Published: Thursday, September 2, 2010
CASCADE CONFERENCE PLAYER TO WATCH: Tani Tupou
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Jennifer Buchanan / The Herald
Tani Tupou is committed to the University of Washington.
In his three previous varsity football seasons, Archbishop Murphy tight end and defensive lineman Tani Tupou has accomplished about as much as any high school player could ask for.
The one thing, he, and the rest of his Wildcat teammates have not accomplished — playing in the 2A state championship game. The Wildcats have fallen in the semifinals each of the past two seasons to the Lynden Lions
This season, Tupou's senior season at Archbishop Murphy, the team hopes to break through to the game that has eluded them.
Whatever happens, you can expect Tupou and his 6-foot-3, 275 pound frame to be near the center of the action on the field.
Tupou has committed to the University of Washington on a full ride scholarship, but before he ever puts on the Husky purple and gold, he is focused one more time on representing the Wildcats and working together with his teammates toward one common goal.
Motivated by the past
Losing in the playoffs is never easy and it is no different for Tupou and his teammates.
“We know what it feels like to be up there – on top. After losing two years in a row in the semifinal game and having unbelievable seasons there is always that empty feeling afterword. Especially because after the game we are like ‘now what do I do, now that football is over,'” Tupou said.
But it isn't just the past two years of defeat that is driving this group of Archbishop Murphy seniors, especially Tupou and his senior defensive line mate and good friend Julius Tevaga.
These seniors are the last group that ever played for coaching legend Terry Ennis, who passed away in 2007 after a long bout with prostate cancer.
“I think the main part this year for us seniors is that we are the last class to have ever been coached under Coach Ennis,” Tupou said. “All of us were, you know, his last legacy. That is driving most of us, actually, it is driving the whole team, just to finish up what he had here at Murphy.”
Having a few screws loose
Tupou might be mild mannered and polite off the field, but that doesn't mean you want to mess with him on it. Together, he, Tevaga and senior Nathan Zarate lead a defensive line that is considered to be one of the best in the state.
“Our defense is kind of nuts,” Tupou joked. “Some of us have screws loose, so we will do anything to get to the football and to the quarterback.”
Tupou and Tevaga are known for inflicting pain on the opponent, but they are also often the first to help their opponent back up off the ground.
Tupou said that sportsmanship is an important part of the game, while still maintaining his football personality.
“We always joke around and say, ‘mess him up and help him back up, so you can mess him up again,” Tupou said.
Responsibility to lead
Tupou has been through the fire as a four year varsity player and as he steps into his senior season, he knows it is his responsibility, along with his senior teammates to lead the team.
“It's a big role to play and sometimes it gets hard and frustrating, but it's something that, if you want it that bad than you have to step up and go get it,” Tupou said.
Tupou's responsibility to lead the team also keeps him focused on the task at hand. He says the seniors have made goal sheets for the season that focus on what the team wants to accomplish and what they need to do to reach their goals.
Vindication
Another driving factor for Tupou and his senior teammates is a surprising one. He and Tevaga as well as quarterback Austin VanderWel, running back Randy Gordon and Zarate have played together since they were children.
With that kind of talent on the same team, one would think that they would have marched over everyone that they played. That, however, was not the case.
“All of our teams were really good, but we never, ever won a championship,” Tupou said with a chuckle.
With all of that history and still no championship trophies to display in the trophy case, there seems to be only one fitting ending for Tupou and his teammates.
“I'm not trying to sound cocky, or arrogant, but as a team, we plan to play on December 5 (the day of the 2A state championship game),” Tupou said.
It isn't just this year that the Wildcats believe they will be in the state championship game. It is every year, which might be a reason why they are a perennial state powerhouse.
“Each year we have always planned to be there. I remember one year, it was Kelso Wilkins, there was SAT that day (on the day of the state championship) and I remember him going online to register for SAT, and I was like ‘oh just do it that day,' and he said ‘no we can't,' and I said ‘why?' and he said ‘that's the state championship,' and I said ‘oh okay,'” Tupou said with a smile.
Murphy tradition
It's not a surprise when Archbishop Murphy is hovering around the state finals in any sport.
And Tupou is aware of it.
He and his teammates are proud of the example that was set before them by past Archbishop Murphy football teams as well as the success that other Wildcat sports have had.
“I think as a team that is what we want to do, is respect the past and build the future,” Tupou said.
Team first
When Tupou speaks it is generally more about the team than it is himself. He always finds a way to revert everything back to the team and their goals.
