Football Has Played A Key Role In Senior Defensive Lineman's Outlook on Life

LOGAN, Utah - Being a part of a Division I football team is not an easy task. Senior defensive lineman Havea Lasike (San Jose, Calif.) will be the first to admit that. He will also be the first to admit that the experience has made him stronger and ready to take on the world.
"You have to learn to never give up and fight your way through obstacles and adversity," Lasike said. "The fact that I overcame everything to get here. The fact that I had this chance. It's all great."
Lasike (La-see-kay) started his collegiate career at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, Calif., where he earned first-team all-Northern California Football Association honors after posting 81 tackles his sophomore season. He was tied for eighth in the NCFA in sacks with nine and was a part of 14 tackles for loss. He was named the team defensive MVP after leading the Owls to a 9-2 record and the Silicon Valley Bowl title.
"Foothill was good. I had guidance from my older brother and my coaches had a huge impact on me," Lasike said. "They were Tongan and Samoan guys, so it was cool. They could put me in check."
While at Foothill College, Lasike caught the attention of the Utah State coaches and started working toward securing him to be an Aggie.
"He was one of the top defensive tackles out of the junior colleges, so we were lucky to get him," said defensive line coach Frank Maile. "He does a great job for us."
Early on during his Utah State career, Lasike experienced first-hand the difficulties of transferring from junior college to the Division I level.
"You can't take a day off. You can't take a play off," Lasike said. "If you're injured or tired in junior college, you could decide for yourself if you wanted to go to practice or not, that is not the case now."
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