Feature on Elliott Purcell

About dating Elliot Purcell (a Saint Louis alumnus), Keani Santos said:
"My dad and mom both graduated from Kamehameha. My sister just married a Saint Louis (graduate), and I'm dating one." (HA)

HA Note: "What's more, Santos' father, Rob Santos, used to coach at Kamehameha."

About dating someone from Saint Louis, Keani said:
"There's that love-hate relationship. There's the constant battle in the house about Saint Louis and Kamehameha." (HA)A

HA Note: "To be sure, Purcell and Santos have a strong relationship. They are parents to 1 1/2-year-old Taimane, which means "diamond" in Samoan."

About how Keani named their daughter Taimane, Purcell said:
"She wanted a Polynesian name, and she likes diamonds. That's how she picked the name." (HA)

HA Note: "During the football season and spring training, Purcell lives in the dormitory. Santos and their son live with her parents in 'Aiea. But they see each other every day, and Santos, who is a full-time UH student, attends every practice. Often she brings Taimane."

About how he likes to see Keani and Taimane at practice, Purcell said:
"It feels good to look into the stands and see them there. It makes me so happy to see my son." (HA)

About bringing Taimane to practice, Keani said:
"Our son loves to come to football practice. He loves to run around, and after practice, he loves to put on Elliott's helmet." (HA)

About how he felt overloaded two years ago with football, school, and with a baby coming and thought about quitting football, Purcell said that he talked to Mac:
"I didn't know how to handle it. He gave me good advice. Coach (George) Lumpkin helped me, too. Just because you have a kid doesn't mean you have to change your career or quit school." (HA)

About how he quit partying and focused on his family, Purcell said:
"Becoming a father makes you more mature. That really helps you on the field." (HA)

About being the #1 left DE right now, Purcell (who weighed 215 as a freshman and weighs 257 now) said:
"It's mine to lose. As long as I trust my technique and work hard, I should be OK." (HA)

Hoping to get married to Keani some day, Purcell said:
"Hopefully, one day we'll get married. I really want to marry her." (HA)