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Watch: American college football player performs All Blacks 'Ka Mate' haka with Dad before game
By Online Editors
LSU defensive tackle Breiden Fehoko lit up social media after performing the All Blacks 'Ka Mate' haka with his dad and brother before his college football match outside the stadium.
His family started a rendition of the haka as he was entering the stadium, so the Hawaiian-native decided to join in.
Fehoko explained to The Advocate what the haka was to US media in a post-game interview.
"The chant comes from the Maori culture.
"Basically what the words mean is that it’s preparing the young man, the soldier, back in the old days the warrior, to go to war. He’s saying either he’s going to live or he’s going to die. I’m going to fight, I’m going to scratch, I’m going to claw for every breath I have and until the last breath I take I’m going to give it all I have. I’m going to fight for what I love.
"You take a lot of pride in it, especially knowing what you’re saying.
When asked about how to perform the haka, Fehoko gave a passionate answer but is sure to rub some Maori the wrong way, saying it 'doesn't matter' how you do it.
"It really doesn’t matter.
"There really isn’t a right or wrong way. I saw (my dad) do it and in our culture, when somebody gifts you with the haka, you usually sit there, you receive it, you accept it.
"But I was about to go play a game. I’m not about to just sit there and let him do it. About to go play Georgia, the No. 2 team in the nation. I’ve got to get fired up somehow. I just dropped my stuff and the switch just flipped for me.
LSU fans surrounding the stadium enjoyed the performance and were hyped up after seeing it.
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If Razor picked jaded players, where is the role of a squad? Where is the anticipated innovation from this group? The season has been a big disappointment considering the talent available (but left sitting on the sideline). Was ready for a fresh approach after the frustration of the Foster era but we only got more of the same and a timid coaching group.
Go to commentsWatching the game now I get a sense of things to come. Ref puts his flag up when Patricks legs go over the line ages after he has released the ball. That is not out in touch.
Then Tele'a has a brain fade and tries to jump into touch, slapping the ball back, when he should know and be trained in running from outside touch and jumping into the field of play with it. If he had of done that simple fix of altering his approach angle there's noway anyone is getting to him to stop the try.
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