Tonga will miss BYU's opener vs. Arizona

PROVO — BYU running back Manase Tonga will miss the season opener and will not be able to participate in fall practice until legal matters are resolved following his arrest earlier this month.

Cougar head football coach Bronco Mendenhall said Friday that Tonga will serve his one-game suspension "for violation of team rules regarding conduct" by missing BYU's game vs. Arizona on Sept. 1.

"Manase is a young man of solid character," Mendenhall said. "He is someone I trust as a leader on this football team. There is an expectation of conduct associated with being a member of this football program. I believe Manase has learned a very valuable lesson from this, and we look forward to having him back, participating with the team as soon as possible."

Tonga was arrested after a traffic stop early July 3. An officer pulled Tonga over for failing to stop at a stop sign. A warrant was out for the arrest of Tonga, 23, because he had not paid an $82 ticket for running a stop sign in August 2006, according to court documents.

Provo police said Tonga gave a fictitious name during the stop. The officer issued citations to Tonga for failure to stop, for driving a car with an expired registration and providing false personal information to a police officer. Tonga was booked into jail and released about an hour later.

Tonga and Fui Vakapuna, both juniors, are the only running backs on the BYU roster who have significant college experience. Last season, Tonga rushed for 197 yards, with four rushing touchdowns. He also caught 23 passes for 230 yards and two touchdowns, including a 17-yard touchdown catch in BYU's victory over Oregon in the Las Vegas Bowl.