Jesse Sapolu has never strayed from his humble beginnings.

Despite his contributions at Farrington High School and the University of Hawai'i, and his success with the four-time Super Bowl champion San Francisco 49ers, Sapolu remained loyal to his credo of being humble and a role model.

He knew that would make a difference then and he knows that now.

"Playing on 'Monday Night Football', I knew there were thousands of young kids watching. Whenever I was on TV being interviewed I had to carry myself in a positive manner," said Sapolu, a two-time Pro Bowler who played guard and center from 1983-97 with the 49ers. "At the end of the day those kinds of things influence kids more than any block I made on the field.

"Now, when I do endorsements — I've been retired for over 12 years — and companies come up to you because they want you to be a spokesman for their company because of the way you conducted yourself off the field, 12 years later, that carries a lot more than Super Bowls, Pro Bowls and other accomplishments. Then maybe I did walk the right path."

FALSE STARTS

But it was a path that was temporarily blocked by a few false starts — one as a youth, another in the pros.

"I was kind of a lost kid when I went from Damien (his freshman year) to McKinley," Sapolu recalls.

"When I went to McKinley, I was still depressed. I didn't get along with the kids there because I didn't grow up with them. I wanted to go to Farrington. I became a loner and my grades plummeted."

Sapolu said his parents were called to the school. He said he told them, "I promise you I'll turn my life around if you just send me back to Farrington."

Sapolu said with the help and guidance of Farrington coaches Al Espinda, Harry Pacarro and Gordon Miyashiro, his self-esteem got "lifted."

College wasn't in his thoughts until one day then-UH assistant coach Tom Freeman came for a visit and Espinda introduced them.

"I was floating in air," he said. "Everything turned around, in the classroom. Football picked up even more."

Sapolu verbally committed to Arizona State but his mother "insisted on me going to UH, and (Dick) Tomey was a great recruiter."

"(I) went to UH and tried to make an impact."

SUCCESS AT UH

Sapolu made first-team all-Western Athletic Conference as an offensive lineman in 1980, second team in 1981, and honorable mention as a center in 1982.

"We had teams that went 8-3 and 9-2 in a tough WAC at that time," he said. "We were able to crack the top 20 and played on national TV against Temple and another one against BYU."

Another memorable game came Dec. 4, 1982 against then No. 3 Nebraska, which featured Irving Fryar, Mike Rozier, Roger Craig and Dave Rimington. UH took a 16-7 lead into the fourth period before the Huskers came roaring back and won, 37-16.

Sapolu discussed this game last month with ex-49er tight end and teammate Jamie Williams, who played for that Nebraska team.

"We had fan day at Candlestick and he brought his son and he was letting his son know that he went to Hawai'i (his senior year) and took care of business," Sapolu said. "But I told him, 'we had you,' " Sapolu said. Williams then admitted that "it was a scare."

Sapolu played on teams that beat West Virginia "when Niko (Noga) blocked that last field goal" and South Carolina.

In 1983, Sapolu would be drafted in the 11th round by the 49ers.

BAD BREAKS

Sapolu's professional career path almost got chop-blocked by injuries.

He started three games his rookie year in 1983 but broke his right foot in the offseason. He was in a cast part of 1984. He played two games then re-broke the foot in practice. He came back healthy in 1985 only to break his left tibia.

The run of bad breaks just about broke Sapolu's spirit. He decided to go to Bill Walsh's office and deliver a message.

"I was gonna say, 'I don't want to take up space (on the roster), so I'll just retire.' It was out of frustration. He (Walsh) said, 'Don't be silly. With the potential that you showed, we're looking at you as the future of our inside linemen.' He said, 'If you're willing to put in the work to rehab again, I'm willing to stick with you.' "

BRILLIANT MOVE

Walsh, the late Hall of Fame coach, then made another brilliant move. He sent Sapolu home.

"He said, 'Go home, go to Hawai'i and relax.' And that really helped me a lot," Sapolu said. "Instead of going to the locker room every day and seeing everybody else play, it took my mind off the game and made me appreciate the opportunity that I was given.

"It was the best thing that he did. I was able to spend more time with Dad (who died the next year) and it made my rehab a little more enjoyable."

Furthermore, Sapolu said, the 49ers could afford to be patient because they had a "super steal" and "they weren't paying me that much anyway."

He went on to play 182 games for the 49ers, starting 154. He played in four Super Bowls and two Pro Bowls.

Sapolu is now the 49ers' alumni coordinator and lives in California, where he helps coach his youngest son (Roman) at Edison High School in Huntington Beach. An older son (London) committed to play for UH earlier this month.

"I try to tell my boys now, 'You don't have to be a loud person to carry a big stick. Just be humble and work hard in the weight room and when you put on your pads, that's when you do your talking. Try to be a good human being off the field and carry yourself with humility."

SATISFACTION

Such offerings bring a sense of satisfaction to Sapolu.

"At the end of the day, I'm as happy as can be because it was a struggle, a struggle to find the right Jesse Sapolu that I can be proud of," he said. "I was responsible not just for myself, for my family, but I was responsible for all those young local kids growing up.

"I'm very content and at peace with my career ... knowing you made a difference is satisfying."