SALT LAKE CITY — None of them got here on their own, and they all know that better than anyone else. So it’s no shock, then, that when members of this year’s Utah Utes were asked about their favorite tattoos, most responded that they have to do with family or faith.
The Athletic asked several big names on this year’s Utah team about how they came up with the idea for their most meaningful tattoo, when they got it, where they got it and more. From tattoos honoring grandparents who served in Vietnam to refusing to forget the most difficult days of their lives, the Utes opened up about why they chose to keep messages of loved ones on them forever.
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Terrell Burgess, senior, safety
“On my right forearm, it’s for my grandpa. He was blind; he was in the military … a bomb blew up in his face. He served in the Vietnam War, and he had glaucoma. He could still see, could kind of make things out, but eventually, he couldn’t see. Me, my mom and my sisters and my brother are all going to get it. It says, ‘W.D.H.’ — his initials — and in Braille, it says, ‘Always with you.’
“His name was Warren DeWayne Hennie. Actually, my little sister — she’s 18 right now — she thought of the idea. She’s the mastermind behind the whole tattoo. It’s my favorite one because my siblings are going to get it and my mom has it. I got this I think in May of 2017.”
Samson Nacua, redshirt junior, wide receiver
“It tells a story. At the top, with these green parts, I got the colors mainly for my family. I have each family member’s favorite color added into my tattoo. My mom’s red, my brother’s green, at the top of these are the two symbols that are the head of my family, which is my mom and my sister, because after my dad passed away, they took over for my family.
“My five brothers are right here with me, the short time that my dad was with us and our family star. Then these are octopus tentacles that my uncle put in there. I’m a receiver, so he said that’s why he put that on. Then my dad’s death date (in Roman numerals) of when he passed away: 5-14-2012. My dad’s family out in Hawaii is (represented by) the 8-ball pineapple.
“I got it my freshman year. It was about three days to get done. My uncle did it for me. It was amazing to see. I told him to freehand it, too. I told him, ‘Uncle, whatever you think is perfect for me and my family, I want you to do it how you think you can do it,’ and he came out with this. He was like, ‘This is the first tribal [tattoo] I’ve ever done with color.’ It came out really good. It’s my mom’s brother who was able to do it out in California. It was crazy, the stories he was able to tell with it.”
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Bradlee Anae, senior, defensive end
“This is where I’m from in Laie, Hawaii; it’s on the island of Oahu. My family’s been living in Laie for almost 100 years. I got this two years ago back home right after sophom*ore year. It means a lot to me. It’s not just where I’m from. Being a ‘Laie Boy’ represents humility. That’s the reason why it’s under my arm, too, but when it comes up and I flex it, it’s strong. It represents strength.
“This one’s pretty unique. The tradition for Laie Boys: They do it down their left shoulder. I just wanted to show a different type. A lot of the boys back from where I’m from, it’s hard for them to make it out; they kind of get stuck. They’re all good football players, and a lot of guys are athletes, but grades are one thing (that’s tough) and I just wanted to represent something different and change the status quo of the Laie Boys. I just wanted to show a different side of Laie and represent Laie in a different way. It’s where I come from.
“My great-grandpa came to build the Laie (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) temple. He was one of the workers; that’s how my family got there. They came from Samoa. My grandfather’s from Falelatai, Samoa. They came out to Hawaii and ever since then we’ve been in Laie. There are a lot of Polynesian families from Laie. Big names, as well. The Kemoeatu brothers, Hau’oli Kikaha, Manti Te’o, a lot of great athletes. And it’s rare, you know? A lot of guys have the ability to do so, but like I said before, I just wanted to represent where I come from in a different way to give an idea of the future to kids. They look up to guys who are doing right. I don’t want them to look up to guys who are stagnant. I just want to set a good example.”
Julian Blackmon, senior, safety
“This is my only tattoo, so I guess this would be my favorite. It’s a family seal. My mom’s Samoan, so I have the Samoan stars; my dad’s a Leo, so I have a lion. I was born and raised in Utah, so Utah’s right there; and then my birthday is in Roman numerals. It’s the Blackmon family seal. My brothers and I got it. There’s a background story on the tribal part below, and it’s showing three roses growing out of concrete: me and my three brothers pretty much just growing up out of nothing. I got it done my senior year of high school going into college.”
Tyler Huntley, senior, quarterback
“My mom’s name, Regina, that was my first tattoo, and I feel like that one is my most favorite, because it’s my mom right there. (I got it done) coming into my freshman year of college. Mom’s No. 1.”
Francis Bernard, senior, linebacker
“The stars on my chest are from the Samoan flag. It just represents my culture. It has my parents’ names on it, Mae and James. They’re just the two people that I’m closest with. I wanted to put a meaningful tattoo on me. (I got) it in 2016. I didn’t know at the time that I would get tattoos, but my older brother started getting tattooed and then I thought, ‘Dang, maybe I should try.’
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“I knew exactly what I wanted — this is exactly what I wanted. Before I got this, I told myself ‘I’m going to get this tattoo and then get all this stuff done over here on my arm.’ Then as soon as I got this done, I was like, ‘I’m never getting another tattoo.’ It hurt so bad. I don’t care what anyone says, tattoos hurt. I only sat through two hours of this and this sucked.”
Ben Lennon, freshman, punter
“My favorite one would have to be my left forearm. It represents my sister’s birthday in Roman numerals. I got a chief for my dad and an angel on the back for mom, and I’ve got a clock for my mom’s birth time. This one’s pretty special to me. I can’t say that about all my tattoos, because they’re just whatever I like, that sort of thing, and just filling some gaps. This one, I can say, is pretty meaningful.
“I got that done in 2015, so I’ve had it for a few years now. I think it probably took me about four weeks to get done. I banged it out pretty quick. I didn’t like having patchy tattoos, so I tried to get them done as quickly as possible. The chief is just the leader of the family, so I thought that could be a good thing to get for him and it’s funny that I end up at Utah and I suppose their mascot is a Ute, so it’s pretty cool it worked out.
“I think mom and dad were pretty upset to start off with when I started getting all my tattoos, but once I showed them that this actually meant something and there was a lot of meaning behind it, they were pretty proud and happy with it. I’m sort of getting to the spot now where I really don’t have much more room. I reckon I’ve spent close to 100 hours in the chair.”
Britain Covey, junior, wide receiver
Covey doesn’t have any ink yet, but he had a lot of thoughts on what he’d get, if ever:
“It would probably be on my back and be like either Helaman 5:12, that’s my favorite Book of Mormon scripture. It’s about a rock, so I’d have to have muscles like a rock in order for it to look good. Either that or get The 7 Habits (of Highly Effective People, written by his grandfather, Stephen Covey) tattooed on my back.”
Helaman 5:12 reads: “And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.”
(All photos: Christopher Kamrani / The Athletic)
