May 17, 2010
TEMPE, Ariz. - Toa Tuitea, a redshirt sophomore defensive tackle at Arizona State University, has been named 2009-10 Hard Hat Program Champion, according to Ben Hilgart, ASU's Head Coach for Sports Performance.
Tuitea is a 6-3, 261-pound former defensive end from Westminster, Calif. (Westminster High School). Forty-eight (48) ASU football student-athletes were recognized in the Hard Hat Program for their efforts in the weight room. The complete list is below.
The Sun Devil Hard Hat Program was created to reward those individuals who do what's right in the weight room even when no one is looking. The Sports Performance staff wants its student-athletes to be known for their tremendous work ethic on and off the field. A Hard Hat Player is someone who is self-motivated, a competitor, committed to personal and team excellence, dependable, accountable, disciplined and most importantly, puts the team first.
To become a Hard Hat Player, a student-athlete has to achieve a certain point total during the Winter Developmental Program. A student-athlete earns points based on a championship effort for strength training, speed development and conditioning sessions. They are also awarded points for competitive events and performing extra workouts in the Blitz Package Program. Each student-athlete is evaluated after every workout by the Sports Performance staff with input from an athlete's position coach when applicable.
2010 ASU Hard Hat Winners
1. Toa Tuitea (Champion)
Chris Coyle
Ronald Kennedy