One name is all it takes. Like a South American soccer player, the last name is optional for the BYU running back. His first name gives enough information for everyone at BYU to know exactly who you're talking about. Just say Fahu.
WHAT'S IN A NAME
Naufahu Tahi was born in California and he comes from Tongan descent. Both his parents are from the islands, and the name Fahu is derived from the Tongan culture. It carries special meaning for the Tahi family. Fahu was named after his grandmother's brother who died around the time he was born. But just like Fahu himself, the name comes with a sense of humor.
"In the Tongan culture a Fahu is the oldest sister in the family who gets everything she wants," Fahu said. "She gets treated like a queen."
Does that mean Fahu's mother wanted him to be a girl?
"No!" replied Fahu, laughing out loud.
Fahu's seldom-referred-to last name, Tahi, means ocean. Put them together and Fahu Tahi means something along the lines of queen sister of the ocean. Not a very descriptive name for a 6-foot, 240-pound man who spends his time trampling defenders beneath his feet. Maybe something like king brother of the gridiron is more appropriate. Either way, Fahu is a giant of a man with a big smile, a boisterous laugh and a love for those who surround him.
FAMILY TIES
Carrying a special family name seems appropriate for a man who credits his family with the success he has had up to this point in his life.
"My mom especially had a big part in my life," Fahu said. "Whether it was football or school, she was the one keeping me in line."
As a teenager, Fahu's parents relocated the family, moving from California to Salt Lake City. It was a rough transition for Fahu, but his mother's presence helped him make it through the difficult time in his life.
"My mom was the one who pretty much raised me," he said. "I guess you could call me a momma's boy. We are pretty tight."
But Fahu's mother isn't the only family member who molded him into a successful person and college football player. Fahu's father played rugby for the Tongan international team and for BYU-Hawai`i. His older brother was the first in the family to play football, and Fahu remembers going to watch his little league games and wanting nothing more than to play football.
"I just watched him and my dad and it started from there," he said. "Then it just kept going and I wanted to play football all the time wherever I was -- family reunions, church. I just wanted to play football."
A lot of yards have been compiled since his days watching his brother from the sideline. In fact, he hasn't stopped playing football since the day he was old enough for little league. His playing days began in California, but his success started when he was a prep athlete. While playing for Granger High School in West Valley, Utah, Fahu rushed for more than 5,700 yards and set the Utah state high school record for rushing touchdowns. He was selected by USA Today as Utah Player of the Year twice and was regarded as one of the top five recruits in Utah.
BLEEDING BLUE
The impressive high school resume made him a heavily desired recruit around the nation. Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Washington and Nebraska all wanted Fahu to help fuel their running attacks. So why would a powerful running back choose a school known for passing the ball? It's simple, really. Tradition.
"I watched them since I was little, and I always wanted to be a Cougar -- regardless of whether they threw the ball and I was a running back," Fahu said. "I've been bleeding blue since I was little."
The school's tradition wasn't the only factor that brought Fahu to the Y. The coaching staff played an important role as well.
"Coach Edwards was here and Coach Reynolds was a big part of the recruiting process," Fahu said. "He and I developed a good relationship. He took care of me after my senior year in high school."
An often-overlooked reason for Fahu choosing BYU over other more dominant running schools is his religion. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Fahu wanted to serve a mission, but he worried many schools would not respect his decision and honor the scholarships they had offered him.
"This was one school that would let me go on a mission then come back and play," he said.
Fahu chose BYU, played for a year, then spent two years as a missionary in Jacksonville, Fla. Choosing the Y gave Fahu that opportunity and allowed him to do something not many BYU football players can claim to have done.
FOUR OF A KIND
When BYU recruited the running back as a high school athlete, he thought he would be dawning the traditional royal blue jersey and white helmet when it was time to play. But Fahu came to BYU in 1999, the same year the university decided to change its colors from royal to navy blue and adopt a new logo. Since that year, the Cougars have changed their look four times. Most recently, the team went back to the original logo under the direction of first-year head coach Bronco Mendenhall. With this year's jersey change, Fahu became one of the few players on the team to have worn all four uniforms the team has used.
"It's fun. You get something new every year," Fahu said.
As a freshman Fahu thought the new uniforms were cool, but as time went by he started to dislike them.
