Sunday, February 28, 2010

Jeff Reinebold will have an operation on Wednesday

HSB Note: "Reinebold underwent surgery last week to remove cancerous tissue caused by malignant melanoma. He has another operation scheduled for Wednesday; after this one he will learn more of the seriousness of his condition."


About how everything started with a sore that would not heal a few weeks ago, Reinebold said:
"I figured it was just board rash. But it wouldn't go away." (HSB)


HSB Note: "Now the irony is all too obvious and sad. A man who drew strength and inspiration from the solar rays -- and more so the people who live under them 12 months a year here -- has the most dangerous form of skin cancer."


About dealing with cancer, Reinebold said:
"People automatically connect cancer to death. But I look at it as something I've been given because I can handle it." (HSB)


HSB Note: "Yes, certainly an element of bravado. But he is sincere when he calls the affliction "a gift." He says it makes him cherish life and those around him even more than he did before. And that was a lot."


HSB Note: "He also has a stamp of approval from David Maeva, who played for Reinebold and became one of his best friends. I don't think Maeva has much tolerance for phony Polynesians. Another of Reinebold's closest friends is Brian Kajiyama; Reinebold championed his ascent from fan to graduate assistant, which Kajiyama achieved despite having cerebral palsy and using a wheelchair. Now it is Kajiyama's turn to support Reinebold."


About Brian Kajiyama's e-mails to support him, Reinebold said:
"The e-mails I get from him are so inspirational." (HSB)


HSB Note: "Reinebold's treatment includes visualization, so in his Dallas office he closes his eyes, listens to Bruddah Iz, and "goes home" to his favorite Hawaii beaches. On these visits, the rays can only heal Sun God."

http://www.starbulletin.com/sports/20100228_reinebold_puts_things_in_perspective_from_afar.html

Friday, February 26, 2010

Jeff Reinebold has cancer

WS = Winnipeg Sun
DMN = Dallas Morning News

WS Note: "Former Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coach Jeff Reinebold is battling cancer. The receivers coach at Southern Methodist University in Texas was diagnosed with malignant melanoma in his stomach earlier this month. He has already had one operation and will undergo a second procedure in the next 10 days."


Not letting his cancer get him down, Jeff Reinebold said:
"You don't get picked for this kind of thing unless you're ready to handle it, so I'm like, let's go. That's no false bravado, false macho stuff. I'm like everybody else. The first time that you hear that word, it's like, whoa. Because the society that we live in paints this picture of everyone who gets cancer is going to die. Well, that's not true." (WS)


DMN Note: "Anyone who's run across SMU wide receivers coach Jeff Reinebold knows he's one of the most energetic and spirited people you'll ever meet. They also know Reinebold loves to surf.

It was while surfing in Hawaii during the Mustangs' bowl trip last December that Reinebold said he "rubbed a little thing raw" on his stomach, and the irritation never healed. Reinebold said he gets a yearly physical in February when recruiting season is over, and his doctor decided to remove the lesion. It turned out to be malignant melanoma, a form of skin cancer."


Keeping a positive attitude about battling cancer, Reinebold said:

"It's an opportunity to show your faith, and that God picked you for this because he knows you can handle it. It's an opportunity to walk in faith and strength so that others can can see how to live with something like this." (DMN)


About why he will have more surgery, Reinebold said:

"It's a burrowing cancer. It's one of the more difficult ones if they don't get it in time." (DMN)


About how he will keep up his normal coaching duties, Reinebold said:

"I'm going to treat everything, every day, as standard operating procedure." (DMN)

http://www.winnipegsun.com/sports/football/2010/02/26/13044261.html


http://collegesportsblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2010/02/smu-assistant-jeff-reinebold-diagnosed-w.html

Thursday, February 25, 2010

ESPN Q&A with WAC commissioner Karl Benson

Asked about his concerns about how the Pac-10 and Big 10 expansions could affect the WAC, WAC commissioner Karl Benson said:
"There's always going to be a trickle down, the question is what happens above you and what moves are above you that then force decisions." (ESPN)


