University of Hawaii Defensive Lineman Pita Tonga loves the hassle and the long commute
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Pita Tonga’s loyalty to the University of Hawaii football team begins with his personal drive.
Tonga commutes 56 kilometers from Laie, where he lives with his wife and child, to the Manoa campus.
“At first it was impossible to drive,” said Tonga, who joined the Rainbow Warriors in June as a graduate move from Utah. âI couldn’t believe how long the trip was. Now I’ve got used to it. I know my way around the island a lot better now. “
Tonga has adapted to the Warriors’ attacking âwar dogâ defense – he is the first defensive tackle – and to the simpler fundamentals of UH.
The University of Utah sports complex is filled with Pac-12 Network cash and has conference rooms with stadium seating, a juice bar, and a barber shop. AH? Not as much.
âIf anything,â remarked Tonga of the polar conveniences of his past and current schools, âit taught me that having things is nice. But at the end of the day, it all comes down to your mentality, your diligence, and the hard work you are willing to put in. Whether you are a team that has resources or a team that doesn’t have no resources depends on your mentality, your grind and the types of players who make it up. “
After four seasons and a bachelor’s degree with the Utes, Tonga was looking for a change. He said he likes head coach Todd Graham, who also serves as defensive coordinator, and D-Line coach Dan Phillips. Tonga and his wife have lay relatives. He also consulted with Utah’s defensive lineman Viane Moala, who played at UH for two years before making the move.
“I had a lot of questions because I’ve never been here, not even on vacation or anything,” said Tonga. âI just knew I wanted to play football here. I like the coaches very much. Viane kind of told me about the culture, especially the food. I am really grateful for the food. I asked him everything there was to know about this place. I’m really happy that I came. “
Tonga, who weighs 6 feet 2 and 285 pounds, has nose, 3 technique and tail aligned. Two of his eight tackles were for casualties. He also intercepted a pass against Portland State.
“I wish I had kept my feet,” said Tonga of his 8-yard return. âIt was nice to get another interception. Who doesn’t like to do plays? An interception is something very special, especially for an inside defensive lineman. I am glad I got it. I hope that I can achieve more for my team in the future. “
In Utah, Tonga had an interception return for a touchdown and missed another pick-6 when he fumbled the ball out of bounds.
Tonga and his teammates formed a quick bond. “These guys are my brothers,” said Tonga. âThe chemistry in the locker room is only getting stronger. I feel like we show that by the way we play every week. I have a feeling that the guys are hungry. We feed on that. All feed each other. “
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