By Jeff Bugher
8/25/2024
LARAMIE, Wyo. — On the University of Wyoming football team, the bond between players runs deep, beyond positions and backgrounds. These bonds last a lifetime. Center Nofoafia Tulafono and linebacker Shae Suiaunoa's connection is rooted in their shared Polynesian heritage.
Tulafono, a 6'2", 325-pound senior from Victorville, California, is the Cowboys' offensive line pillar. He has started every game over the past two seasons. In 2023, he helped pave the way for Harrison Waylee to rush for over 100 yards on four occasions, including a 191-yard performance against New Mexico. Tulafono was a vital link that protected quarterback Andrew Peasley (now with the New York Jets), who threw for at least 140 yards nine different times, with a season-high 319 yards against Hawaii. Additionally, Wyoming ranked in the top-15 nationally in fourth-down conversion percentage at 66.7%. The Cowboys' offensive line was named to the Joe Moore Award Mid-season Watch list, an honor given to the top offensive line in the nation.
Tulafono speaks highly of Suiaunoa, regarding the unique bond they share. "Coming in, Shae and quarterback Levi Willaims were here," he said. "Shae and I are really close. That’s my brother," Tulafono said. "That's probably the closest person that I am with on the team. Just being with him and having somebody to relate to. You know, making jokes to each other and inside jokes that only us Polynesians would know."
According to Tulafono, their bond brings a sense of familiarity and comfort that makes Laramie feel like home. "It's just nice to have that, that type of brotherhood with him because it makes us feel at home," he shared. "He really is a big brother to me. I would never say that to him, but yeah, he's a real big brother to me. I love that guy, man."
Suiaunoa, a 6'3", 231-pound graduate student from Houston, Texas, has also significantly contributed to the Cowboys. In 2023, he was second on the team with 93 total tackles, including six tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and an interception. His performance against Texas Tech, where he recorded a career-high 12 tackles, helped turn the game into a significant upset seen by millions on national TV.
Suiaunoa appreciates the cultural connection he shares with Tulafono, even if his fluency in the language isn't as strong. We definitely say some words just in the Polynesian language," Suiaunoa said. "He speaks it fluently. I don't. I just have like little knowledge of some words. So we definitely connect on that level. The love within the Polynesian cultures is big on respect. So we understand that. But then we pick on each other a lot, but at the end of the day, it's like respect and love. So we… we have a big connection."
The two not only share a bond on the field but also spend time together off it, often gathering at each other’s houses. Their shared heritage comes alive in their interactions, especially around food. "Yeah, we always, we always kick it outside his house, my house, wherever," Shae said.
When asked who the better cook was, Suiaunoa didn’t hesitate. "Definitely Fia (Nofoafia)," he laughed. "Whenever you want to barbecue or cook, he's on the grill with his rag, wiping his forehead, sweat, and everything. Yeah, that's all him."
Although Shae and Nofoafia are on opposite sides of the ball, their Polynesian roots bring them a brotherhood as teammates and as brothers through culture.
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*Some information for this article came from UW Athletics
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