Asked if the WAC has looked at expanding their conference, Benson said:
"I've always been a proponent that a 10-team league is better for better for basketball, nine team is better for football, but that if I had my druthers, I would rather work with a 10-team league than a nine-team league." (ESPN)


Asked about how he prepares for Boise State (BSU) possibly leaving the WAC and if they have pieces in place to adjust things if BSU decides to leave, Benson said:
"There's a limited number of current FBS schools within the WAC footprint, but history has always shown that there's upward mobility in the West. Whether it was the Big West schools joining the WAC or the Big Sky schools joining the Big West that ultimately joined the WAC. All you have to do is look at the current WAC membership and see where they've been. History shows that there's movement in the West. Outside of the Pac-10, there's certainly been changes in the Western landscape and any Pac-10 movement will certainly affect both the WAC and Mountain West." (ESPN)


Asked if he thinks that the MWC will try to get WAC teams if they lose teams due to expansion, Benson said:
"Or do the Mountain West teams become the next choices for the WAC?" (ESPN)


Asked if he sees some teams swapping conferences if there is a trickle down effect, Benson said:
"I don't think it's a matter of swap. I would hope that the WAC would have value and benefits that not only the Mountain West members might look at, but there's other schools within the WAC footprint that belong to other conferences, too, right now. I think the ESPN piece that the WAC can deliver is tremendous value." (ESPN)


Asked how much he's been in contact with BSU in terms of what its future plans are regarding the MWC, Pac-10 or any other possible suitors, Benson said:
"Boise State administration has been very honest and forthcoming with their long-term desires. My job is then to provide all of our members with the best possible resources when it comes to television and bowls and postseason opportunities in all sports. And Boise State is certainly benefited from their membership in the WAC since 2000. The WAC has obviously benefited from Boise State. But I would hope that if and when an invitation comes that there would be an evaluation made that's in the best interest of the university, and there would be recognition that the WAC has provided Boise State very well." (ESPN)


Asked what are the types of things that BSU has told him, Benson said:
"I can't speak for the university." (ESPN)


Asked what is the next step for the WAC to make it more attractive and give it that leg up, Benson said:
"I've said several times that while we've had success at the top with three BCS appearances, and we could have very easily had a fourth in four years, we need to get stronger both in the middle and in the bottom half of the league. I think that we've seen improvement in Idaho and Utah State and New Mexico State. We need to see the traditional WAC -- Fresno State, Hawaii -- programs deliver. We've seen Nevada and San Jose State have success. I think the bottom line is that we need more top 50 teams from top to bottom and we need to eliminate the teams that are in the 90 to 120 range. The Mountain West has certainly had two great seasons of three teams in the top 15 and that that has allowed them to separate themselves at this juncture. We need that second and third team in the Top 25 and we need more teams in the top 50." (ESPN)

http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/19951/chattin-with-wac-commish-karl-benson

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

The Warriors will play an intrasquad scrimmage April 10 on Kauai

HA Note: "The Warriors will travel to Kaua'i that Saturday morning aboard two Hawaiian Airlines flights, then conduct a two-hour scrimmage beginning at 11 a.m. An autograph session will follow. The event is free and open to the public."


About holding a public intrasquad scrimmage on Kauai on April 10, JD said:
"This is a wonderful opportunity for our student-athletes to visit a Neighbor Island and meet the people of Kaua'. We have tremendous supporters on the Neighbor Islands, and any chance we get, we'd like to thank them in person, such as last year's football scrimmage (on Maui), and this week's men's volleyball match on Maui. We've said all along we're Hawai'i's team, and we're excited for this opportunity and for our fans on Kaua'i." (HA)

"The whole concept is to bring our teams to the neighbor islands. We believe we play for all of Hawaii." (HSB)

"We are grateful to Hawaiian Airlines for their continued support of UH Athletics throughout the years and Mayor Carvalho and his administration for making this event possible. This is a wonderful opportunity for our student-athletes to visit a neighbor island and meet the people of Kaua'i. We have tremendous supporters on the neighbor islands and any chance we get, we'd like to thank them in person such as last year's football scrimmage and this week's men's volleyball match on Maui. We've said all along that we're Hawai'i's team and we're excited for this opportunity and for our fans on Kaua'i." (UH)


HSB Note: "Jim Donovan and Bernard Carvalho played side by side on the Hawaii offensive line in 1982. They teamed up again yesterday to help arrange the Warriors' upcoming spring excursion. With Donovan now the UH athletic director and Carvalho the mayor of Kauai, the Warriors will make their first visit to the Garden Isle on April 10 for an intrasquad scrimmage."


