Gazette-Times Reporter

Al Afalava couldn’t watch the entire Oregon State football team’s season opener at Stanford last week from his apartment.

The fourth-year starting safety had to turn the television off as he watched his team lose, giving up large chunks of rushing yards.

It was partially his fault for not being there to bring his hard-hitting ways to the defense.

Afalava wasn’t allowed to compete because of a one-game team suspension from pleading guilty to driving while the influence of intoxicants and reckless driving from a Feb. 9 incident. OSU’s code of conduct called for a punishment of sitting out 10 percent of the season for first-time offenders.

His case was more memorable than just a football player and a DUII. Afalava’s driving was so hampered he ran into a bus shelter in the early-morning hours.

The car was stuck on the remnants of the shelter, so he walked home and fell asleep. When the police responded to the disturbance, they went to his home and woke him up for questioning.

“I had to face my wife, my mom, my dad — it was bad,” Afalava said. “People will bring it up, still. It was a life-learning experience and I learned a lot from that.”

His license was suspended for 90 days and he paid a fine. OSU had its own punishment of an alcohol awareness class and community service.

Afalava realizes he was fortunate. If someone was sitting in the shelter, his life would be much different with a much more severe punishment.

“I thank coach Riley for keeping me on the team,” he said. “It was a stupid mistake, and it was an eye-opener for me. I thank the man upstairs that nobody got hurt, and I didn’t get hurt.”

The public backlash was harsh. People wanted Afalava thrown off the team.

Coach Mike Riley, however, is known for second chances, especially for those who earned them. Riley felt what happened was out of character for this religious family man, who has a baby at home.

The team had a zero tolerance policy when it came to alcohol and drugs, but it has loosened up in recent years.

“I think it’s important that there are consequences,” Riley said. “We have a rule within our department, but it’s important for us to make decisions above and beyond that based on the individual. Al has been here a long time and it was the first glitch. So we are not going to kick him off the team.”

Afalava’s greatest punishment was the shame it caused him and his family.

It wasn’t at the humiliating level of former teammate Ben Siegert, who was arrested for stealing as a prank from an OSU study in homosexuality in sheep, but it was a solid second.

“I was expecting it, but I was surprised when I got a lot of phone calls in the morning that I was all over the newspapers,” Afalava said. “I was a little ashamed to come out, but that’s what happens when you make stupid mistakes. I just have to deal with it. That’s what happens.”

As for what caused Afalava to put himself in that position, he wouldn’t say.

“I put that behind me,” Afalava said. “I didn’t even think about it. That’s a punishment. I have to learn from it. I made a mistake and it’s not going to happen again.”

This incident made Afalava think about his life beyond himself. He has dreams of playing in the NFL and supporting his family.

To get there he increased his training and used this as motivation. He already had the run stopping down, but needed to learn how to cover receivers better.

Dropping weight was an important aspect. He went on a diet and went from 225 pounds last year to 208 now.

“I’m just focusing on my family,” Afalava said. “I put them first and I trained hard to get ready for the season.”

Strength and conditioning coach Bryan Miller put Afalava on a diet that did away with sticky rice, no eating after 9 p.m. and other bad habits.

Afalava use to be a regular at Local Boyz and Hula Grill for his back-home cuisine, but no more. He can’t go by there anymore because of the temptation.

“My main focus was to lose weight,” Afalava said. “I was basically a fat safety. I lost all that weight and I feel so much better. I just couldn’t hold that weight. I got tired fast and I felt a little slow, a step behind.”

The first look at the new-and-improved Afalava will be seen Saturday against Penn State. With that team’s power running, he’ll need to be in top form.

After the extra time to think about it, and what he’s been through, Afalava is ready.

“I’m pretty excited with the first game back, especially going to Penn State,” Afalava said. “It’s going to be a wonderful experience to play out there.”