PROVO — Soon after the 2001 National Football League draft concluded, he was interviewed live on national television. Later, he spoke to radio stations in Chicago, New York City and Phoenix, as well as reporters from national publications.
"I was getting more air time than Michael Vick," former BYU tight end Tevita Ofahengaue said with a laugh Sunday night from his home in Provo. "I got about 100 phone calls."
No, Ofahengaue wasn't the first pick of the 2001 draft. Just the opposite. The Arizona Cardinals made him the 246th and final pick of the seven-round draft on Sunday. As such, he earned the affectionate title "Mr. Irrelevant" and the instant celebrity status that goes along with it. It's hard to say how many times his name (pronounced ofuh-HENG-ow-ay) was mispronounced over the national airwaves, just as it was for years at BYU.
The "Mr. Irrelevant" tag has been a draft tradition since 1976. As part of the honor, Ofahengaue and his family (he and his wife, Carey, have four children, ages 9, 7, 3 and 1) receive a trip to Newport Beach, Calif., for a weeklong celebration in June that includes a visit to Disneyland, hotel accommodations, spending money, a golf tournament, a banquet and a parade.
"I'm the main event of the parade. It's like being the mayor of L.A.," said Ofahengaue, 25. "My kids are excited to see Mickey Mouse. The whole thing was shocking to everybody. It's crazy."
Ofahengaue is the first player with local ties to become "Mr. Irrelevant" since 1998, when Weber State tight end Cam Quayle was bestowed that distinction.
Ofahengaue and placekicker Owen Pochman, who was also picked in the seventh-round — No. 216 overall by New England — were the only two Cougar players selected in the 2001 draft.
Pochman became the first BYU kicker to be drafted since Lee Johnson in 1985. Coincidentally, Johnson is currently the Patriots' punter.
Pochman, the all-time BYU scoring leader, and Johnson have spent the off-season working out together in Utah.
Still, New England already has a reliable starting kicker in Adam Vinatieri. The Boston Globe reported "the drafting of Pochman may mean the team feels Vinatieri is heading into too high a price range."
Head coach Bill Belichick, however, said, "he was not sending a message to anyone" by drafting Pochman and that the franchise had Pochman "rated highly."
As for Ofahengaue, Arizona coach Dave McGinnis says he a shot at making the team as a blocking tight end. The Cardinals already have three tight ends on their roster.
"The Mr. Irrelevant and the rest of the stuff with it is pretty interesting," McGinnis told the Arizona Republic, "but he's mature and we think he can come in here and block and compete."
"The Mr. Irrelevant' guys from the last couple of drafts have made the team," Ofahengaue said. "I'm just excited to go down to Arizona and show what I can do."
E-MAIL: jeffc@desnews.com