HSB Note: "Donovan credited Hawaiian Airlines' sponsorship for making the Warriors' trip to Kauai financially feasible. Hawaiian Airlines will provide air transportation for the UH travel party of more than 150. The scrimmage will provide a homecoming for three players from Kauai—safety Kenny Estes, receiver Jett Jasper and defensive tackle Vaughn Meatoga."


UH Note: "Co-sponsor Hawaiian Airlines is providing air transportation for the more than 150 players, coaches, and support staff. The County of Kaua'i is also a co-sponsor and the host of the event, providing Vidinha Stadium facilities, along with ground transportation and lunch for the UH travel party."


About holding an intrasquad scrimmage on Kauai, Mack said:
"We preach to our players the importance of representing the state of Hawaii and we'll have that opportunity to show our talents to the great people of Kauai." (HSB)

"We can't thank Hawaiian Airlines and Mayor Carvalho enough for allowing us to scrimmage on Kaua'i. We preach to our players the importance of representing the state of Hawai'i and we'll have that opportunity to show our talents to the great people of Kaua'i. I'm also happy that Vaughn (Meatoga), Kenny (Estes) and Jett (Jasper) will be able to practice and scrimmage in front of their family and friends." (UH)


Happy that the Warriors will be coming to Kauai, the Mayor of Kauai, Bernand Carvalho said:
"Mahalo to the UH football program for bringing this event to Kaua'i so our community can have an up close look at college football and really experience this exciting Warrior football team. We will welcome the support of businesses and community groups as we plan for this event to help us make this a great experience for all." (UH)


About sponsoring the UH intrasquad scrimmage in Kauai, Glenn Taniguchi, Hawaiian Airlines Senior VP said:
"We think it's important that families throughout our state have opportunities to experience UH Athletics events, and we're honored to play a role in making that happen." (HA)


http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20100224/SPORTS18/2240352/1067/sportsfront/UH+football+on+Kaua+i+April+10

http://www.starbulletin.com/sports/sportsnews/20100224_UH_intrasquad_scrimmage_on_Kauai.html

http://hawaiiathletics.com/news/2010/2/23/FB_0223104114.aspx

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

The Hawaii Bowl will be on December 24 again this year

HA Note: "Apparently believing that if it isn't broken, don't fix it, the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl said it will retain its Dec. 24 date (a Friday) for this year's game. Kickoff will be at 3 p.m. at Aloha Stadium. The game is scheduled to match the University of Hawai'i, if the Warriors are bowl-eligible, as the Western Athletic Conference representative against an opponent from Conference USA."


About choosing to play on Christmas Eve again, as 5 of the most recent 6 have been (the 2007 game was on 12/23, a Sunday to avoid conflicting with Monday Night Football), Hawaii Bowl Executive Director David Matlin said:
"Our top four rated games (for viewing households) were all on Christmas Eve. And, so, too, were our two biggest crowds." (HA)


HA Note: "With a turnstile count of 20,217 last year, the game needs approximately 11,500 this year to be in compliance with the NCAA's rolling three-year minimum average for certification. The second Diamond Head Classic basketball tournament will be wrapped around the Hawai'i Bowl, running Dec. 22, 23 and 25, Matlin said. ESPN Regional Television owns and operates both events."

http://sports.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20100223/SPORTS0201/2230346&template=UHSports/Hawai+i+Bowl+will+keep+Dec.+24+date

Friday, February 19, 2010

JD is looking for outside support to balance UH's Athletic Department budget

HA Note: "Without assistance, it will take "two to four years" for the University of Hawai'i athletic department to end its reliance on deficit spending, athletic director Jim Donovan said yesterday. But with help, "depending on the amount of assistance, we could end it much sooner," said Donovan, who made it clear he was looking for a helping hand from the university system, Mānoa campus, state — or all of the above — to balance the budget."


