Family is always first for BYU defensive end Manaia Brown.
His number-one motivation for success is family, which always comes before football. So when Brown was playing at his dream school, Nebraska, and found out his father wasn't well back in Utah, he didn't have to think very long before transferring to BYU.
"I'm really happy I made the decision to come here," said the 6-4, 313-pound senior from West Valley City. "I'm happy to be closer to home and with my family."
Little League, Lots of Brown
Brown did not grow up knowing he would play football, but his obvious size qualifications made him a hit in little league football teams as a youth.
"My parents and family wanted me to do something good with my time," Brown said, "So they got me into the little league. And football just made me feel good."
But Brown said he owes his confidence in playing football to Coach Ray Groth and his Granger High School days. Coach Groth honed his skills and taught him the fundamentals of football.
"I was terrible in little league," Brown said. "I played a lot because I was big, but I was just taking up space and not really playing the game. But when I played for Coach Groth in ninth grade, he took me under his wing and trained me. He kept drilling me so I got bigger, stronger and faster. And then football became easy for me."
And Brown did get bigger, stronger and faster. He started his freshman year at Granger High School at 270 pounds. As a junior, he weighed in at 275-280 pounds. And Brown graduated from high school weighing 285-290 pounds. Now as a senior, Brown said he is happy with his 313-pound weight.
Before BYU (Nebraska)
Graduating from Granger High School as a three-time all-state defensive lineman, Brown was recruited by Nebraska, a Division-I university--a dream come true.
"When I started playing at Granger, Coach Groth would have me sit in his office and watch film on Nebraska defense," Brown said. "He was a big Nebraska fan and watching the film made me a Nebraska fan, too."
Nebraska created the opportunity of a lifetime for Brown. He saw action in nine regular-season games as a freshman. And then his team went on to the 2002 Rose Bowl where they competed against Miami (Fla.).
"Playing in the Rose Bowl is my best memory," Brown said of his time with the Big Red. "When you are running out of the tunnel you are blinded by flashes. Everyone is taking pictures of you and the stadium was packed."
Although his team lost the bowl, Brown recorded three tackles against Miami, finishing the season with 12 tackles.
Coming to the Y
Brown's football career was off to a great start, but Nebraska was feeling farther and farther away from the people he cared most about. Brown was homesick for the family that had supported him through his life. Finding out his father was not well became the decisive factor in transferring to BYU.
"My dad is the guy who doesn't sit still," Brown said. "He always has to be doing something around the house, like cutting the grass when we don't have any grass to cut. But my family told me when I was gone that he started staying in the house and losing weight. When I saw him at the Rose Bowl, I could see a difference."
Brown said his father had never wanted him to go to Nebraska. His father had been happy he was playing on a scholarship and doing well in football, but he had always wished his son would play for BYU. So Brown left the school that took him to the Rose Bowl and joined the Cougars.
"My dad's doing much better," Brown said, "I think he was just over-doing it. But I think for me to come home and say I was going to BYU really lifted his spirits. It was his big dream for me to play here."
Family First
Brown, who is the sixth son in a family of seven, said family will be his number-one choice in any decision he makes. His family is where he draws his support from and they are the motivating factor in all he does.
"My family has had our good and bad times," Brown said. "But my parents have kept us together. They are the heart and soul of our family. And my family is the reason I want to succeed."
Brown, who married Tupusina Schwenke Aug. 24, 2000, is working on his own family now and has two children. Brown and Tupusina fell in love during his senior year at Granger High. When he graduated in 2000, everything fell into place and they were married that same year.
"My wife is everything to me," Brown said. "I come home and I'm the biggest baby and she takes care of me."
Tupusina said she tries to have dinner ready and will rub his feet or his back. The main goal is to let him recoup from football, but he often has something else on his mind.
"When he comes home, he's so tired," Tupusina said. "But he will go straight to the kids and spend time with them. He is a great dad."
Brown's first son, Manaia Vaega Vaifoa, turned one last month. Tupusina said when Brown comes home, young Manaia will try to run to his father. But, he gets so excited he falls before he makes it to Brown.
Taimane, Brown's second son, was born three weeks premature last July. He had pneumonia and had to stay in the Intensive Care Unit for his first two and a half weeks, came home for a week and then returned to ICU. After weeks of worrying, Taimane finally came home Aug. 9. Taimane's health affected Brown mentally and he wasn't sure he would be playing for the Cougars this year.
"I was thinking about just skipping the whole camp, period," Brown said. "I didn't even want to come back because it was really hard on me to see my son like that. Looking at all of those tubes going inside of him and seeing doctors take x-rays of him was scary. I think I was mentally drained before camp even started."
Thankfully, Brown said everything is looking better for his youngest.
"Things happen for a reason," Brown said. "So, we said our prayers and everything took care of itself."
Bronco's Expectations
Just as Brown is kept on his toes daily with his growing family, he is also kept on his toes by Coach Bronco Mendenhall.
"My mindset at practice is always, what's next?" Brown said. "That's it. You've got to be ready to go and I'm never surprised with Coach Mendenhall's program. Coach Mendenhall always says if he's going to do something then he's going to do it right. He does that for us and expects us to do it for him."
Brown said if his performance is lacking at practice, Mendenhall will make sure those expectations are not easily forgotten.
"He takes care of you if you work hard," Brown said, "and will punish you if you show weakness. He will make us run and run. He will make stuff harder for us when we are already tired. But when we do practice well, he lets us know and that's a good deal. It means a lot to us, to all of the players, when he rewards us for the good things we do."
Brown said one of the focuses of Mendenhall's program has been that the
players all connect as brothers on the team. This newfound team unity has changed his perspective and obligation to the team.
"Personally, I want to be able to play at the next level, but I'm not even thinking about that right now," Brown said. "I'm thinking about how I can help the team to improve during this season. We want to bring back the tradition BYU football means to everyone here. And when that time comes, we'll see what it means for my football career."
Career Plans
Brown said bringing back the BYU football tradition is the ultimate element to getting drafted.
"If we finish off the season the way we want to, it will open up a lot of doors for us," Brown said. "Winning games will bring more scouts, so that is the number one thing to take us to the next level."
Although his goal is to take his football career to the next level, Brown has a back-up plan for his life. He is graduating in sociology and plans to work with troubled youth.
"I want to get into juvenile work," Brown said. "In Utah there is a big Polynesian population and I want to help those kids. Being able to go to college and accomplish some of the things I have will help me be a good example to them. I think the things I have gone through, on and off the field, can help them."
Samoan Heritage
Until he reaches his goals, one of the things that carries Brown through each day is his identity as a Samoan. Heritage is just as important as family to Brown, in fact, the two are intertwined.
"Being Samoan is all about respect, family and getting together," Brown's wife, Tupusina said.
Brown comes from two Samoan parents and married a Samoan. Even his first name, Manaia, is a traditional Samoan name meaning "anything beautiful or nice." Coming from a long line of Samoan heritage became a well of strength for Brown to draw from.
"Everything I am and everything I do starts off with me being Polynesian," Brown said. "It pushes you even more with the stereotypes people have against us."
He bears two traditional Samoan tribal band tattoos, one on his left calf and one on his right bicep. They are constant reminders of the culture he represents.
Brown is proud to be Samoan and carries the philosophy with him, "You've got to keep it real to be real." To Brown, the phrase means he is Samoan in every word, every action, everyday.