There was a time the University of Utah football team was not known as a defensive juggernaut that could rock the socks off of any offense they faced. In fact, not too long ago in 1989, the Utes were dead last in defense out of 106 Division I-A teams. But times were a changin.’

As the new head coach in 1990, Ron McBride was about to right the ship in a way Utah never could have imagined, not only defensively, but culturally too building the team around Polynesian principles that up to that point had never been a focus before. Linebacker Pita Tonga Sr., after starting as a Ute under Jim Fassel in 1988 as a redshirt freshman, was going to play a pivotal part in shaping Utah football into what we know it as today.

“Looking back now it was an awesome opportunity,” Tonga said. “Back then there weren’t too many Polynesians. We were gradually breaking in, so as I look back on it now I was kind of one of the early ones to play college football. Overall it was a great experience being a Ute. I loved my coaches that I played for and we had- I think it was the beginning of a defensive philosophy at Utah that has lasted up until now. My junior and senior year is where we defensively started turning things around.”

According to Tonga, despite barely having a better record in McBride’s first season as head coach, he and the rest of the team could feel the impact of the changes he implemented already- even if the fans couldn’t physically see results right at that moment. Guys were bought in and ready to keep pushing forward with McBride’s plan, not knowing until many years later how monumental that dedication would ultimately be for the program.

“I think my first two years there were a struggle for us to stay in games,” Tonga said. “We were just getting blown out on the scoreboard. When Ron came in he brought a new philosophy. The way we were going to compete with these teams was if we did it defensively first. He came in and it felt like the philosophy changed, the coaching changed, the defensive scheme changed and it carried over to the field. It was really fun to play defensive football my last two years for the Utes.”

However, it took a lot of hard work for Tonga to get to that point because he started his career at Utah as a walk-on that few saw any potential in. McBride could see the potential and vision for Tonga, and he started to thrive, earning a scholarship and becoming one of the best linebackers to ever wear the Drum and Feather.

“It was a lot of going against what people were telling me,” Tonga said. “I had a lot of people telling me I was too short, telling me that I was too small, I didn’t have the size. A lot of it was just trying to go against what people were telling me and believing what I thought was true which was that I could play. I could play at this level, I can do it. Even though the only ones that believed in me were me and my family I kind of used that as motivation to step up on the field and fight for a spot like all walk-ons do. I listened to what the coaches told me to do and did exactly what they told me. I didn’t go up there and try to create the wheel as they say. I did what they asked and I went against a lot of people who thought I wouldn’t be able to do it.”

Tonga’s best season as a Ute came in McBride’s first season as a redshirt sophomore recording 94 tackles, six tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and a pass break-up. One of his best games as a Ute came against Utah State in that 1990 season- the first time the Utes shut an opponent out since 1981 and a signal the program was making positive strides in a new direction.

“It was really fun,” Tonga said. “I was in the best shape of my life, I had a great fall camp. To have it all culminate into that game? It was pretty fun. I had a great time and I think they gave me WAC Defensive Player of the Week that game. It was pretty smooth. Everything flowed for me, I could read everything. The game slowed down a lot for me and I had a lot of fun.”

The fun didn’t stop there for Tonga and the Utes. The defense became better and better, and with it their record. In 1991 Tonga helped Utah to its first winning season since 1988 going 7-5, but missing a chance at a bowl game. Tonga’s senior season in 1992 was even better. Despite going 6-6 that year the Utes made their first bowl game appearance since the 1964 Liberty Bowl ending a 28-year dry spell at the Copper Bowl against Washington State.

“We had kind of evolved as a team both defensively and offensively and special teams-wise as well,” Tonga said. “It was probably the beginning of Utah football evolving into what it is now. I don’t say that to brag or ‘oh, that was us, we were the beginning of it’, but it seems like it’s carried on throughout the years to what you see today. That was an exciting time. That bowl game- after years of coming up empty and years of having losing seasons it put a cherry on top of that season. It was just a good time to be a Ute after that Copper Bowl. Even though we lost it, we were in the game and competed well and we had a chance to tie it up at the end, but couldn’t finish it. I’m glad I ended it that way with that bowl game.”

