Karl Michael Akiu (born February 12, 1962) is a former American football wide receiver who played two seasons with the Houston Oilers of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Houston 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.
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| Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | February 12, 1962 Kailua, Honolulu County, Hawaii, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height: | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 182 lb (83 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Kailua (HI) Kalaheo | ||||||||
| College: | Hawaii | ||||||||
| NFL draft: | 1985 / round: 7 / pick: 170 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||
| As a coach: | |||||||||
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Early life
editAkiu played high school football for the Kalaheo High School Mustangs from 1976 to 1979.[1] He played defensive back, running back, and wide receiver for the Mustangs while earning all-state honors.[1][2] He was also a centerfielder on the baseball team from 1977 to 1980 and a state champion in track and field.[1][3]
College career
editWashington State University
editAkiu attended Washington State University on a track scholarship from 1980 to 1982.[1]
University of Hawaii at Manoa
editAkiu transferred to play college football for the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors from 1982 to 1984.[4]
Professional career
editHouston Oilers
editAkiu was selected by the Houston Oilers with the 170th pick in the 1985 NFL Draft.[5] He played in twenty games, starting one, for the Oilers from 1985 to 1986.[6] He was released by the Oilers on September 7, 1987.[7]
San Francisco 49ers
editAkiu signed with the San Francisco 49ers on February 9, 1988.[7] He was released by the 49ers on May 12, 1988.[8]
Buffalo Bills
editAkiu signed with the Buffalo Bills on July 1, 1988.[9] He was released by the Bills on August 1, 1988.[10]
Houston Oilers
editAkiu was signed by the Houston Oilers on July 18, 1989.[11] He was released by the Oilers on September 8, 1989.[12]
Coaching career
editAkiu coached the Windward Tigers Pop Warner Midgets to a 95–5 record.[13]
Kalaheo High School
editAkiu was head coach of the Kalaheo Mustangs from 2000 to 2002, accumulating an 11–14 record.[2][13] He resigned in March 2003 due to time constraints in relation to his job as a stevedore.[2]
Personal life
editAkiu's son Mike Akiu Jr. also played for the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors.[14][15] On September 1, 1985, Akiu Sr. helped apprehend a burglar who had broken into a hotel room he shared with teammate Willie Drewrey.[16]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "FOCUS ON ALUMNI: Peggie Tester and Mike Akiu" (PDF). kalaheofoundation.org. November 2000. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 7, 2015. Retrieved December 30, 2016.
- ^ a b c "Akiu quits as Kalaheo coach". honoluluadvertiser.com. March 6, 2003. Archived from the original on August 7, 2015. Retrieved December 30, 2016.
- ^ Nakama, Wes (June 6, 2010). "Class of 1980 might be best of all time". honoluluadvertiser.com. Archived from the original on August 7, 2015. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
- ^ "Mike Akiu". sports-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
- ^ "1985 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
- ^ "MIKE AKIU". profootballarchives.com. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
- ^ a b "Transactions". The New York Times. September 8, 1987. Archived from the original on August 13, 2016. Retrieved December 30, 2016.
- ^ "Transactions". The New York Times. May 13, 1988. Archived from the original on August 7, 2015. Retrieved December 30, 2016.
- ^ "FOR THE RECORD". The Washington Post. July 1, 1988. Archived from the original on August 9, 2015. Retrieved December 30, 2016.
- ^ "Monday Sports Transactions". The Journal. August 2, 1988. Retrieved December 30, 2016.
- ^ "Tuesday's Sports Transactions". The Kokomo Tribune. Associated Press. July 19, 1989. p. 18. Archived from the original on August 7, 2015. Retrieved December 30, 2016.
- ^ "HOUSTON". The Galveston Daily News. Associated Press. September 9, 1989. p. 22. Archived from the original on August 7, 2015. Retrieved December 30, 2016.
- ^ a b Reardon, Dave (February 15, 2000). "Mike Akiu returns to Kalaheo". starbulletin.com. Archived from the original on August 7, 2015. Retrieved December 30, 2016.
- ^ "Mike Akiu". hawaiiathletics.com. Archived from the original on August 7, 2015. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
- ^ Tsai, Stephen (August 24, 2001). "In their fathers' footsteps". honoluluadvertiser.com. Archived from the original on August 7, 2015. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
- ^ "Houston Oilers rookie wide receiver Michael Akiu was forced..." United Press International. September 3, 1985. Archived from the original on August 9, 2015. Retrieved December 30, 2016.