Redshirt freshman Isaac Asiata got his start for the Utes against Weber State last Saturday. If you’re wondering why that name sounds familiar, it’s because the Asiata name is nothing new to Utah. Isaac’s cousins Matt and Shawn both played running back for the U, and Matt’s still running for the Minnesota Vikings. Isaac is an offensive lineman. Coach Whittingham was singing his graces after Saturday’s game. Isaac Asiata’s hard work and athleticism is getting him closer to a starting role, and his wit is reeling in a substantial Twitter following.
I hung out with Asiata after Wednesday’s practice at Rice-Eccles Stadium to find out more about this charismatic and funny O-lineman on the verge of becoming a mainstay on the offensive front.
CM: Is running out of the tunnel as fun as it looks?
Asiata: Yeah, because in high school we never got to do that. We kind of just walked, and it was embarrassing because no one was ever in our stands. But it’s fun because, being in there, you get rowdy. I’m not gonna lie, by the time you get to the end, you’re like [he leans over to catch his breath]. You’re just tired from running a hundred yards for no reason. It’s cool, though. It’s fun. It’s exciting. There’s nothing like running out into Rice-Eccles Stadium — for sure.
 
CM: As a freshman, how do you earn respect from your teammates?
Asiata: Just by your play on the field and how you carry yourself off the field as well. Nobody likes a cocky kid that comes in and thinks he’s better than everybody else. Show it on the field how you interact with your teammates and just being a likable guy — I think. Be respected and don’t do anything to lose that respect.
 
CM: Alright, the questions are gonna get a little weird now. Who is the biggest ladies’ man on the team?
Asiata: The biggest ladies’ man? If he didn’t have a girlfriend, it’d be this guy to the left of me, Travis Wilson for sure. It’s always the quarterbacks, nobody likes linemen [he said with a smirk].
 
CM: That was gonna be my next question. Do you think offensive linemen get enough love?
Asiata: Um, no … we know what we do, you know, that it all starts and ends with us, but we’re not about flare. We’re about just getting in there, doing our job and getting out.
 
CM: Alright, this one comes from Twitter. How do you feel when people ask you for tickets?
Asiata: OH! That’s great. [he said, laughing] I have friends that I hang out with and stuff, but this dude asked me that I haven’t talked to since I was like a junior in high school, and I knew him just from a class that I had. He’s like, ‘BRO, you know, I’m a big Ute fan and I know you from high school. Can I get some tickets, bro?’ I was like, no. And then like girls, like, random girls, who just want to come because they know somebody on my team or because they’re tryin’ to get with somebody on my team.
 
CM: That can’t be all that bad though, right?
Asiata: Yeah, but they’re not coming for me, so I don’t want to give them no tickets! I only give girls tickets because their coming for me or if I’m pretty good friends with that girl. So that’s it as far as that goes. That’s a great question. That’s funny. You should’ve seen how many replies I got to that little mantra.

CM: You’ve got over 1,300 followers on Twitter. Coach Whittingham, Erickson and Roderick just joined. Any advice for your coaches who are new to Twitter?
Asiata: Just don’t be like me because they’d lose their job or something, I don’t know. I tweet way too much, and I get so much crap for it on the team. I think it’s funny. Yeah, I get bored a lot.
 
CM: What’s the best part about the new football center?
Asiata: Players’ lounge, because that’s somewhere we can take naps. I remember when I was a [true] freshman we had to, like, sleep on the meeting room floors, in between the seats with towels as pillows. Now it’s nice. We got a theater room that we can sleep in, there’s a bunch of couches. There’s just more places to sleep. I like the players’ lounge though, it’s pretty sick.
 
CM: I’ve been in there, so I’ve seen all the video games. How often do you guys play college football?
Asiata: When we first got all the systems, that was like the only game we had, but now we have UFC and Mortal Kombat. Nobody ever plays any sports games. They always play like fighting games, or stuff like that.
 
CM: Who’s the biggest gamer on the team?
Asiata: [Without hesitation, he spouted off] Sese [Ianu]. He’s always playing video games. It’s crazy … He’s funny though, man. We call him “The Hulk” just because he’s huge.
 
CM: Alright, last question. This is another one inspired by Twitter. How bad does the parking at the U suck this year?

Asiata: [Smiling yet enraged, he said] Oh my gosh! Who charges a quarter for seven and a half minutes?! Bro, I spent three dollars and didn’t even get two hours. I was so mad. It’s terrible. And then, even if you have a pass, there’s nowhere to park … You gotta like, park in Narnia and then walk all the way back to class. It’s terrible, dude.