Final Season: David Faaeteete

Written by Sam Finley

Wednesday, 12 December 2007

David Faaeteete doesn’t get pushed around often. Considered the strongest member of the Oregon defensive line, the 6’2, 310-pound defensive tackle has become quite the force against opposing offensive tackles. He hasn’t been much of a pleasant dream for ball carriers either with eight tackles resulting in lost yardage.

You could argue that his contributions are purely physical…coming from his hard work in the weight room. After all, this political science major has set a team lifting record by squatting 600 pounds. But many teammates would argue that Faaeteete’s real strength comes from his leadership in practices and during games. It is a leadership that will be sorely missed after the Ducks finish playing South Florida in the Sun Bowl.

Faaeteete's Favorites

Food: A real homemade burger hot off the barbecue.

Movie(s): Gladiator and Troy

Actor(s): Clive Owen, Russell Crowe, and Bruce Willis

Actress: Jessica Alba, because she’s gorgeous.

TV Channels: I like watching the Cartoon Network and the Sci-Fi Channel.

Sport(s) other than football: Track & Field and Basketball.

Athlete: Muhammad Ali.

Thing to do for fun: Hang out with the boys on the team.

I’d like to be stranded on a desert island with…a boat to go home.

O-Duck(s): Matt Toeaina, Haloti Ngata, Luke Jackson, and Luke Ridnour.

Most inspirational teammate(s): Dennis Dixon and Andiel Brown

Funniest teammate: Jeremy Gibbs…He’s funny and funny looking.

Duck Uniform: All-Green

Place to play away from Autzen: The Big House at Michigan

LEADING THE DEFENSIVE LINE

DI: Defensive line coach Michael Gray has praised your maturity and considers you to be the leader of the defensive line. What kind of leadership do you think you bring to the defense?

DF: “I think I bring an attitude and a work ethic to the d-line…a work ethic that Matt Toeaina, Haloti Ngata, and Darius Sanders taught me when I was a freshman. It is about me showing up every day, and playing through whatever injuries I might have or whatever the circumstances might be. It’s all about just showing up and telling my guys on the defensive line that if I can do it, then they can do it.”

WEIGHT LIFTING BESTS

DI: So you can squat a team record 600 pounds…what are some of your other better lifts right now?

DF: “I can bench press 440 and clean 330.”

THE FILM FANATIC

DI: So you’re a big movie buff?

DF: “Yeah, I’m a movie fanatic. I go see movies almost every weekend after a game or on Sundays.”

DI: Okay…I’ve got a home theater system. What are three movies that I absolutely must have in my DVD collection?

DF: “You’re going to need to have ‘Scarface’…and you’ll need to get ‘Gladiator’…and you’re going to call me a little kid for this (laughs), but you need to get the ‘Lord of the Rings’ trilogy collection.”

PLAYING HIS LAST GAME

DI: Has it hit you that this is going to be your last game wearing green and yellow?

DF: “I don’t think it will hit me until after the game…because that’s how games usually hit me. Just thinking about it, though…I’ve had a bunch of great memories here…I’m going to miss Oregon a lot, but such is life. All I can do is keep moving forward.”

For more of the David Faaeteete interview, pick up your free Ducks Illustrated today!!

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