Wednesday, December 21, 2005

Salt Lake Tribune: Turn BYU running back loose and he becomes a punisher

College Football

By Patrick Kinahan

Fahu Tahi smiles sheepishly, recalling the moment he made more than 80,000 people simultaneously gasp.   Those inside Notre Dame Stadium, right down to all coaches and players, were left stunned at the sight. Right before their eyes, one football player humiliated another.  During the game, at a time when Notre Dame was crushing Brigham Young, Tahi snapped the crowd back to attention. Taking a handoff, the bruising running back crashed into Notre Dame's strong safety, leaving him looking like he was on the wrong end of a nasty car accident.  If one play defined Tahi's college career, this was it. It also could be the kind that leads to an NFL career. "It felt good," said Tahi, from the ESPN Zone game room inside the New York-New York Hotel & Casino.  "I saw I had a one-on-one situation, so I thought I'd take the opportunity."   Did he ever.     Two months later, Tahi's primary coaches - offensive coordinator Robert Anae and running backs coach Lance Reynolds - still chuckle at the thought. They admired the strong safety's courage, which probably was born out of ignorance.  At least he wasn't a fool. For the rest of the game, Notre Dame's defensive backs proceeded with extreme caution each time Tahi got close.  "After that, it was one of those roll up and dive for the ankles," Anae said. Tahi concludes his college career Thursday when Brigham Young plays California in the Las Vegas Bowl. Consider the Golden Bears warned.

No. 3 is coming right at you, Cal. Any time he touches the ball, Tahi's only taking the direct route.  "Instead of trying to make too much happen, I just take whatever I'm given," he said. Try to take him on or step aside, those are the two options Tahi is giving the defense. Tackling a 255-pound bowling ball usually isn't a one-man job. Forget about safeties doing it. And linebackers and linemen have to hold on for dear life. "The thing that I'm thinking of every time I'm running the ball or catching a pass is I'm not going to go down easy," Tahi said. "Like the coaches have been trying to tell me, not to let one guy bring me down."

Tahi's sojourn at BYU includes nearly as many pitfalls as highlights. As a freshman in 1999, he split time with Luke Staley and rushed for 445 yards. A church mission to Florida and a redshirt season sidelined Tahi until the 2003 season. A couple of mishaps off the field and mission legs limited him to only 77 yards on 34 carries his first season back. Last season he gained 339 yards on 93 attempts. This season, during which he served a one-game suspension for violating team rules, Tahi has run for 473 yards and five touchdowns. He's also caught 39 passes for 366 yards and two touchdowns.  His 5.3 yards per carry is second behind Curtis Brown's 5.5. "He's so physically strong," Reynolds said. Not to mention so quiet. During his five years in college, Tahi barely spoke five words a week. Always cooperative and articulate during interviews, he avoids the spotlight. Even during this week's bowl activities, Tahi stays to himself. As his teammates were going wild playing free games at the ESPN Zone, he hung back from the crowd. "His leadership is a lot more with his pads than with his mouth," said Anae, recalling the play against Notre Dame. "That does more to a team in terms of a leadership role than your best verbal guy who can sit up there and give a bunch of speeches." His game also might be suited for the NFL. Professional teams always are looking for fullbacks with varied skills. Tahi, Reynolds said, possesses the rare ability to block, catch and run. Scouts have taken notice. "Every scout that has come out to practice has come to look at Fahu specifically," Anae said. "Every scout that comes through, they want to know. "It's hard to find that kind of a guy in football. There's a lot of guys that can lead block, but it's the other things they fall short on."

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