Senior Week: Failauga sees his college experience as a blessing
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When Titus Failauga leaves OSU’s locker room on Saturday against Arizona State, he’ll remember all of the great memories that he’s made in Corvallis.
“It hit me this whole season that is was going to be my last,” Failauga said. “As every game passes by the clock keeps ticking. I’m just thankful for this last game in Reser Stadium and all the fans that are coming out for the home game and supporting us. It always gives us a strong vibe that we need to get that win.”
For Failauga, his five seasons at Oregon State have somewhat been a roller-coaster. He was recruited to play under Mike Riley and did so in 2014, but then transitioned to Gary Andersen’s system where he went from defensive lineman, to linebacker, and back to defensive line.
The constant variable of change wasn’t always easy for Failauga, but he had a terrific support system in his longtime girlfriend, who he met at Oregon State. Former OSU basketball star Gabby Hanson.
“She’s a great person,” Failauga said with a smile. “I met a lot of good people here, but Gabby was a blessing to me. She’s always been my supporter and has always been there for me and I will always be there for her. We always ride through everything together through thick and thin.”
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When he departs Corvallis in the coming weeks, the thing he will remember most about his time at Oregon State is the great people that surrounded him.
“I appreciate the Corvallis community and I love the vibe of the people,” Failauga said. “It really reminds me of back home in Hawaii with that Aloha spirit. It’s a blessing to be around good people.”
Despite having a forgettable last season, Failauga notes that leaving Reser Stadium with a win would mean everything to him.
“It would mean a lot to me,” Failauga said. “With our season going on like this, a win would mean so much.”
With the Beavers returning to Reser Stadium under Cory Hall for perhaps the the last time, the Beavers and Failauga are hoping that the energy of the home crowd can propel the Beavers to a win on senior day.
“The fans always bring that intensity,” Failauga said. “We are hoping that everybody comes out and supports us. All the true Beaver fans are appreciated by us.”
With his college football career just two games from being over, Failauga hopes to take a shot at the NFL, but ultimately realizes that he has to enter the workforce soon.
“I was looking to try our pro day and see where things go, but if it doesn’t work out, I have to figure out what the next step is,” Failauga said. “I gotta find a job and make money like everyone else. I’m really not sure what I’m looking for as a job, but I’m thinking of the military and a few other things.”