Unga family is making its mark in the world of football

ALBUQUERQUE � Anitelu and Lulama Unga migrated from the small island of Vava'u in the Tongan Islands with their family to Hawaii and then to Utah three decades ago with dreams the move would open doors for their six children.

They wanted opportunities and they knew education and sports would be big components in their plans. Anitelu worked as a landscaper and janitor, toiling with his hands to support his family in America.

Anitelu and Lulama are now gone, but their legacy lives on and will be on display today in University Stadium when their grandson, Harvey Unga, is expected to become BYU's all-time leading rusher as a junior.

Harvey is a powerfully strong big runner with a gift for playing consistent and making big plays. He has gained 3,151 yards on 627 career carries. He has a career average of 5.03 yards per carry.

Unga needs just 70 yards to break Curtis Brown's Cougar record of 3,221 career yards, set in 2006. Since Utah's Eddie Wide (145 yards) and Sausan Shakerin (100 yards) both ran for more than that on the Lobo defense a week ago, Unga, the MWC's leading rusher, should get his numbers.

Harvey's mentor, his uncle Fine, the fifth child of Anitelu and Lulama, was the first Unga to make his mark on the American football scene when he starred for Provo High School with Sean Covey in the mid-80s. He then earned All-America honors as a running back at Dixie College and Weber State before signing as a free agent with the Steelers.

"I think Harvey is great," said Fine, who took Harvey under his wings and coached him to run hard. "He's got great size, he's got great speed, traits I wish I had. I think he's a lot better than I was because he's got great hands as a receiver. We are all proud of what he's accomplished."

Fine said Harvey has been taught to run like a rugby player, a sport played by Anitelu and Lulama's two oldest sons, Tua and Jackson, Harvey's father.

"The only thing I've told him is to always protect his wheels. Once your ankles and knees are hurt, you are out. You can get your shoulders, hands and arms banged up but as long as you can hold on to the ball, you'll be OK if your legs and feet are healthy."

Ironically, Harvey Unga's accomplished his remarkable numbers despite fighting nagging injuries his entire BYU career. As a freshman, he was fresh off a sore hip situation that lasted almost a year. He then played two seasons with ankle injuries and deep bruises and he missed BYU's opener, a win over Oklahoma, with a broken hand this fall.

Still, Unga chugs along and performs.

Fine said the Unga clan is proud of Harvey, but he's also happy the rest of his cousins, the grandchildren here in the states, are following in his footsteps, using sports to further their education.