Senior looks back on career as an Aggie
David Fiefia has been a jack-of-all trades for Utah State’s football team over the last few years.
He was recruited as a tailback, converted to a wide receiver as a freshman, but moved back to the running back spot as a sophomore.
He contributed mostly on special teams, returning kicks during his sophomore and junior seasons, but this year he has been a focal point of the offense and taught the team a Maori war dance it performs before every game to get pumped up.
Wide receiver, running back, kick returner, war dance leader. Add temporary quarterback to the list.
Fiefia’s career stats show one touchdown pass. During his freshman year, he passed to quarterback Jose Fuentes for the score.
“He handed it off to me and he went back to the other side,” Fiefia said. “I just turned around and threw it back to him.”
Did it make him want to move to the QB position?
No way, Fiefia said. “It’s too stressful.
With all the roles Fiefia has played on the team, he ended up with the one he likes the best.
In his freshman year, he was asked to contribute as a wide receiver, which he did to get playing time.
“I was more than happy as a freshman just to step on the field,” Fiefia said. “But I always had running back in the back of my mind.”
After the season, he told the coaching staff he wanted to return to his natural position.
“If I had the choice, I’d always want to stay as running back,” Fiefia said.
He’s happy he did.
Going into the final game of his career Saturday against Idaho, Fiefia is fourth in the Sun Belt Conference in rushing, averaging 82 yards a game.
His pass-catching and kick-returning ability put him at second in all-purpose yards, averaging 140 per game.
Fiefia’s last goal he wants to accomplish this season is to break the 1,000-yard rushing mark. He has 903 for the year, leaving him 97 yards shy with one game to go.
It’s a strange feeling to be nearing the end of his career, Fiefia said.
“It’s been a lot of years that I’ve been here,” he said. “I never thought this day would ever come, but it’s come sooner than later.”
Fiefia began his career at USU by being recruited by then-Aggie coach Dave Arslanian. He and his family were impressed with the school. The coaching staff was honest with him and Utah State showed the most interest in him, so he chose to sign.
“Logan has been good to me,” he said. “It’s a home.”
Fiefia also helps fill Romney Stadium with Aggie fans he just happens to be related to.
At the annual football awards banquet after last Saturday’s game, Fiefia’s family had three tables reserved, enough to hold about 35 people.
He estimates he’s had about 15 family members at each home game.
“My family is real supportive of whatever I do,” he said. “Whenever I go back home we’re always a real tight-knit group.”
Utah State’s football team has benefited from Fiefia’s family and culture.
Fiefia, who is Tongan, grew up learning dances of his culture. He also learned dances from other cultures.
In the week before the Arkansas State game, to help the team get an emotional charge, Fiefia taught the team a war dance native to the Maori culture of New Zealand.
The Aggies came out ready to roll, beating Arkansas State 49-0 and following that with a 41-20 thumping of Middle Tennessee State.
For the most part, however, those wins have been the exception rather than the rule. Utah State stumbled after those big wins, losing to New Mexico State and Troy State, and is 3-8 on the year.
Fiefia said he has no regrets about coming to Utah State.
“I thought at the beginning of my career that I’d want to go back,” he said. “But I wouldn’t want to go back and say I wish I never came here or did this or did that. I’m happy, I’ve learned from it and it’s made me a better person. I wouldn’t go back and change it because I wouldn’t be here.”
Fiefia said the friendships he has made here have made his stay worthwhile.
“The best thing [about playing at Utah State] is just the opportunity that I had to come get and meet a whole bunch of guys, especially my teammates, that I’ll be friends with for the rest of my life.”
Next year, he will finish up his degree in marketing, and said he would like to stay in Utah close to his family after graduation.
He’s got other plans as well.
“I plan to get married some time in the next year, probably next summer,” he said. “I’m not engaged, but I’ve been dating this girl for six years so it’s pretty serious.”
There’s another girl in Fiefia’s life that’s important to him – his daughter, Skyla, from a previous relationship.
“She’s everything to me right now,” he said. “She brings me happiness and joy when I see her. I don’t get to see her as often as I would like to, so when I do get to see her, it’s a time for me to get closer to her, to learn more about how to be a father.”
Where does Fiefia see himself in five years?
“Married with a couple of kids and a good job,” he said.
-royburton@cc.usu.edu