LOGAN, Utah – It's a ritual that has become a common occurrence prior to every Utah State football game – home or away.
 
Known as the Sipi Tau, a Tongan war dance that lays down the challenge to the opposition before battle, the Aggies can be seen performing the pre-game ritual, which is full of emotion. For the past two years, senior defensive tackle Christopher Unga has led Utah State in the war dance.
 
"It is just a call out for battle," Unga said. "I'm asking the team if they are ready to go to war and if they have my back, like I've got their backs, and we're ready to do it."
 
The chant doesn't change from game to game.
 
Translated, Unga begins by asking the Aggies if they are ready for war. They respond back that they are ready. The last thing the 6-foot, 295-pounder tells his team is that they are ready for war.
 
"It's something that they've been doing even before I got here," Unga said. "My first two years, the chant was actually in Samoan, but previously it had been done in Tongan, too. Last year, I wanted to switch it up and get it to Tongan."
 
Unga admitted being the leader of the Aggies' Sipi Tau wasn't easy at first.
 
"I'm not really the type of guy that likes to get all riled up and be the center of attention, but coach (Frank) Maile asked me to do it. I got used to it, and I love it, because the guys love it."
 
Yes, they do.
 
"Chris is a natural born leader," said USU grad student defensive end Jacoby Wildman. "He is someone that I would fight through fire and hell with. Seeing him out there and seeing the passion that he has when he does the chant, it just gets the fire going inside."
 
Fifth-year Utah State head coach Gary Andersen has been impressed with Unga's leadership.
 
"Chris has been a great leader, not just for the Polynesian kids and the defensive line, but for the entire football team," Andersen said. "He and Devon (Anderson) kind of hold the D-line to a high standard and a high work ethic. There is no question about that, and that has been good for both of those kids."
 
Andersen especially appreciates Unga's role within Utah State's Polynesian culture.
 
"Especially here at Utah State with the high number of Polynesian players, there is a big investment and a big care-factor for those older kids to show the younger Polynesian kids what this program is about, what the Polynesian culture means to this program and how they're expected to represent themselves and carry themselves.
 
"Chris was a young player a few years ago, and now he's the elder statesman, if you will, in that situation, so he has great respect for Utah State and its Polynesian culture that has been going on here for a while now. He wants it to continue in the right way, so he takes care of it. As the older player, he does a great job carrying on that culture, the tradition and the expectations, so it pushes the young kids to understand what it is so when he's gone, that legacy will continue."
 
After redshirting his first season at Utah State in 2015, Unga has played in 36 career games, recording 108 tackles, including 8.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks, three pass breakups and one quarterback hurry.
 
"Chris has been a really good football player here for a number of years," Andersen said. "He's battled through injuries, and with some of the injuries that he's had and some scenarios that he's gone through in his career, he's really such a great voice for the young kids. But, he does hold them to a high level of accountability, and if there is an issue, he's going to address it as a team leader. He is a great kid off the field. Obviously, he is going to be highly successful, and when he is done, he is going to graduate, and he will be ready to move on in life and be highly successful."
 
But before that, Unga wants to help lead the Aggies to their first-ever Mountain West championship in football.
 
"I envision confetti falling on the U-State logo on midfield and we are holding up the Mountain West championship trophy," Unga said.
 
In order to make that celebration happen, Unga knows exactly what the Aggies need to do.
 
"We just have to continue to work hard," he said. "We've got the mentality for it, but we just have to keep coming out every day trying to get better."
 
Through the first eight games of the season, Unga has tallied 25 tackles, including 1.0 tackles for loss and 1.0 sacks. He also has one pass breakup and a quarterback hurry.
 
The native of Rochester, Calif., is majoring in sociology with a minor in criminal justice. He is on track to graduate this December. Once his Aggie career is over, Unga wants to continue playing at the next level, but if that doesn't pan out, he'll look to put on a different type of uniform.
 
"I'm going to shoot for the league and see what it has to offer," Unga said. "If that doesn't pan out, I'm hoping to join the police force and wear a badge for a little bit. We will see what my options are, but I've got a brother and a few cousins who are correction officers in Arizona and California, so we'll see if I want to go into corrections, or if I just want to be a police officer and patrol the streets."
 
When he is not focused on football or school, Unga enjoys spending time with his family, especially his nieces and nephews.
 
"I love this place," Unga said of Utah State. "Being an Aggie is something I will always hold close to my heart. This place helped mature me into the man I am."
 
For Aggie football ticket information, fans can contact the USU Athletics Ticket Office over the phone by calling 1-888-USTATE-1 or 435-797-0305 during regular hours of operation. Fans can also buy their tickets in person at the USU Ticket Office inside the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum or online by clicking on the "Buy Tickets" tab at www.UtahStateAggies.com.
 
Fans can follow the Aggie football program at twitter.com/USUFootball. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program at twitter.com/USUAthletics or on Facebook at Utah State University Athletics.
 
-USU-