His wife, Zerin, is due to deliver their son “any day now” in Provo, making Keanu Tanuvasa’s emotional return to Rice-Eccles Stadium this Saturday a high-wire act of epic proportions. This redshirt senior defensive tackle for BYU is about to face his old team, Utah, and it’s shaping up to be one of the most emotional, unforgettable weeks of his life, with or without a win.
The Earthquakes He Promised Are Still Happening
You remember when Keanu Tanuvasa left the University of Utah to join rival BYU a few years ago, right? He famously said the move “was going to cause earthquakes” in Salt Lake City. And man, was he right! That bold decision grabbed headlines for months, sparking some seriously nasty exchanges between Cougar and Ute fans. Tanuvasa himself stayed mostly out of the fray, but the impact was undeniable. Here’s the kicker: this dude actually played for Utah for 24 games, starting in 19 of them, including the heartbreaking 2024 game where the Utes lost 22-21 to BYU on a last-minute 44-yard field goal. Imagine being on *that* side of it, then flipping the script. Fast forward to last year, and Tanuvasa, now a Cougar, got the first laugh with his new teammates as BYU defeated Utah 24-21 in Provo, their third-straight win in the series. Now, he’s heading back to Rice-Eccles Stadium, a place he calls “a phenomenal place to play” and “one of my favorite stadiums in the entire country.” What kind of reception does he expect from the Ute faithful? “Nothing but their best, which is their passion, their fire, everything that comes along with it,” he said. He loved their passion when he was there, felt it when they were behind him, and he’s hyped for their “fire and their juice” as an opposing player.
Baby Watch And Elite Play
As if facing his former team in a heated rivalry wasn’t enough, the biggest game of Tanuvasa’s life might actually be happening off the field. With Zerin due “any day now,” Keanu has BYU defensive line coach Sione Po’uha and several trainers on standby, phone ready, just in case he needs to bolt for the hospital. Talk about focus! This 6-foot-4, 300-pound NFL prospect isn’t letting the pressure get to him on the field though. He’s been double-teamed often this season, yet he’s still racked up 16 tackles and contributed to one sack for the Cougars. His teammates know what he brings: fellow defensive lineman Bodie Schoonover says, “The No. 1 thing that stands out is his leadership, man. That guy knows how to get the team going and bring the team together. He is a special guy, for sure.” Tanuvasa even shouted out Utah’s 8-0 record, giving props to what he knows is “Morgan’s attitude” and Coach Scalley’s “ruthlessly the best version of himself” way of life. He knows Utah’s standout offensive line, saying, “They are a freaking great bunch of guys that give huge effort. I’ve seen that since they were young players.” He’s just “excited to go line it up” against them.
This Saturday at 10 a.m. at Rice-Eccles Stadium, the emotional stakes for Keanu Tanuvasa couldn’t be higher. He’s facing an 8-0 Utah squad that he respects, in a stadium he loves, all while his first son could arrive at any moment. You know he’s going to lay it all on the line, for BYU, for the rivalry, and for his growing family. Get ready for some serious fireworks!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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