Football can be a primitive, barbaric game and players often call on a warrior mentality to play with punishing ferocity. For junior defensive tackle Domata Peko, that mindset is personified by the long, orange hair flowing from under his helmet on game day.
Peko is a junior college transfer who grew up in American Samoa, a group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand.
"My hair (is the way it) is because of my culture and my tradition," he said. "Back home in the islands, if you go back there, you'll see all the men have long hair.
"Samoans are known to be warriors, so that's why I grow my hair, to show that I'm a warrior."
Its natural color is actually light brown, he says, but an attempt to add red hair dye in junior college transformed it into the orange mane he currently sports.
Peko's hair makes him instantly recognizable on the football field and on campus, where he often hears students take notice.
"Oh, it's the guy with the hair. That's the Lion King right there," Peko said, imitating onlookers.
Peko's teammates say he's an extremely humble guy and his polite and laid-back demeanor support that. Even so, he embraces the extra attention.
"One of the things I like about being away from my home is I stand out more here," he said. "I'm talking about standing out on the field. I'm the only one with long hair out here, playing as hard as I can. I just like to be unique."
Peko has served as a backup for starting defensive linemen Kevin Vickerson and Brandon McKinney this season, his first at MSU. He transferred to MSU after playing two seasons at College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, Calif., where he was named a JUCO All-American by the National Junior College Athletics Association
The journey from American Samoa to California to East Lansing was a long but familiar one for Peko. His older brother, Tupe, also transferred to MSU from a California junior college. Tupe started at offensive tackle for MSU during the 1999 and 2000 seasons; he now plays for the NFL's Indianapolis Colts.
His brother's positive experience was a big reason why Peko chose MSU, he said. Purdue, Washington State, Oregon State and Hawaii also showed interest in him.
The younger Peko has appeared in all five games this season for the Spartans and has registered four tackles.
Head coach John L. Smith said Peko is used to playing defensive end, where he could work in more open space. Peko now plays in tighter situations at defensive tackle.
"I think he's going to be good there but he has to gain strength," Smith said. "His upper-body strength is not where it needs to be and he knows that. This is going to be his big offseason for him to be the real player that he can be."
Peko admits he rarely lifted weights before arriving at MSU, but now he works hard to improve his bench press so he can push off offensive tackles easier and make plays.
Senior right guard William Whitticker said Peko can be a load to block in practice.
"He's one of the strongest defensive linemen I've faced in a while," Whitticker said. "He may not be that strong in the weight room but he's got a strength that you can't just imagine. He's going to become a good player here."
Peko's arrival at MSU is an accomplishment in itself. Many boys on the island, or "the rock," as they call it, dream of leaving to play football at a higher level.
"Our goal is to get off the rock and come up here and to play football and to make millions, go to the NFL," he said.
Peko is inspired by his brother Tupe, who has made that dream a reality for himself.
"I know if he did it, I know I can do it, too," he said.
