QB Tuifua is Damien’s big man with big dreams

CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA @STARADVERTISER.COM At 6-2 and 240 pounds, Damien quarterback AJ Tuitua is a big man on campus.

1 /2 CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA @STARADVERTISER.COM At 6-2 and 240 pounds, Damien quarterback AJ Tuitua is a big man on campus.

CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA @STARADVERTISER.COM Damien quarterback AJ Tuitua.

2 /2 CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA @STARADVERTISER.COM Damien quarterback AJ Tuitua.

CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA @STARADVERTISER.COM At 6-2 and 240 pounds, Damien quarterback AJ Tuitua is a big man on campus.

CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA @STARADVERTISER.COM Damien quarterback AJ Tuitua.

Through all of life’s challenges and celebrations, AJ Tuifua has usually agreed about most things with his dad and mom.

But there was that time when he was a toddler making a lifelong decision. Despite his New York Giants-loving father, Sione, little AJ sided with their blood rivals.

“My favorite team is the Philadelphia Eagles. I was 3 and everything around me was green, like trees. I just like the color green. My uncle, Neami (Tuifua ) was always wearing Eagles stuff. He has an Eagles tattoo on his leg, the wings with the ‘Fly, Eagles, fly’ motto. That was the only team that was winning in my eyes, ” Tuifua said. “He was my favorite uncle and took care of me more than my other uncles.”

Sione Tuifua didn’t pay much mind to the 3-year-old making any kind of decision.

“My dad said, ‘Go ahead and cheer for any team, ’ but now he regrets it, ” AJ said.

To this day, any Giants-Eagles game is an automatic, friendly bet.

“We bet a Whopper versus 50 push-ups, ” AJ said. “That day Saquon Barkley signed with the Eagles, he said, ‘He’s not as good as he used to be.’ But I’m eating a lot of Whoppers.”

When the going gets tough, AJ Tuifua digs deeper.

Deep enough to plant deep roots. The Damien…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/qb-tuifua-damien-big-man-160800787.html

Author : The Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Publish date : 2024-09-17 16:08:00

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