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With little Polynesian presence on campus, and none represented in the university’s athletics, Lealao clung to his culture even more.
“Being Samoan is my life,” says Lealao. “There’s really no ifs ands or buts about it. “We have to prepare and we have to get ready to play a good Vanderbilt team.”
Offensive lineman Bradley Bozeman was similarly unfazed.
“It happens everywhere,” he said.
Follow him on Twitter @RyanABlack.
So often in sports, the leader of a team is the loudest guy in the room.
A leader is the one who stands up, who preaches, who motivates, and who gives us lines that are immortalized in history.
Credit Lealao for Vanderbilt’s ranking as the top red zone defense last season, as he stymied opposing running games and created a short passing field.
This season, Vanderbilt’s defense has given up a mere 4.3 points per game, and for a unit that lost four starters, that number is extraordinarily low. But every so often, sports open our eyes to the notion that you don’t have to be loud to lead.
Lealao remembers those days well.
“There are times that everyone just feels doubt, when you don’t win games and things may not be going so well for you off the field, but I think senior year is your last chance to do everything. Everything that I say and do is a representation of my family and my culture.”
As far as Polynesian football players go, it’s far from unusual, particularly from American Samoa.
Lealao’s presence is felt by offensive lines around the country.
Just like at the zoo … If you poke the bear, you do so at your own risk.
Vanderbilt’s Nifae Lealao poked the bear after the Commodores’ win over Kansas State Saturday night.
“When you come into our house, we show you how to play some SEC ball,” he said.
With every snap and every step he takes, Lealao knows he’s representing a community larger than a team or even a university. He has led by example in the only way he knows how: in silence.
This year, Vanderbilt football has welcomed the presence of three more Polynesians, with the arrivals of Michael Owusu, Feleti Afemui, and Jonah Buchanon. He’s representing the entire Polynesian community. “He’s opened the doorway, showing that Polynesians don’t have to be afraid to come to the East Coast and ball.”
As Lealao takes the field for his final season at Vanderbilt, he carries with him the support and admiration from all the Polynesian student-athletes that look up to him.
Being vocal about certain things is just different, and I think for Jay [Woods’s] role, that’s a little better for him to do, for Ralph [Webb] to do, for Trent [Sherfield] to do, and it’s different for me. He lives in Knoxville, Tennessee, where he also co-hosts a midday sports radio show for FOX Sports. He has certainly opened a doorway to success, and he is sure to hold that door on his way out.
The Commodores have already matched their win total from Mason’s first year, showing that this team is a far cry from where they were just three years ago. “It don’t matter where you’re from … You’re gonna know what ball we play.
“Alabama, you’re next.”
Oh boy. He has never asked for anything, never demanded anything, and never told anyone what to do.