Even before starring as a defensive lineman at UTEP, Tevita Fifita was accustomed to hearing the cheers of the crowds.

Fifita, a native of Kissimmee, Florida, is the son of Tonga Fifita, known to pro wrestling fans by his ring names Haku and Meng. In the rings of WWF, WWE and the now-defunct WCW, the elder Fifita battled with the biggest stars in the industry. And seeing his father’s success planted the seeds of aspiration in the son.

A professional football career was not in Fifita’s destiny, but the lessons he learned in that sport have carried him throughout many portions of his life.

“There are a lot of aspects of football that really translate well into pro wrestling,” Fifita said. “There’s obviously the strength and conditioning and being a well-rounded athlete. Endurance, as well.

“The main thing, I think, that translates over is your character. In football, everybody on the team has a role in the locker room. One guy is the funny guy, one guy is the leader, stuff like that. That really helps in pro wrestling. Finding who you are in the ring is key to being successful in this business. Knowing who you are in football helps out with that.”

At UTEP, Fifita was part of head coach Mike Price’s rebuilding of the program, which culminated in back-to-back bowl game appearances in 2004 and 2005. Being a part of the Miners family was the best part of his experience.

“When I got to UTEP, everyone just welcomed me with open arms,” Fifita said. “I had sent my tape to the University of Hawaii, because I wanted to go there or play locally, in Florida. A family friend sent my tape to UTEP, and it turned out to be a great decision.”

From early on his college career, Fifita began thinking about life after football. By his junior year, he was determined to follow in his father’s footsteps and earn a living inside the squared circle. He called his brother, Alipate Fifita – currently wrestling in Japan under the name Tama Tonga – and the two came up with a plan.

“There was a point in 2004 where I called my older brother in the middle of the night, and I told him we were going to be professional wrestlers,” he said. “I had made up my mind that summer that that’s what we were going to do. I finished out my eligibility and stayed on as a graduate assistant while I was working on my master’s. Then, I went home because my brother was finishing out his stint in the Air Force.”

Football had prepared Fifita well for the next phase of his life. The athleticism, training and discipline that the sport gave him all translated to professional wrestling.

But it was the mental aspects and life lessons that prepared Fifita the most.

“I remember my coaches at the time telling me how much the game of football was like life,” he said. “In football, there’s four quarters, and in every quarter there’s a certain amount of downs or plays. There’s these little goals we have to work toward in order to complete the first quarter, and then the half, and then the third quarter, fourth quarter, the whole game. There are little things we have to accomplish.

“That’s what I loved about football, it teaches you about working hard for those goals. Once you get a taste of them, that’s satisfying. And that’s how life is. Football gets you ready for that.”

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Fifita debuted for his father’s old promotion, the WWE, in 2011. He performed for the company as Camacho until his release in 2014. Now “Micah” for TNA Impact Wrestling, Fifita is still applying the lessons of football as he finds his way in the promotion, aiming for a brighter future.

 “I would love to one day work with my brother in pro wrestling,” he said. “Right now, he works with New Japan Pro Wrestling. If I could work with him there and get as big as we could get there and be their top guys on our own and ultimately down the road go back to WWE that would be great.”

Eric Moreno is a freelance writer based in San Antonio, Texas. He is a graduate of the University of Texas-San Antonio and a lifetime season ticket holder for UTSA Roadrunner football. In his free time, when not attending games, is an avid reader and traveler. Follow him on Twitter at @EricMoreno6477.