HA Note: "UH, which had a $2.6 million annual deficit for the fiscal year that closed June 30, 2009, has run at a deficit seven of the past eight years and the regents "want it run more like a business," said chairman Howard Karr, a former First Hawaiian Bank executive."


About the possibility that the Board of Regents will approve additional assistance for the Athletic Department, Board of Regents chair Howard Karr said:
"I would like to see what his strategies are going to be and what kind of support he is going to need from, say, the regents or the state or the Mānoa campus." (HA)


About how the Athletic Department should be able to balance its budget, JD said:
"I don't think (UH) should run at a deficit. I mean, I have an MBA from the University of Hawai'i. I think the case I'm trying to make is that the state, the UH system and Mānoa campus, combined, need to come up with a greater percentage of our budget." (HA)

"I'm 100 percent of the belief that we have to run a balanced budget, I just don't think the (current) model is good. If we have to do it all on our own, it is going to take some time. We've already started looking at the projection for next year and I know it (a balanced budget) isn't going to be next year." (HA)


HA Note: "Athletics currently generates about 81 percent of the money needed to run the $30 million operation, getting nearly 19 percent from the school. UH said its peer institutions receive, on average, 50 percent of their operating funds from outside."


Pointing out that their peer schools get a lot more of their budget from the University, JD said:
"this is not for the athletic director to tell people up the chain of command how this should all be solved; this is to point out the situation and the issues and work with everybody to come up with a solution." (HA)


About the complexity of the problem for the Athletic Department budget, UH-Manoa Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw said:
"it is going to take a multi-pronged approach to balance the budget. It is not going to be one solution." (HA)


HA Note: "She said the $66 million in cuts from state funds the Mānoa campus has absorbed has limited what it might be able to do to help athletics. Donovan said a student activity fee that athletics could share in is among his priority initiatives. But regent Grant Teichman, a former Mānoa student body president, cautioned students will want value after opposing a previous athletic department proposal for a student fee. Teichman suggested athletics might want to "sweeten" any proposal with increased access for students to athletic facilities, such as Duke Kahanamoku Pool."


About working with students to make an Athletics Fee worthwhile to them, associate AD Carl Clapp said:
"Our goal is to work collaboratively with the students." (HA)


Pleased with how the meeting went with the Regents, JD said that:
"it seemed like there was a wide understanding of our situation (by the regents) and a realization of our issues, so, I thought, that was a positive step." (HA)


About how the Athletic Department's financial model should have been fixed years ago when the economy was strong, JD said:
"We probably should have had this conversation six years ago when everything was flush with money." (HA)


HA Note: "In the same John A. Burns School of Medicine building, where the regents met yesterday, a different group of regents peered at another independent auditor's report that had the identical conclusion of athletic department finances being "very fragile." The date was April 22, 2005. The auditor's recommendation: "the department needs a plan." Two years before that, when deficits first went back-to-back, still another group of regents requested a plan. And so it was again yesterday that amid UH's seventh deficit in eight years Donovan was asked to go to the drawing board and return at an unspecified date with, you guessed it, "a plan." "


About the financial problems facing the Athletic Department, JD said during the meeting with the Regents:
"... typically, sometimes when things get really bad economically, that's when all the bodies float to the surface, so to speak." (HA)


HA Note: "Student government last year expressed heavy opposition to the proposal for a $50 per semester student athletic fee. But Donovan yesterday floated the idea of tying athletic events to other attractions on campus that "enhance the student experience." "


About ways that they can generate revenue from the students, JD said:
"We'll go either way; we'll either go with individual pricing for students by sport, individual and season (tickets) or an activity fee." (HA)


HA Note: "the regents approved a separate proposal hiking some ticket pricing levels, including the Sept. 2 football opener against Southern California. Students would pay $15 for that game, up from $8. All other games would remain at $8."


