This Penn State defensive tackle is paying for his family’s internet so they can watch him play
Siale Taupaki, playing in his eighth college football season, said he’s using his name, image, and likeness earnings to help his family: “My parents are still struggling.”
As eighth-year defensive tackle Siale Taupaki took the field for the first time at Penn State on Saturday, his parents, Kolo and Seilose, sat in their California home, ready to watch their son start in Beaver Stadium.
But they wouldn’t be able to watch him if it wasn’t for the internet that Taupaki pays for.
“We don’t watch a lot of TV back at home,” Taupaki said Tuesday. “We just work and rest, and that’s about it. But aside from that, I was glad that they [were] able to see it for themselves.”
Taupaki left his home state this offseason, opting to transfer to Penn State after seven seasons at UCLA. He also moved across the country from his family.
That leap of faith came after Taupaki spoke with Matt Campbell on the phone while he was in the transfer portal. The first thing Campbell asked about was Taupaki’s family, which instantly sold the defensive tackle on playing for the Nittany Lions.
“Not a lot of people asked for my family or everyone else that came with me,” said Taupaki, who has compiled 39 tackles and two sacks in his career. “He asked specifically, how was my mom, how was my dad. With that, I knew he was a family man, then he was a football coach. So from there, I knew I could come to him about anything because he’s a father before he was a coach.”
However, playing for Campbell at Penn State means Taupaki’s parents couldn’t watch him in person. Taupaki said they’re too old to fly, leaving limited options to see their son play this season.
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So Taupaki is trying to keep them involved as much as he can.
He called his family after Penn State’s win over Marshall and told them about the game day atmosphere in Happy Valley, which included seeing cows and horses. Taupaki said “you don’t see that a lot in the West Coast.”
“I told them [Beaver Stadium] is bigger and better,” he said. “That’s it. My pops told me that he had the chills just hearing about it, because he can visualize in the game.”
Because of name, image, and likeness, Taupaki is using his earnings to help his family.
“My parents are still struggling,” Taupaki said. “I’m broke. I’m really just trying to fill in all the holes that I have back at home, understanding the platform that I’m having, and just seeing all of that stuff and understanding how far I came.”
Taupaki said he came from “nothing.” At one point growing up, he and 22 family members lived in a two-bedroom house, so some had to sleep outside.
Those tough times made Taupaki who he is today — someone who wants to learn about everybody on his team, where they come from, and what their story is. He also shakes every media member’s hand before leaving his press conference.
When he returns home, Taupaki isn’t a Penn State starting defensive tackle. Rather, he’s a son continuing to help give his parents a better life.
“Everything that I got to do beforehand and afterhand, I got to do it based off my parents,” Taupaki said. “That football stuff is out the door. So the opportunity I got with the NIL era and the great coaching staff and all that, I’m thankful for that. But at the end of the day, I still got stuff to do as a son. So to play my role as that, I’m forever grateful.”
