To some, a last name is simply just that, a name. But for Tua Tagovailoa, his last name means way more than that. It’s a heritage, a legacy, and one of the most important things to him.
The history of the Tagovailoa name is one of the focuses of “Tua”, a documentary done by Fox Sports in which they go into detail regarding: his Samoan heritage and roots, the relationship between him and his father, why he chose to play for Alabama and even how he became a left-handed quarterback.
Roll Tide Wire was asked to watch and review the documentary, so away we go.
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The documentary, as a whole, does a fantastic job explaining the history behind the Tagovailoa name, and why Tua is the one who has the duty of bringing fame and glory to that name.
From the beginning, the film focuses on the legacy and history of Tua’s family. From the first scene, you see Tua at a house getting ready for the 2020 NFL Draft. The film then shifts its focus to what is known as “The Prophecy.”
Simply put, this part of the documentary explains how Tua’s destiny and future was prophesied, and how the Tagovailoa name came to existence.
This allows the viewer to begin to understand Tua on a different level. He will no longer just be seen as a football player. He’s seen as a family man with a tremendous amount of pressure on his shoulders, as he must honor his ancestors and legacy.
From there, the film begins to showcase his childhood living in Hawaii. It explains the mentality and upbringing in the Tagovailoa household. Things such as how he became a left-handed quarterback and how the relentless work ethic instilled in Tua at a young age would pay off in high school.
The viewer will quickly see that Tua’s family has a huge impact on his life. Whether it be from the decisions made or how he plays, there’s no denying that Tua is a family-first guy.
At this point, some Alabama fans may start to wonder if there will be an Alabama highlights shown in the film.
It’s important to remember that this film will be shown across the world, and as hard as it may be to believe, there are some people out there who may not know Tua, the individual, compared to Tua, the football player.
The first 20 minutes are crucial to building the background in order to help people know how Tua became the player and person we see today. And for those who already “know” him, there are so many new things to be learned about Tua, even during a short film.
But don’t worry, Crimson Tide fans. Alabama enters the conversation soon after we’re given the Tagovailoa family background.
The viewer will get to see a lot of different people’s perspective on Tua. From head coach Nick Saban, medical trainer Jeff Allen, talk show host Colin Cowherd and so on, this part of the film does an incredible job recapping the entirety of Tua’s collegiate career.
From the start of his freshman year to the infamous play on 2nd-and-26, and even the tragic season-ending hip injury during junior season against Mississippi State, Fox Sports does an incredible job captivating the legacy that Tua Tagovailoa left behind in Tuscaloosa.
After his career in Tuscaloosa comes the behind the scenes look into his decision to enter into the 2020 NFL Draft, his intense rehab and recovery and the many trials and tribulations Tua had to endure during this dark time.
Not only that, but the viewer got to see Tua work with quarterback guru Trent Dilfer, who helped Tua create the best out of a bad situation. When the coronavirus shut down any possibility of a Pro Day, Dilfer and Tagovailoa came up with a solution: film one and send it to each team.
And guess what? It worked.
The last 15 or so minutes of the film is an emotional segment taking the viewer through the journey that is the NFL draft.
Not only do we see Tua’s dream come true, we see a side of his family never seen before.
As the family sings in the background, and the film comes to an end, the viewer is left with an eager anticipation for this season.
Overall, the film does an incredible job helping fans understand Tua Tagovailoa, the person. He’s a man of faith, who loves his family, and who also loves the game of football.
Tua is someone who overcomes obstacles while maintaining a belief in himself and God, and there won’t be anyone who sees this film and doesn’t want to see him succeed in the NFL.
And if you’re anything like me, you’ll have tears in your eyes and chills on your skin throughout the entire film, and when it ends, you’ll find yourself being an even bigger Tua Tagovailoa fan, even if you didn’t think that was possible.
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