Lapuaho waits for True Aggie dream girl
Junior defensive lineman Al Lapauaho is from West Valley City, Utah, and is majoring in business entrepreneurship.
The 6-foot-3 son of Rob and Mele Lapuaho transferred to Utah State from Snow College where he helped the Badgers to a 10-2 record and a victory in the Tops of the Mountains Bowl.
In high school, he earned second-team all-state and first-team all-region honors, while lettering four times at Granger High School.
The Statesman caught up with Lapauaho to ask him a few questions.
Utah Statesman: Do you have any nicknames?
Al Lapauaho: They call me Al or “Dragon.” That’s my college nickname.
US: Are you married?
AL: No, I am single.
US: Do you still have your tonsils?
AL: I do.
US: How long have you been playing football?
AL: This will be my 11th year going into football. It’s what I do all day, every day.
US: Who is your idol?
AL: My idol is my dad. He is the one that put me into football. He let me choose to play football, he didn’t just throw me in. I didn’t play until I was in elementary. My first sport was soccer, that tells you a lot.
US: Are you a True Aggie?
AL: I am not a True Aggie yet, man. I wasn’t even a True Badger when I was at Snow.
US: Are you looking to become one?
AL: Depends if a lady will come and sweep me off of my feet.
US: What is your favorite place to eat in Logan?
AL: It’s between Mo’ Bettah Steaks and Labeau’s.
US: What is your best memory, so far, of a game played?
AL: My favorite memory was Weber State. Just because it was our first win as a team, and that was when I had my sack — me and Bobby (Wagner) had our sack together — it was tight.
US: What is your favorite part of campus?
AL: Probably riding the bus. I have more free time, and you can enjoy spending time with everyone.
US: What is your favorite statue on campus?
AL: It would have to be the Bull, “Meet the Challenge.”
US: What is your favorite NFL team?
AL: My favorite NFL team is the Cowboys. I haven’t paid much attention to the NFL, but the Cowboys have always been my team since I was little.
US: What is the farthest from home you have ever been?
AL: The farthest from home I have ever been was when we went to Auburn. That was way far.
US: Do you have any special talents?
AL: I can balance on my head sometimes. It depends on the type of surface.
US: Do you want to try it now for a picture?
AL: Heck no, I will get lightheaded.
US: What is your favorite movie of all time, one that you can watch and quote along with it?
AL: That would have to be “Blood In, Blood Out.” That’s the one I can quote and my favorite movie I can just watch all day would be “The Notebook.” I can’t quote it because I haven’t watched it enough.
US: What is the worst thing you have had to eat?
AL: Probably pig brain, we were eating pig and my grandpa forced me to eat it.
US: If you were invisible, where would you go?
AL: If I was invisible, I would probably go to Golden Corral and just pick at the food.
US: What is your biggest motivation?
AL: My biggest motivation is my family. There are 13 people in my family — it has 11 kids. I am the second oldest, and just being an example to them is my motivation — making it for them, so that they can look forward and surpass me.
US: If you had a 10-minute speech to give at a high school, what would it be about?
AL: It would be about to live it up in the moment — take a step forward every day, so that later on in your life you will be successful.
US: What is the No. 1 played song on your iPod?
AL: Right now, is the new Rhianna song “We Found Love.” I have been playing
that all day and all weekend. It’s my pump-up song now.
– adisonemail@gmail.com