Spartan Spotlight on Brothers David and Peter Tuitupou
Competitiveness. Love. Trust. Academics. Four words that you could find in the Tuitupou house to describe David, Peter and their family. David and Peter are seniors, but their story gives you a glimpse into a very loving and caring relationship that grew even stronger because of football.
COMPETITIVENESS
The Tuitupou brothers grew up in a house that was always very competitive. With six brothers ranging in age of 24 to 36, there are always games going on, whether they are basketball games, video games or tennis matches.
That competitive drive may have started with dad, Paul. He played rugby for BYU-Hawaii and represented Tonga in tennis at the South Pacific Games.
"Dad is a tennis coach, and when we were younger, he would wake us up in the morning during the summer and try to teach us the game," said Peter. "To this day, he still plays tennis and can beat you by placing the ball where you cannot get it."
Whenever there is a family get-together, you can be sure that a basketball game or something competitive will take place with the family.
"There is a lot of competition in our family," said Peter. "I always tried to outdo everybody and be the best. If I knew my brother got X-number of yards at this age, I would try to get more. I would always try to be the best in family, and no matter what we do, everything is competitive."
That competition also helped fuel David's interest in football. He did not play the sport until his senior year in high school. Watching Peter's success, David decided he should give it a try.
"When Peter started to excel in football, that is when I thought I should give it shot," said David. "There is a competitive nature between the two of us. Peter got scholarship offers when I was on my mission. It was an exciting time for my family, but it also made me think that I should have taken it more seriously."
Peter also had an opinion of why David started playing - "I think it had a lot to do with me and how much I changed when he was away on his mission. David saw how big I had gotten, and he started lifting 2-3 times per game, putting on muscle and getting a shot as a preferred walk-on at BYU."
LOVE
The brothers share a unique bond, just two years apart. They grew up best friends, always hanging out together and carrying the competitive nature between the two of them.
"We were best friends growing up and had a love/hate relationship," said Peter. "Wherever our mom found one of us, she usually found the other one too. We were really close."
"My mom even dressed us in similar clothing so much that we might as well have been twins," said David. "We were joined at the hip and were together until I graduated high school and went on my mission. We have been together in everything we have done."
Their brotherly love can be felt from both of them when asking to talk about the other. Even head coach Mike MacIntyre lights up with a smile when he talks about the Tuitupous.
"They are very mature young men and very good football players. They are really good people and are fun to have around. They bring a sense of joy, enlightenment and great spirit to the team."
The brothers even show that love when talking about their final season. Like the 8-2 Spartans, David, a defensive end, and Peter, a tight end on offense, are enjoy a very productive season. Peter has the best yards per catch average among the starters. David is an anchor at left end for a defensive unit that has 34 quarterback sacks heading into tonight's game.
TRUST
That brotherly love left Peter to trust David to make his college decision. As Peter headed off to his mission, he had a directive for David and their college life.
"I told him, 'Wherever you go, be sure to tell them about me. Hopefully, I will go there to.' It was a long wait in Panama to find out where I might go, but when David said San Jose State, I researched the program and was excited to be a part of a rebuilding program."
David did have to do some convincing of the Spartan coaching staff about his younger brother. His brother was in Panama on a mission and had not played in two years.
"When I first met Coach Mac, I told him that I wanted him to give my little brother chance. I didn't ask for a scholarship, just an opportunity for Peter to show what he could do."
"I always trusted him no matter what and still do to this day," said Peter. "I think he would do the same for me."
ACADEMICS
In their house, mom ruled the academics. Carolyn Tuitupou is an assistant dean of undergraduate education at Brigham Young. She was always making sure that her children were doing their homework and focused on academics.
"She never wanted us to get to into sports because she was afraid it would take away from academic time," said David, who turns 27-years-old in December. "Both of my parents are educators, mom at BYU and dad retired from teaching in high school, and have their master's degrees. They are always focused on our academics, even to this day."
"Mom is one of our biggest supporters we have," said Peter, a 2011 Academic All-WAC honoree. "When she calls, she will talk about sports but then will immediately talk academics. She always pushes us to get academic accolades."
As their season comes to an end, their paths will go separately. David will graduate this fall with a degree in sociology. But, he has unique plans for what he wants to do after he receives that degree.
"I have an interest in nursing and going into a program even though I majored in sociology. I like helping people and enjoy taking care of people."
Peter has a different path to his life. He will graduate next spring with a degree in communication studies. He is married, and his wife, Seriah, is an adult caregiver.
No matter what the future holds for the brothers, one thing is for sure, their bond will never be broken, whether on the field, on the court or in their respective professions.