There are many things that can make a dad proud.
Sometimes, it can be as simple as your child finishing a plate of food or making their bed in the morning. Down the road, the standard is set a bit higher, with some hoping for a high grade-point average, while others dream of hard-hitting tackles and touchdown catches on a Friday night.
As the parent of a 1-year-old, I tend to set the bar at long and successful nap times that allow Dad to get some work done. For Dave Uiagalelei, it’s safe to say the bar of success has been set quite a bit higher over the years, thanks to unending hard work, perseverance and what looks to be a masterclass in parenting.
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On Friday evening in Eugene, those years of blood, sweat, and tears — mixed with a massive dose of love — will culminate in something that most dads in the world of sports would be jealous of. Big Dave gets to see his two boys take the field and play against each other when the Oregon Ducks and Oregon State Beavers square off in the Civil War.
DJ Uiagalelei, the oldest, is the star quarterback in Corvallis, while Matayo, the youngest, is one of the most promising up-and-coming defenders on Dan Lanning’s roster down in Eugene. It will be redshirt-junior vs. true-freshman; passer vs. pass-rusher; brother vs. brother.
“I think it’s a father’s dream,” Dave told me in an interview this week. “You know, to be able to have two sons, not just one, play at a high level, come out of high school being five-stars, No. 1 players at their position. For me, it’s a blessing.
“I think I’m one of the luckiest dads,” Dave continued. “I mean, any father would just dream for this, you know, so I’m just totally grateful and thankful.”
A couple of years ago, I had the opportunity to talk to Big Dave during Matayo’s recruiting process. The high school senior was a five-star player at St. John Bosco in California, and I wanted to pick Dave’s brain about what it was like having the No. 1 edge rusher in the nation, just a few years after his oldest son, DJ, was rated as the No. 1 pro-style QB in the nation. He told me all about “Big Dave’s Blueprint,” and his philosophy when it comes to molding talented young athletes into successful and respectable men. At the time, Matayo was considering the Ducks, but leaning toward USC. Meanwhile, DJ was the starting QB for the Clemson Tigers on the East Coast.
Who would have thought, two years later, we’d be talking again with Matayo in Eugene, and DJ 45 minutes north in Corvallis?
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It may seem like a string of coincidences played out for these two brothers to be playing in such close proximity. In reality, it should come as no surprise if you know the bond that the two share. Having the two playing on opposite ends of the country would have felt unnatural.
“People don’t understand how close those two are,” Dave said. “DJ finishes his game, he gets right into the car and drives to go see his little brother play. That just should tell you how much DJ loves his little brother and so forth. For me as a father, I mean, there’s nothing better than that.”
As a fan, the situation is quite advantageous for Dave, who attends as many games as he can. Of course, the scheduling doesn’t always work out, but Uiagalelei has been able to catch as many games as possible throughout the season, saying that there have even been two games this year where he’s managed to watch both sons play in a single day.
On Friday, it will be made possible again, with DJ and Matayo facing each other on opposite teams for the first time ever. For each son, the competitive drive will take over instantly as they quickly lock in and do whatever it takes to win. For Dad, you could write a book on the emotions that he will experience throughout the evening.
“I don’t even know what to feel, you know? I’m cheering for both, I know that for sure,” Dave said. “It’s like I’m sitting there like ‘Wow, I can’t believe these two are gonna play each other.'”
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Of course, brothers playing against each other in football is not a unique thing. NFL fans have seen the story of Travis and Jason Kelce shoved down their throats as both played against each other in the Super Bowl last year. We’ve also seen matchups between siblings like Peyton and Eli Manning, J.J. and T.J. Watt, and Nick and Joey Bosa take place over the years, among many others. However, those brothers typically play on the same side of the ball, so it doesn’t present the opportunity for a clash on the field.
On Friday, that’s exactly what could be in store, though. There is a world in which DJ drops back to pass, and Matayo comes off the edge and brings down his older brother for a sack. If that happens, expect quite the reaction from Dave in the stands.
“I’m going to laugh my ass off, man. And then I’m going to pray that he gets up and they hug each other.”
It would make for an interesting visual, having the two opponents embrace after a crucial play in a high-intensity game, but again, it makes sense if you understand the bond.
“That would be perfect, it would be so perfect,” Dave said. “You know, your younger brother sacks you, he gets up and picks his older brother up. And then DJ just wraps his arm around him and stuff, that would be so perfect. That’s an ESPN highlight if you ask me.”
It certainly would be a story that the two would be telling for the rest of their lives and a memory that Big Dave would never forget.
That can be said about the entire day, and the season as a whole, in reality. The past two decades have seen a lot of long hours, a lot of pain, and a lot of time spent working hard to improve. There were endless mornings of Dave being woken up by his two sons after a shift working as a bodyguard, with the boys pestering him to get up and go train. All of the hours have led to this weekend, though, where he will sit inside Autzen Stadium, wearing neutral colors, rooting for his two sons to succeed in doing what they love.
“I’m just gonna sit there being thankful, playing the proud dad.”
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