HA Note: "Donovan said UH has "bent over backwards" for students in the past, dropping the price of a football season ticket from $65 in 1998 to the current $50 and most individual games from $9 to $8."


HSB Note: "The board yesterday asked Donovan to produce a five-year projection of the department's finances. Donovan said he believes the department, which spent $28.7 million last fiscal year, can get back to operating at the break-even mark within that span, depending on improvement in the economy."


About how he is sure that the Athletic Department can balance their budget after they fix their financial model, JD told the Board of Regents:
"I'm in 100 percent belief that we have to run a balanced budget; I just think the model is broken. If the equation doesn't change at all, then it will probably take at least a couple of years for us to have the economy get better so we can grow out of this." (HSB)


Board of Regents chair Howard Karr said that the Board doesn't want to micromanage the Athletic Department:
"but because this is a high-profile area, we want to see what they're doing to take care of this annual deficit ... because we can't continue at this $2 to 2.5 million clip." (HSB)


About forgiving the cumulative debt (about $10.1 million as of this June), Karr said it is:
"something that we probably will have to take a look at." (HSB)


HSB Note: "UH is certainly not alone in its financial plight. According to NCAA figures cited by the athletic department's presentation, 25 programs were profitable in 2008. The rest lost an average of $9.9 million."


About the challenges UH and all other schools face with their Athletic Department budgets, JD said:
"All of Division I athletics is struggling right now, and we're geographically challenged, especially in our travel and guarantee costs. It's an expensive proposition, but it's not an impossible
proposition." (HSB)


HSB Note: "Donovan said new revenue streams combined with reduced expenses amounted to a gain of about $2 million. But those strides were offset by reduced ticket sales in football and men's basketball."


About how JD made "extraordinary progress" in generating new revenue but the Athletic Department has been hurt by the down economy, UH President M.R.C. Greenwood said:
"But I also think we are structured differently than some other campuses in the conferences we play in and there are some policy issues we will be needing to address." (HSB)


HSB Note: "The department's presentation stated that UH athletics generated 81 percent of its revenue. About 18.7 percent came from institutional or state funds, compared to a national average of 30 percent in 2008. The department last year proposed a student activity fee of $50 per semester, which would raise about $2 million. UH is the only Western Athletic Conference school without a student athletic fee. Other schools raise from $232,000 (Louisiana Tech, $10 per quarter) to $4.7 million (San Jose State, $77.50 per semester) through similar fees."


Asked about possible ticket-price increases for UH students, JD said:
"We have bent over backward to try to have lower prices for UH students. But if we are to get out of our overall deficit, UH students will have to be part of the solution, whether it be in a potential activity fee or whether it be in some price increases." (HSB)


HSB Note: "Donovan confirmed students would not be charged further for admission if the fee is passed."

http://sports.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100219/SPORTS02/2190377&template=UHsports

http://sports.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100219/COLUMNISTS06/2190378/1142&template=UHSports

http://sports.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100219/SPORTS02/2190383&template=UHsports

http://www.starbulletin.com/sports/sportsnews/20100219_UH_not_alone_with_gloomy_athletic_financial_outlook.html

Thursday, February 18, 2010

JD says that the UH Athletic Department creates the most revenue of any WAC school and hints that UH has to support Athletics more

KHON Note: "The department's two engine drivers haven't helped. Ticket sales for the football and men's basketball teams are down a combined $1.8 million."


About how UH's Athletic Department creates the most revenue of any school in the WAC, JD said:
"We're actually number one, we're creating the most revenue out there for any of our peers,. We do about two-and-a-half million dollars in pay-per-view, those numbers are off the charts. The total in new revenue and reduced expenses is about two million dollars." (KHON)


Hinting that UH has to support the Athletic Department more, JD said:
"Maybe there's a case to be made that the state, the system in Manoa combined need to come up with a greater percentage of our budget." (KHON)


KHON Note: "He says UH receives far less aid than any other WAC school. Less than 20 percent of its budget comes from the university and the state compared to 50 percent with other schools."


