He is sticking with his roots.
Saint Louis offensive lineman Rod DuPont has always been known to teammates by his middle name, Matagi (pronounced Mah-TON-gi). When he arrives at Adams State this summer — COVID-19 pandemic permitting — that will remain the same.
“I don’t care if they mispronounce it. The only kids who call me Rod are the kids who grew up around me. I’m actually Rod III,” DuPont said on Wednesday morning.
On Tuesday, he signed with Adams State, a Division II program that plays in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. If that sounds familiar, the RMAC has been around for more than a century and once featured BYU, Idaho State and Wyoming, among many schools now in FBS and FCS. At Adams State, located in Alamosa, Colo., DuPont will reunite with former Crusader Braeden Meyer, a linebacker.
“He graduated the same year as Tua Tagovailoa,” DuPont said.
Other island players on the Adams State roster are tight end Christopher Ah Mook Sang (Kamehameha), defensive lineman Alu Taito (Santa Rosa Junior College) and offensive lineman Bryce Beatty (Kahuku).
“I researched some stuff on the conference. I know Adams State is looking to recruit guys to help their organization. Last year’s record (4-7) wasn’t as great as past years. I know I’m going to help them and do everything I can do to be a team player,” DuPont said.
Now listed at 6 feet, the 302-pound senior was voted to the Star-Advertiser All-State first team by coaches and media. He committed to Missouri Southern before changing his mind.
“I reached out to the new O-line coach, Coach Andrew (Faaumu). We got to talk for awhile. It was more like talking story with one of my good friends. He also showed me he’s really serious about his job, and we’re going to have fun once I get there,” DuPont said.
Adams State made a financial package offer two weeks ago.
“It’s more of a partial scholarship. I pay for more than half, and financial aid covers most of it,” he said.
Colorado is opening up, which means DuPont could be on his way to the Rocky Mountains by July.
“No word yet, but I know Colorado is opening back up as a state. My coach, we’ll have a call later today. The original date was July 15,” DuPont said. “I’m worried, but I take precautions. I have 10 masks at home. I always carry hand sanitizer on me.”
DuPont’s home is in Waianae, which means getting creative and constructive during the lockdown. The home gym project took just four days.
“I learned how to landscape a little more. When this quarantine started, my uncle (Fai Lave) dropped off a whole bunch of barbells and 45- and 25-pound plates, 10s and fives. In my garage, I actually have a pulling machine. In the back of my yard, there’s a cement slab, so me and my dad (Rod Jr.) made a new gym. We put down some Astroturf, an easy-corner half tent attached to the roof,” DuPont said. “I put my pulling machine back there with a hand truck. I spray-painted all the plates because they were old and rusty. And I sanded down and spray painted a whole bunch of benches. I put some dumbbells back there. My dad bought a stationary bike. So I made my own home gym, landscaped the whole area, got the measurements. The only thing we had to spend money on was spray paint and Astroturf.”
DuPont finished up senior year on Tuesday. He will graduate with a cumulative grade-point average close to 3.4. At Saint Louis, the offensive and defensive lines have featured some considerable GPAs in recent years.
“We always bang heads, but we’re all the best of friends. We’re good. Nothing can stop us from laughing out loud,” he said.
He has two favorites for a major.
“There’s two things I kind of want to major in: kinesiology and marketing/branding. At Saint Louis, I was always getting banged up, but I took the time to learn how my body works and how to recover in time to play in games. I learned to take precautions on my recovery. The other one I’m leaning toward is marketing and branding. I like to sell things, persuade people. I like talking to people, telling a story and really persuading them to look at what I have, take it into consideration and observe it,” DuPont said.
Lockdown staples
Top 3 shows/movies
1. Freedom Writers (Netflix). “Ten out of 10. If you’re at home chilling, you’ve got to watch this. I watched this movie three, four times. It’s about a teacher and her students. They’re from the streets. It’s about where they’re from, trying to get away from street violence. Telling their story and how it will live forever.”
2. Outer Banks (Netflix). “It’s about a bunch of teenage kids. Me and my brother (Malu), we’re watching it together. We’re not done with it yet.”
3. The Outsiders (DVD). “My auntie has it and we started watching it. My brother really liked it. We stayed up late watching that.”
Top 3 food/drinks
1. Grandma’s spaghetti and spam over rice. “My grandma (Ruta Lave), she makes it with the spaghetti out of the can. Some people say it sounds kind of nasty, but if you come from where I come from and your grandparents make this, it’s amazing when they make it. She throws in some onion, garlic salt, stuff like that. She cuts up the Spam into smaller pieces. My grandma is always cooking new things. This is when I ask her to make it.”
2. Loco moco, large fruit punch at Zippy’s. “Zippy’s fruit punch is the best. I actually have no idea why. I think it’s more when you drink a fruit punch from McDonald’s, it’s not as free flowing as one from Zippy’s.”
3. Deep-fried Oreos. “I make them. It’s super easy. You get the pancake mix. You make the batter. Put the Oreos inside the batter. Fill up a smaller pot of oil, a quarter (of the way up). Make sure it’s hot. Then the Oreos in the batter go in the oil. If the pot is really hot, bubbling a little bit, it should take a minute on each side. You want it to be golden brown, not overcooked. My suggestion after you take out, put some powdered sugar on it. I get mine from Longs (Drugs) or Sack N’ Save. It’s in the aisle with ingredients for cakes and parties. I’ve made it a bunch of time. A bunch of my cousins will say, ‘Will you make some deep-fried Oreos?’ I tell them bring the Oreos. I have the rest of the ingredients. I microwave some chocolate Nutella. I grab four deep-fried Oreos. I put a scoop of vanilla ice cream in the middle. Then I pour the melted Nutella over everything.”
DuPont plans on bringing his skills and deep-fried Oreos to the dormitory at Adams State.
“I for sure will. I will make sure my teammates are in there so they can try it. We’ll have a good time eating deep-fried Oreos,” he said.
Matagi DuPont
Deep-fried Oreos specialist
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