The Haka is a traditional Maori dance performed by warriors to intimidate their opponents just before engaging in battle. The dance includes a wide range of body movement, from bulging eyes to stomping feet and slapping thighs. Done in perfect unison by 100 warriors, or in this case, Bingham Miners football players, it can be a scary thing.
Especially when the man leading the charge is future Ute offensive lineman Derek Tuimauga.
The 6-foot-4, 325-pound giant will soon be trading Miner blue for Ute red following his senior year at Bingham, which remained No. 1 in the state after defeating Alta 23-20 Friday evening.
Tuimauga, who moved here from Long Beach, Calif., pleaded ignorance when asked about his past loyalties to BYU.
“Who told you that?” he said, laughing. “I was actually a big fan of both BYU and Utah.”
However, after recently committing to head coach Kyle Whittingham and the Utes, Tuimauga is sure where his loyalties lie now.
“I just prayed about it, talked to my parents about it,” Tuimauga said. “I felt that the U was where I was supposed to be.”
Tuimauga, who is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has yet to decide whether to redshirt next season before serving a mission or to play a year and redshirt when he returns. He has no doubts that he’ll be able to whip himself into football shape upon his return, citing that he had recently lost 35 pounds to get ready for this season.
College recruiters look for a player’s ability to perform on the big stage, when the pressure is high and the lights are focused squarely on the talent. Bingham’s rematch of last year’s state championship with Alta featured plenty of possible Ute recruits on both sides, including Tuimauga and Alta’s running back, Sausan Shakerin — Utah’s 2006 Mr. Football.
The football field at Bingham High provided the perfect stage. An estimated 10,000 spectators stood at least ten-deep all the way around the premises, providing the intimacy of a boxing ring. It was definitely a Friday-night fight, and Tuimauga loved every second of it.
“You can see it in our eyes,” he said. “Coach always talks about the intensity and how to bring it. I just do it. I really stepped it up when I had to. All in all, I loved the way we fought, but we have to get better.”
Leadership is one thing Tuimauga will not shy away from. Just as he sounds the war calls during the Haka, he will bark at his teammates to make sure no one is taking a single play off.
“Honestly, I don’t need to yell for them — I just love doing it,” he said. “I love getting my team up for the game. Anything I can do for my team, I’ll do it.”
Ute fans will enjoy watching Tuimauga every time he mows over an opponent to clear a lane for a running back, or drops back to protect the quarterback. He possesses all the immovability of a tank and the agility of a Hummer. Tuimauga benches a ridiculous 405 pounds and even leaps 24 inches — not that he’ll be leaping a whole lot in a game.
Although Shakerin played below expectations with just 79 yards rushing against a strong Miners defense, he has great size, speed and an upright running style resembling that of former Oklahoma Heisman Trophy candidate Adrian Peterson. “Shak” finished last year with 2,250 yards and 25 touchdowns.
Utah is also taking a serious look at a pair of top linebackers from Alta’s defense — Boo Anderson and Jefferson Court.
So far, the Utes have secured commitments from Copper Hills defensive tackle Sealver Siliga and wide receiver Kendrick Moeai. Siaki Cravens, a 6-foot-3, 220-pound tight end from Temecula, Calif., has also verbally committed to play at the U. Lamar Chapman, who plays corner back, will also be joining the Utes, as he plans to transfer from El Camino College next season.
Tuimauga says he can’t wait to become a Ute.
“I’m looking forward to the camaraderie of the team,” he said. “That and the fans are crazy. The MUSS?they kill everybody, man.”