Washington State defensive lineman Daniel Ekuale sees no reason to speculate on the departure of Joe Salave’a, the position coach who had ushered Ekuale and numerous other American Samoans to the chilly Palouse to play football.
Yes, he was a father figure to the Samoans and other Polynesians who have played a central role in the Cougars’ defensive revival the past two years. But he was also a private, businesslike man, not given to displays of sentiment, and Ekuale accepts the idea that Salave’a simply left Washington State for Oregon in January because it was the best move for his career and his family.