Feature article on Isaac Sopoaga finding out that his family in Samoa was safe and the 49ers shutting out the Rams

HA Note: "All week long, Sopoaga had been waiting for word from his family in American Samoa. Tuesday morning, a tsunami had slammed the island nation. Sopoaga's village of Fagasa is an isolated fishing community. Communications were down."

About how he was worried about his family, Isaac Sopoaga said:
"I was worried. Not sad. Not scared. Worried. Worried." (HA)

HA Note: "Finally, while Sopoaga was at the 49ers' walk-through practice Saturday, his mother reached his wife. Everyone was safe."

About how his family was fortunate to be unharmed from the tsunami, Sopoaga said:
"They're good. The water stopped, like, 15 yards from their house. It hit one building where my cousins worked, but they escaped. The water didn't touch them." (HA)

About their defense shutting out the Rams in the 49ers 35-0 victory (the 49ers first shutout win since the 2001 season), Sopoaga said:
"I feel great about today. We got to do what we do. We were out there having fun." (HA)

About shutting out the Rams, 49ers LB Manny Lawson said:
"A shutout is the ultimate for any defense." (HA)

About getting the shut out, Ray McDonald said:
"Once we got to the fourth quarter, we needed to get a goose egg and show everybody we were for real." (HA)

After getting 3 sacks and an interception for a TD, LB Patrick Willis said:
"Today was one of the better games that I have had since I've been in the league. But it wasn't just me. It was our defense altogether. ... It was just a day where you just say, 'Wow.' " (HA)

Not satisfied with the play of his defense, head coach Mike Singletary said:
"Don't misunderstand me. I'm excited about our defense. But because I know them and know what they're capable of, I just don't want our guys to go, 'Hey, we're there.' We're going in the right direction. But there's so much more that we can do." (HA)

Praising their defense, QB Shaun Hill said:
"I love watching them play." (HA)

HA Note: "Sopoaga, a quiet man, probably exemplifies the 49ers' team mojo as much as anyone. He is serious about building a new reputation for the team. Serious enough that he could compartmentalize his concerns for his family in Samoa and concentrate on the game plan."

About how Sopoaga didn't want his personal situation to detract from their preparation from the game, McDonald said:
"Isaac is a high-spirited guy. He's not too big on bringing his personal life into his football. But we want to support him any way we can." (HA)

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20091005/BREAKING02/91004033/NFL++Niners%E2%80%99+Sopoaga+savors+more+than+a+win+