Fiefia tradition continues
Emosi Fiefia is part of Utah State football tradition.
There has been a Fiefia on the Utah State roster for the past 10 years and now Emosi is battling for playing time at the nose guard position on the defensive line.
Two of Emosi’s older brothers have played for the Aggies. Both Walter and Vaea Fiefa played on the defensive side of the ball while most recently David Fiefia, a cousin of Emosi, started at running back last season.
Fiefia didn’t go about playing football like most players did. While most of his teammates were playing little league football, Fiefia wrestled.
“I was just a wrestler,” Fiefia said. “That’s it.”
With a high school wrestling record of 67-6 and a state championship under his belt, he wasn’t concerned about playing football. That is, until he was a junior in high school and was coaxed into playing at Mountain Crest.
“I did pretty well in football [my junior year] and did well again my senior year and then I got a scholarship to come here,” Fiefia said.
Fiefia redshirted his first year and, at the beginning of his second year, blew out his knee and didn’t play at all.
“If I can graduate on time I’ll still have three years left after this year,” Fiefia said. “I’ve got to apply for that medical [extension] for the year I blew my knee out.”
Fiefia has seen limited time in his first three games but has still been able to go out, compete and impress his coaches.
“It was pretty fun,” Fiefia said about playing in the Utah game. “I played pretty well. I got in a lot in the fourth quarter and coach said I played really well.”
“I think I controlled the center well in the Utah game,” Fiefia said. “I put him on his back a few times and that felt real good. But I would rather dominate and get off my blocks than just do that.”
Fiefia said that playing against Utah and Alabama was the most fun he’s had playing in a game.
“I thought the Utah game was really fun to get in,” Fiefia said. “I thought the Alabama game was a lot of fun too – getting to play against a big school with a lot of tradition. When I got in I was just pumped.”
Fiefia said he credits his coaches for helping him improve his game.
“I think my favorite coach is the one I have now, coach [Tom] McMahon,” Fiefia said. “If you do [bad] he’ll tell that you played like crap and if you do good he’ll let you know. He isn’t trying to hide it. He’s going to let everyone know that you did well or that you did bad. He just says it how it is and isn’t going to lie.”
McMahon is in his seventh year as a full-time assistant coach at Utah State. He started coaching the defensive-ends and outside linebackers, but for the past four years he has coached the defensive line.
Aside from playing football Fiefia said he just enjoys spending time with his family and friends. He is majoring in sociology and hopes, if he doesn’t go pro, to be doing something with kids after he graduates.
-kcaustin@cc.usu.edu