Staley, Tahi meet again

The scene spoke volumes in the where-are-you-now category.

The other day, Luke Staley stood in a university parking lot and greeted Fahu Tahi. Circumstances were a world apart the last time they shook hands.

Both were BYU freshmen running backs headed in different directions.

Fahu Tahi survived the Cougar's scary offensive line back in 1999 but opted for an LDS mission. Staley, however, came back for more punishment and actually became a star once blockers figured out how to avoid being assaulted by Kevin Feterik. Then, Gary Crowton arrived and introduced the option to Brandon Doman and young Luke.

On this day, Staley, who has lived in the weight room this past year, sported huge bulky arms to go with his oversized calf muscles and allowed inspection of his latest knee surgery scar that kept him sidelined last season. He's tasted glory. A Doak Walker Award recipient in 2001, Staley is married, on NFL salary with the Detroit Lions and anxious to meet newly hired coach Steve Mariucci.

Tahi, just off an LDS mission to Jacksonville, Fla., has a higher hairline.

He's sweating and grunting under dumb bells in hopes of getting in shape. He's just getting acquainted with Crowton and position coach Paul Tidwell and sees a completely different scene than the one he left in 1999 when LaVell Edwards and Norm Chow ran BYU football.

Has it been that long? Yup, almost a lifetime for Tahi. Same for Luke. So much has changed.

Today, Tahi began spring football practice, trying to regain a position in the backfield with returning starter Marcus Whalen. Three years ago, Tahiwould do all the dirty work trying to get the offense to the red zone for the Cougar offense, and Staley would get the call to score. Now it remains to see what impact Tahi will have.

"I think Fahu will have an impact right away," Crowton said.

Back in their BYU debut year, both Staley and Tahi were highly touted prep stars. Staley came in from Oregon; Tahi was a stud at Granger High. That freshman year, Tahi was only 17 years old. He wouldn't get his driver's license until he was 19, the day he entered the Mission Training Center. He weighed a bloated 240 pounds as a freshman; today he's 225, and it starts all over again.

"I'm excited to be back and be part of this program again," Tahi said.