“We all have are individual accomplishments, but we know that we couldn't have got it done without everybody,” Tupou said. “It's not about one person. It's just everybody in it together.”
The one thing, he, and the rest of his Wildcat teammates have not accomplished — playing in the 2A state championship game. The Wildcats have fallen in the semifinals each of the past two seasons to the Lynden Lions
This season, Tupou's senior season at Archbishop Murphy, the team hopes to break through to the game that has eluded them.
Whatever happens, you can expect Tupou and his 6-foot-3, 275 pound frame to be near the center of the action on the field.
Tupou has committed to the University of Washington on a full ride scholarship, but before he ever puts on the Husky purple and gold, he is focused one more time on representing the Wildcats and working together with his teammates toward one common goal.
Motivated by the past
Losing in the playoffs is never easy and it is no different for Tupou and his teammates.
“We know what it feels like to be up there – on top. After losing two years in a row in the semifinal game and having unbelievable seasons there is always that empty feeling afterword. Especially because after the game we are like ‘now what do I do, now that football is over,'” Tupou said.
But it isn't just the past two years of defeat that is driving this group of Archbishop Murphy seniors, especially Tupou and his senior defensive line mate and good friend Julius Tevaga.
These seniors are the last group that ever played for coaching legend Terry Ennis, who passed away in 2007 after a long bout with prostate cancer.
“I think the main part this year for us seniors is that we are the last class to have ever been coached under Coach Ennis,” Tupou said. “All of us were, you know, his last legacy. That is driving most of us, actually, it is driving the whole team, just to finish up what he had here at Murphy.”
Having a few screws loose
Tupou might be mild mannered and polite off the field, but that doesn't mean you want to mess with him on it. Together, he, Tevaga and senior Nathan Zarate lead a defensive line that is considered to be one of the best in the state.
“Our defense is kind of nuts,” Tupou joked. “Some of us have screws loose, so we will do anything to get to the football and to the quarterback.”
Tupou and Tevaga are known for inflicting pain on the opponent, but they are also often the first to help their opponent back up off the ground.
Tupou said that sportsmanship is an important part of the game, while still maintaining his football personality.
“We always joke around and say, ‘mess him up and help him back up, so you can mess him up again,” Tupou said.
Responsibility to lead
Tupou has been through the fire as a four year varsity player and as he steps into his senior season, he knows it is his responsibility, along with his senior teammates to lead the team.
“It's a big role to play and sometimes it gets hard and frustrating, but it's something that, if you want it that bad than you have to step up and go get it,” Tupou said.
Tupou's responsibility to lead the team also keeps him focused on the task at hand. He says the seniors have made goal sheets for the season that focus on what the team wants to accomplish and what they need to do to reach their goals.
Vindication
Another driving factor for Tupou and his senior teammates is a surprising one. He and Tevaga as well as quarterback Austin VanderWel, running back Randy Gordon and Zarate have played together since they were children.
With that kind of talent on the same team, one would think that they would have marched over everyone that they played. That, however, was not the case.
“All of our teams were really good, but we never, ever won a championship,” Tupou said with a chuckle.
With all of that history and still no championship trophies to display in the trophy case, there seems to be only one fitting ending for Tupou and his teammates.
“I'm not trying to sound cocky, or arrogant, but as a team, we plan to play on December 5 (the day of the 2A state championship game),” Tupou said.
It isn't just this year that the Wildcats believe they will be in the state championship game. It is every year, which might be a reason why they are a perennial state powerhouse.
“Each year we have always planned to be there. I remember one year, it was Kelso Wilkins, there was SAT that day (on the day of the state championship) and I remember him going online to register for SAT, and I was like ‘oh just do it that day,' and he said ‘no we can't,' and I said ‘why?' and he said ‘that's the state championship,' and I said ‘oh okay,'” Tupou said with a smile.
Murphy tradition
It's not a surprise when Archbishop Murphy is hovering around the state finals in any sport.
And Tupou is aware of it.
He and his teammates are proud of the example that was set before them by past Archbishop Murphy football teams as well as the success that other Wildcat sports have had.
“I think as a team that is what we want to do, is respect the past and build the future,” Tupou said.
Team first
When Tupou speaks it is generally more about the team than it is himself. He always finds a way to revert everything back to the team and their goals.
“We all have are individual accomplishments, but we know that we couldn't have got it done without everybody,” Tupou said. “It's not about one person. It's just everybody in it together.”
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