |title=1985 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1985/draft.htm |access-date=2023-10-05 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} He played in twenty games, starting one, for the Oilers from 1985 to 1986.{{cite web |url=http://www.profootballarchives.com/akiu00050.html |title=MIKE AKIU |publisher=profootballarchives.com |accessdate=August 6, 2015}} He was released by the Oilers on September 7, 1987.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/09/08/sports/transactions-488687.html |title=Transactions |work=The New York Times |date=September 8, 1987 |accessdate=December 30, 2016 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160813211445/http://www.nytimes.com/1987/09/08/sports/transactions-488687.html |archivedate=August 13, 2016}}
Akiu signed with the San Francisco 49ers on February 9, 1988. He was released by the 49ers on May 12, 1988.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/05/13/sports/transactions-774788.html |title=Transactions |work=The New York Times |date=May 13, 1988 |accessdate=December 30, 2016 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150807021712/http://www.nytimes.com/1988/05/13/sports/transactions-774788.html |archivedate=August 7, 2015}}
Akiu signed with the Buffalo Bills on July 1, 1988.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1988/07/01/for-the-record/099c1c0a-1395-40fd-84c5-5d6ca6659f26/ |title=FOR THE RECORD |work=The Washington Post |date=July 1, 1988 |accessdate=December 30, 2016 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150809190233/http://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1988/07/01/for-the-record/099c1c0a-1395-40fd-84c5-5d6ca6659f26/ |archivedate=August 9, 2015}} He was released by the Bills on August 1, 1988.{{cite news |url=http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn84031170/1988-08-02/ed-1/seq-9/ |title=Monday Sports Transactions |work=The Journal |date=August 2, 1988 |accessdate=December 30, 2016}}
Akiu was signed by the Oilers on July 18, 1989.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/2674437/ |title=Tuesday's Sports Transactions |work=The Kokomo Tribune |date=July 19, 1989 |agency=Associated Press |accessdate=December 30, 2016 |pages=18 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150807183422/http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/2674437/ |archivedate=August 7, 2015}} He was released by the Oilers on September 8, 1989.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/16726770/ |title=HOUSTON |work=The Galveston Daily News |date=September 9, 1989 |agency=Associated Press |accessdate=December 30, 2016 |pages=22 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150807183837/http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/16726770/ |archivedate=August 7, 2015}}
Coaching career
Akiu coached the Windward Tigers Pop Warner Midgets to a 95–5 record.{{cite web|url=http://archives.starbulletin.com/2000/02/15/sports/story3.html |title=Mike Akiu returns to Kalaheo |publisher=starbulletin.com |date=February 15, 2000 |accessdate=December 30, 2016 |author=Reardon, Dave |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150807015457/http://archives.starbulletin.com/2000/02/15/sports/story3.html |archivedate=August 7, 2015 }}
Akiu was the head football coach at Kalaheo High School from 2000 to 2002, accumulating an 11–14 record. He resigned in March 2003 due to time constraints in relation to his job as a stevedore.
Personal life
Akiu's son Mike Akiu Jr. also played for the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors.{{cite web|url=http://hawaiiathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7155 |title=Mike Akiu |publisher=hawaiiathletics.com |accessdate=August 6, 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150807021511/http://hawaiiathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7155 |archivedate=August 7, 2015 }}{{cite web|url=http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2001/Aug/24/sp/sp04a.html |title=In their fathers' footsteps |publisher=honoluluadvertiser.com |date=August 24, 2001 |accessdate=August 6, 2015 |author=Tsai, Stephen |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150807021542/http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2001/Aug/24/sp/sp04a.html |archivedate=August 7, 2015}} On September 1, 1985, Akiu Sr. helped apprehend a burglar who had broken into a hotel room he shared with teammate Willie Drewrey.{{cite news|url=http://www.upi.com/Archives/1985/09/03/Houston-Oilers-rookie-wide-receiver-Michael-Akiu-was-forced/4254494568000/ |title=Houston Oilers rookie wide receiver Michael Akiu was forced... |work=United Press International |date=September 3, 1985 |accessdate=December 30, 2016 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150809185441/http://www.upi.com/Archives/1985/09/03/Houston-Oilers-rookie-wide-receiver-Michael-Akiu-was-forced/4254494568000/ |archivedate=August 9, 2015 }}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/michael-akiu-1.html College stats]
{{Houston Oilers 1985 draft navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Akiu, Mike}}
Category:American football wide receivers
Category:Washington State Cougars men's track and field athletes
Category:Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football players
Category:Houston Oilers players
Category:High school football coaches in Hawaii
Category:Players of American football from Honolulu County, Hawaii
Category:Pacific Islander American players of American football