There are many things that can make a dad proud.
Sometimes, it can be as simple as your child finishing a plate of food or making their bed in the morning. Down the road, the standard is set a bit higher, with some hoping for a high grade-point average, while others dream of hard-hitting tackles and touchdown catches on a Friday night.
As the parent of a 1-year-old, I tend to set the bar at long and successful nap times that allow Dad to get some work done. For Dave Uiagalelei, it’s safe to say the bar of success has been set quite a bit higher over the years, thanks to unending hard work, perseverance and what looks to be a masterclass in parenting.
On Friday evening in Eugene, those years of blood, sweat, and tears — mixed with a massive dose of love — will culminate in something that most dads in the world of sports would be jealous of. Big Dave gets to see his two boys take the field and play against each other when the Oregon Ducks and Oregon State Beavers square off in the Civil War.
DJ Uiagalelei, the oldest, is the star quarterback in Corvallis, while Matayo, the youngest, is one of the most promising up-and-coming defenders on Dan Lanning’s roster down in Eugene. It will be redshirt-junior vs. true-freshman; passer vs. pass-rusher; brother vs. brother.
Matayo Uiagalelei (Left) and DJ Uiagalelei (Right) as teammates at St. John Bosco in 2019. Photo Courtesy of Dave Uiagalelei
“I think it’s a father’s dream,” Dave told me in an interview this week. “You know, to be able to have two sons, not just one, play at a high level, come out of high school being five-stars, No. 1 players at their position. For me, it’s a blessing.
“I think I’m one of the luckiest dads,” Dave continued. “I mean, any father would just dream for this, you know, so I’m just totally grateful and thankful.”
A couple of years ago, I had the opportunity to talk to Big Dave during Matayo’s recruiting process. The high school senior was a five-star player at St. John Bosco in California, and I wanted to pick Dave’s brain about what it was like having the No. 1 edge rusher in the nation, just a few years after his oldest son, DJ, was rated as the No. 1 pro-style QB in the nation. He told me all about “Big Dave’s Blueprint,” and his philosophy when it comes to molding talented young athletes into successful and respectable men. At the time, Matayo was considering the Ducks, but leaning toward USC. Meanwhile, DJ was the starting QB for the…
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