"My freshman year we had the bibs and I didn't like those too much," he said. "I was hoping I'd be able to wear the white helmet. It's the one I wanted to wear."
As a senior Fahu finally finds himself in the jersey he wanted to play in since he was a child. It seems appropriate considering he came to BYU because of tradition.
"I really wanted to wear the traditional white helmet," he said. "I'm glad I got the chance."
POLYNESIAN PIPELINE
BYU's traditional success with Polynesian players may also have played a part in luring Fahu to Provo. For years, the Cougars have relied on players from the islands to play important roles for the team. Carrying the Polynesian torch is something Fahu has taken very seriously since arriving at BYU.
"It just comes naturally," Fahu said. "I watch the older guys like Vai Sikahema and Reno (Mahe) and all the guys before us. I just try to do for the younger guys what they did for us."
As one of more than 20 Polynesians on this year's roster, Fahu feels a responsibility to help the younger players prepare for the future, both on and off the field.
"I'm just trying to be a good example and help the younger guys learn the program. What we're trying to do is put BYU back on the map."
ONE FOR THE TEAM
To help prepare BYU football for continued success, Fahu exhibits the same love for his teammates that he was shown by his family. Even though he's a senior, he still has to compete against the other running backs for the opportunity to play each week. But Fahu said the competition between players hasn't gotten in the way of the love between teammates.
"We all get along fine," he said. "I love Curtis (Brown) and those guys. We just have a lot of fun with Coach Reynolds. It's a blast."
A lot of that fun may come at Fahu's expense.
"I get teased a lot because I'm the older guy in the group and I feel like I've been here forever," he said.
On top of being dubbed one of the older guys, he's also one of the married guys. He married the love of his life, the former SaLote Kinikini, in April 2003. He said having a wife, being a student and playing college football combined is a full-time job, but he has been able to balance all of it so far.
"It's tough to impress everybody, even the wife," Fahu said. "She gets after me harder than the coaches do."
But Fahu isn't alone. Thirty-one of BYU's football players are married and they perform the same balancing act as well. Fahu said the coaches are key in helping the players handle everything on their plate. Being married themselves, they understand the situation and help the players fulfill all of their responsibilities.
LIFE AFTER FOOTBALL
Fahu knows his football days are drawing to a close so he's anxiously preparing for life without pads and a helmet. The way opposing defenses shy away from him now is a forecast of things to come for criminals. Fahu studies sociology at BYU and wants to go into law enforcement. He said he wants to get rid of the things he saw while he was growing up.
"I just want to give back to the community," Fahu said.
However, football is not over yet. Before he can help the community, Fahu knows he has to help his team. To do that, he needs to bring his career full circle. As a freshman in 1999, Fahu led the Cougars in rushing with 445 yards on 102 carries. He also scored two touchdowns while splitting time with future All-American running back Luke Staley.
Since Fahu returned from serving his mission, the Cougars have struggled with a running game. This season's motto -- returning to the past for a new start -- seems the perfect way for Fahu to end his athletic career at BYU. With new coaches, new uniforms and a new way of doing things, the senior running back feels the responsibility of adding a new threat to the Cougar offense -- an established running attack.
"My role right now is to do the best I can on the field," Fahu said. "This is my last year. I've got to make the best of it."
BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE LETTER 'S'
It is often forgotten that the most important part of being a student athlete is being a student. After all, without good grades athletes can't play. College classes have not hurt Fahu Tahi during his time at BYU, but things were a little different for him as a young child in grade school.
"Growing up I couldn't say the letter 's'," he remembers. "When I tried to say it, it sounded like I was blowing my nose into a tissue."
To this day Fahu is unsure as to how he got through the first grade without saying the letter 's'.
"I did my best staying away from teachers calling on me, or saying the alphabet in class," he said. "I guess I just lucked out."
Fahu was six years old before he learned how to say the letter 's', but his brother has not let him forget about it. His family still teases him, trying to get him to mess up so they can have a good laugh.
"I had the hardest time, but I'm all right now," Fahu said.
He'd have to be all right to play for BYU, a team known for its academic success. Last year the Cougars had 31 players named Academic All-Mountain West Conference along with 43 players named Student Athlete Academic Center Scholar Athletes.
Obviously the letter 's' is no longer a problem for Fahu.
Luckily for him, there is no 's' in football.