Novelist Thomas Wolfe once wrote, “You can never go home again.”
Wolfe wrote that back in 1940 and inferred in his writing about how nostalgia causes us as humans to view the past in an overly positive light. In other words, we can try to return to the place of our past but it’ll never quite be the same as it was.
That could certainly be argued by Oregon defensive lineman Taki Taimani who returns to his hometown of Salt Lake City this weekend to take on the Utah Utes.
Taimani left Utah back in 2018 as a young wide-eyed true freshman searching for his football pot of gold. In his return to Salt Lake City this weekend, Taimani returns not only as a father but also as a highly-rated NFL defensive lineman after leaving Eugene.
Taimani was born and raised in Salt Lake City and was a star offensive guard at East High School.
When it came to his college choice, Taimani spurned the hometown Utes for the Washington Huskies. Taimani eventually transferred from the Husky program to the Ducks program and is now in his second full season in Eugene playing on the defensive line.
For the final time in his college football career, Taimani will head home Saturday to play in front of about twenty-five family members who will be at Rice-Eccles Stadium to cheer on the Ducks and their hometown hero.
“It’s a good one” said Taimani when asked about traveling back to Salt Lake City for the final time as a collegiate athlete.
“My daughter’s going to be there. It’s going to be her first game so I’m excited for that. I’ve got like 25 people coming to the game so it’ll be good to see my family again. It’s been a couple months so I’m just excited to see them and just play back in my hometown one more time.”
WATCH TAKI TAIMANI TALK ABOUT GOING BACK HOME TO UTAH