Behind every special season and special player is a special coach that brings something to the table that nobody else can. Though the Utes were just warming up during Tonga’s tenure he says there was no denying coach McBride was a unique soul on the field and just what the program needed in order to continue moving forward. His ability to put himself in his player’s shoes- especially his minority players was refreshing, and allowed everyone to play to the best of their abilities.

“What makes [coach McBride] so special is that he can relate to anybody and everybody regardless of class, regardless of race, regardless of any of these topics, or genres, or classifications,” Tonga said. “He always finds a way to identify where you come from, and understand your situation- your unique situation and come to your level and then bring it over to playing football. I always was able to come to him and talk to him on a level off the field that brought an understanding. A lot of people say you play with heart- I think coach McBride coached with heart. A lot of players felt that and I think that’s why they played hard for him.”

Another innovative, and important aspect to McBride’s coaching style according to Tonga was his ability to apply his player’s culture to his teams- specifically the Polynesian culture- an affect that is still at the heart of in-state schools in Utah to this day.

“It’s molded the program into what it is today,” Tonga said. “He was kind of the spark or the guy that started it all. You see it today- it’s taken off. When you think of football and you think of the long history of Polynesian football players that have come and gone and been very, very successful. I don’t think you can say that about a lot of other programs. Ron McBride was certainly the center point of that.”

With an understanding coach and a team centered around a welcoming, tough-nosed culture it’s no wonder the “brotherhood” that is often used to describe Utah football exists. Whether you played with them, before them, or after them there is an indescribable bond and understanding that happens between past, present and future Utes that is unlike any other.

“It’s hard to describe because it’s almost like when you are in a situation where you’re at your lowest or in a situation where you are struggling- it’s almost like an emotional level,” Tonga said. “Then you look over and see other guys going through it with you, who are sharing that same struggle, and who are fighting and doing whatever they can to help each other out. Blood, sweat, tears and all of the things you talk about. You get to form a bond when you do that over a certain amount of time period- it’s just natural to have that kind of bond and come closer together. That’s what is kind of carried off of the field and you remember it for a lifetime. When you see guys you haven’t seen for a long time you just kind of pick up where you left off. You’ve been at a point in your life where you know that guy is going to have your back.”

Tonga has a particularly strong interest and bond with the current football team watching his son, Pita Tonga Jr. going into his junior year playing defensive tackle for the Utes. To get a birds eye view through his son of all the changes and progress the program has made since his playing days in the late ‘80s and early ‘90’s has been an experience Tonga has taken a lot of pride in and enjoyed immensely.

“It’s been a privilege for me to see him have success, to see him be a part of something special,” Tonga said. “This team having gone to the Pac-12 Championship. Even though they didn’t pull it out they were right there with an opportunity to win it. It’s been pretty awesome to watch his growth and development and to be a part of this program today is awesome. Hopefully it continues for him and the program.”

Even though it would be understandable, Tonga says he’s not envious of his son and what the current team has been accomplishing on a much bigger stage than when he was playing. Tonga is just happy knowing he was a building block for what the Utes are currently doing now, and hopes his son appreciates the moment he is in just as much.

“I had my time and did what I did,” Tonga said. “I gave it my all and to watch him do the same is fun for me. It’s a privilege and I enjoy it so much. I want him to enjoy the process, enjoy what he’s going through. Not a lot of the Utah teams can say they have had the amount of success that he’s had so far.”

Coming from the bottom and fighting for every inch of success and respect is the story of the Utes if you ask Tonga. It doesn’t matter if you are talking about individual players, or a whole team- to be a Ute there has to be a strong fire burning to get better and prove people wrong despite any and all odds.

“I think growth, I think hard work, I think of a camaraderie and a brotherhood,” Tonga said. “When I think of Utah and being a Ute I think of coming from the bottom and working our way to the top. It’s been the story of Utah football. We were in the WAC and working our way from different conferences into the Pac-12. Coming from the bottom and working our way to the top. It’s the story of a lot of the players, it certainly was for me. I walked on to the program. I didn’t have a scholarship and I saw an opportunity and worked my way up. I was able to earn a scholarship and then to have a lot of success at Utah. When I think of Utah that is the kind of thing I think about. Hard work, opportunity, camaraderie, brotherhood and success for anybody who works hard. I think of pride. All of these words just come together for me and that’s what I think about when I think of Utah football.”

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