Tyrone Taleni Steps Up Big For Trojans

‘It was just so exciting.’ Tyrone Taleni’s parents saw the USC lineman achieve his dream

Ryan Kartje (LA Times —  Five years after their son left Samoa in search of a future in football, Jack and Lise Taleni gazed up from their seats Saturday, awestruck at the sight of his face flashing across the Coliseum videoboard while tens of thousands of fans cheered him in unison.

From left, Qudaela Taleni, Jack Taleni, Tyrone Taleni and Lise Taleni gather for a picture after the Trojans’ win over Rice on Saturday.
(Courtesy of the Taleni family)

The last time they’d seen Tyrone in person, he’d barely ever watched an American football game, let alone played in one. Now their son was chasing down an opposing quarterback for USC, pulling him to the turf for his first sack as a Trojan. It was a surreal moment. Around them, family and friends screamed and jumped for joy. So Jack and Lise, having never attended an American football game, followed their lead, smiling wide as they celebrated their son.

“It was a new experience for us, being there,” said Lise, Tyrone’s mother. “So we just went along with what everyone else was doing, screaming and shouting and tapping each other. It was really exciting for us.”

It was already an emotional day for the Taleni family. Five excruciatingly long years had passed since Lise and Jack were last together with their son — so long that Tyrone told himself to prepare for his parents to be different people than he remembered.

But the same was true for Tyrone, who’d been through a life-altering journey since leaving Savai’i in the fall of 2017 with the hope of financing his education with football. His improbable pursuit of a scholarship in a sport he’d never played had taken him from Mt. San Antonio College to Manhattan, Kan., before USC coach Lincoln Riley scooped up the defensive lineman from the NCAA transfer portal.

Along the way, he longed for the day his family could watch him play football. But travel restrictions remained in place for the independent state of Samoa for more than two years of the pandemic, limiting those who could enter or leave the island. A few days before USC’s season opener, Tyrone found out his parents and sister, Qudaela, would be there for his Trojans debut.

When Tyrone woke up that morning, he went straight to meet his family at the hotel. Lise burst into tears as soon as she saw her son. Jack marveled at how much he’d grown.

“I started treating him like he was my little boy, slapping his cheeks and feeling his muscles,” Jack said with a laugh. “He’s a lot different now with his body!”

It had been heartbreaking for both Jack and Lise to watch him leave behind their small village of Vaiola half a decade earlier. They worried about Tyrone traveling so far to play an unfamiliar sport in a place so different from their home. But they told themselves to let Tyrone find his own way.

“When he left, we didn’t have enough money to support him,” Jack said. “He was just going out there to see where he would end up. And so to see him on that field that day, all of those feelings came back to us.”

“We’re just happy and thankful,” Lise added. “We know he had a lot of struggles when he came to America. At the very beginning, having to go through what he did, look at him where he is now.”

As they took in the scene around the Coliseum, wandering through the tailgates on the South lawn, they could hardly believe what they saw.

Inside, they marveled at a stadium bigger than any they’d ever seen, which filled up Saturday with more than 60,000 fans.

“Their eyes lit up,” said Ula Matavao, Taleni’s cousin. “They couldn’t believe how big it was. There’s nothing like that back in Samoa. It was a culture shock for them. They’ve been to the States before, but they’ve never experienced college football.”

And at the center of it all was Tyrone, who played 31 snaps in his USC debut, more than he played in any single game last season at Kansas State. They knew enough about football to understand he’d come a long way for that sort of role.

“It was such a wonderful thing,” Lise said. “The whole time I watched him everywhere he went, whether he was on the field or on the sideline. It was just so exciting to see him there.”

That thrill was evident in Tyrone as he celebrated his first sack, knowing full well his family was watching from the stands.

They’ll be in the stands again Saturday when USC takes on Stanford in Palo Alto. With defensive lineman De’jon Benton probably out because of an injury, Tyrone could play an even bigger role at defensive tackle this week. Riley singled him out Tuesday as someone who had “stepped up” along the defensive front.

His parents finally saw that for themselves last Saturday. It left them swelling with pride at the life he’d built for himself since leaving Samoa.

That night, Tyrone was awake in bed, still stunned that his parents had actually seen him play college football.

“I was just so happy,” Tyrone said. “I was proud of myself, that I was able to be here, to give the best that I can and finally having them be a part of it.

“Words really can’t explain it.”

latimes.com

________

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UtahTrojan
Noble Genius
UtahTrojan
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September 9, 2022 7:47 pm

Love this story. Great kid from a great family.

Steveg
Major Genius
Steveg
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September 9, 2022 8:22 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Watching same game. UCF reminds me of Florida St years ago, good athletes without a brain in their head. Dumb mistake after dumb mistake.

alfa1
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alfa1
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September 10, 2022 6:44 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

If Georgia Southern beats Nebraska, I doubt Frost lasts over the weekend

RialtoTrojan
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RialtoTrojan
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September 9, 2022 10:53 am

His story reminds me of Israel Ifeyani the kid who grew up in Nigeria and only saw American football on TV. At USC he wore #55 ,which says a lot about his work ethic. I hope Tyrone has that kind of story to look back on when he plays games on Sundays.

TrojanRJJ
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TrojanRJJ
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September 9, 2022 10:40 am

The 2nd most interesting game for me on Saturday is Oregon State at Fresno State. Our next two opponents are playing each other AND Fresno is favored. Some have Oregon State as the 3rd best team in the Pac. Speaks a lot about playing in Fresno and the quality of the staff and players in that program. One game at a time for SC. I doubt anyone is looking past Stanford. I am in agreement with Colin Cowherd – except a tough game but I still think SC wins by 10, but I am expecting a very tough game from… Read more »

Steveg
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Steveg
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September 9, 2022 10:57 am
Reply to  TrojanRJJ

We are a house divided when it comes to the USC/Fresno game. They are going to be good no doubt with one of the best Qb’s in the nation, I think. What he did to ucla last year was unforgettable. USC can prevail and most likely will. The Fresno/OR St game is a must watch for all USC fans.

Steveg
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Steveg
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September 9, 2022 4:48 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

They have changed things up and gone with a four man D line. Not that it is going to matter much, but they think they will be better. It actually could help us in the passing game. LR has seen it before. I bet he has a good plan.

Steveg
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Steveg
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September 9, 2022 8:28 am

It is great to see young men who value family so much and a family that values him just as much. I am sure he will go places with his education and family support. Fight On!!

alfa1
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alfa1
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September 9, 2022 8:54 am
Reply to  Steveg

Maybe this is the beginning of another Junior Seau legacy