LOGAN — When Gary Andersen took over the head
coaching job at Utah State four years ago, one of his first tasks was
revamping the Aggie roster. Andersen wanted his new team to look more
like the successful defenses he coached at Utah.
Andersen wanted to recruit
heavily in-state players, future LDS missionaries and Polynesian players
— three groups that have made up great teams at Utah and BYU, but were
largely ignored by previous Aggie regimes.
The Polynesian segment of
players, which has grown every year Andersen has been in Logan, is
perhaps the easiest to spot on the field, and not just because of the
occasional flowing mane of hair poking through their helmets. They are
noticeable because they are large in numbers (16 this season) and are
making huge impacts all over the field, helping lead Utah State to its
best ever season and a berth in the 2012 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
Four players of Polynesian
descent start for the Aggie defense. Bojay Filimoeatu is the emotional
heart of this year’s Aggie linebacker core. Big defensive linemen Al
Lapuaho and Havea Lasike eat up space in the trenches. Safety Brian
Suite makes tackles at every level of the defense.
On offense, twin brothers
Kevin and Kyle Whimpey start at the offensive guard spots on the
offensive line. D.J. Tialavea doesn’t start but sees plenty of snaps as
the backup tight end.
The Polynesian contingent
brings more to the table than just size and strength on the field. It’s
also their attitude on and off the field that makes them such a valuable
commodity to Andersen.
“I think number one,
Polynesian kids bring a tremendous sense of family and a sense of
togetherness,” Andersen said. “Their love for the game of football is
apparent every single day. They are good football players and good
teammates. They really help bring a family environment to a football
team.”
Filimoeatu agreed that the impact is more than just their play on the field.
“I think we bring respect,”
the linebacker from West Valley City said. “We respect our elders and
our coaches. We bring our work ethic together (that) brings a good
environment to the team. I think that everyone sees that. Once you
establish that as leaders, the whole team follows it.”
It helps when the leaders of
the team aren’t just hard workers but major contributors as well. Suite
finished fifth on the team with 72 tackles. Filimoeatu collected 60
tackles, including eight for losses, which was the second highest mark
on the team. Lapuaho was a nightmare for opposing offensive lines and
won the respect of opposing coaches and was named first-team All-WAC.
“They have performed at a high
level. They are going to get to a couple all-star games, they had a
couple all-conference honors. There is a lot that is going on there that
is great,” Andersen said. “I love those kids.”
With the way the Aggies
and their Polynesian players are playing, don’t expect the haka to stop
being performed before Utah State games as long as Andersen is head
coach. Filimoeatu, Lapuaho and Lasike will all graduate as seniors this
year, but the rest of the Polynesian group will return and undoubtedly
will be joined by a few new recruits as well.
“We will continue to grow and
grow and build in that area,” Andersen said. “I think as the kids
graduate and the kids have success on the field and as our team
continues to get better. The young men walk out of here and turn
themselves into men they will continue to grow. When young men walk out
here successful in the Polynesian community, you are going to be able to
get in and have someone else from that family involved.”
Kraig
Williams is a 2010 Utah State University graduate and regular Deseret
News sports blogger. He can be followed on Twitter at DesNewsKraig.
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