About how the Athletic Department should have asked for more financial support when the economy was strong 6 years ago, JD said:
"We probably should have had this conversation six years ago when everything was flushed with money but typically sometimes when things get really bad economically that's when all the bodies float to the surface so to speak." (KHON)


When Regent James Lee asked him "What are we doing to make the product better?", JD replied:
"We can't change over night, you hire a coach, and realistically its about three or four years before you can determine whether that coach was the right hire or not." (KHON)


When Board of Regents Chairman Howard Karr said "What I'm looking for is something more concrete from you as to what the steps you'll be taking in the future?", JD replied that he'll create a 5-year plan to balance the budget and then added:
"We're the only school in the WAC right now that doesn't have a student athletic fee. If we are going to get out of our overall deficit will have to be a part of the solution whether it be in a potential activity fee or whether in some price increases." (KHON)


Note: JD pointed out that Fresno State students pay a $39 per semester fee that generates $1.4 million annually for their Athletic Department.

KHON Note: "The Board of Regents approved an increase in ticket ranges and premium charges for next year which could generate as much as $375,000."

http://www.khon2.com/news/local/story/UH-Athletic-Department-Could-Face-10-1-Million/-6VIjzCfIkmHU0eLoA1g2w.cspx

UH Regents ask JD for plan to balance the Athletic Department's budget

HA Note: "The University of Hawaii Board of Regents today asked athletic director Jim Donovan to compile a timetable of when the financially struggling department can return to profitability. The request came one day after a regents committee was told that UH athletics has a net accumulated debt of $8 million since 2002 that is projected to reach $10.1 million by the end of the current fiscal year, June 30, 2010."


Asking JD to come up with a plan to balance the Athletic Department's budget, UH Board of Regents chairman Howard Karr said:
"I would like to see what his strategies are going to be and what type of support he is going to need from the regents, the state or the Manoa campus." (HA)


About how they will need some outside help to become profitable quickly, JD said:
"If we get help we can get to break-even (annually) and start retiring some of the accumulated net deficit quicker. If it is being completely done by athletics only, it is going to take longer." (HA)


About how he will come up with a plan and timetable quickly, JD said:
"I think we can put a plan together within a few months. We can come up with something pretty quickly." (HA)


HA Note: "Donovan reiterated that UH receives less outside support than peer institutions in the Western Athletic Conference and Mountain West Conference. According to UH, athletics generates 81 percent of its operating funds while receiving 19 percent of its money in support from the school and state. Meanwhile, Donovan said, peer institutions average 50 percent self-generated funds."

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20100218/BREAKING02/100218039/Regents+ask+UH+AD+Donovan+for+timetable+to+get+out+of++10M+debt

The UH Athletic Department deficit is projected to reach $10.1 million in June, with a $2.6 million deficit this past fiscal year

HA Note: "An independent auditor's report showed an accumulated net deficit of $8,051,123 built from 2002 to the close of the last fiscal year, June 30, 2009, and athletic director Jim Donovan forecast it could reach $10.1 million when the books close on this fiscal year, which ends June 30. UH athletics had a $2,632,408 deficit for the past fiscal year, the seventh time in eight years a deficit has been recorded. The exception came after the Sugar Bowl year of 2007."


About how the UH Athletic Department will not be able to balance their budget over the next 3 fiscal years, a report by the auditor (Accuity LLP) wrote:
"In the near term, during the next two or three fiscal years, it is probably not realistic for Manoa athletics to self-generate enough revenues, at the current level of allocated revenues , to produce a balanced budget." (HA)


HA Note: "The auditor also "reiterated concern" about UH's "financial condition." Donovan forecast a $2.1 million deficit for just the current fiscal year."


About how he wasn't surprised with the deficit numbers released yesterday due to past briefings that JD gave them, Board of Regents chairman Howard Karr said that athletics is:
"working in one of the worst recessions that we've ever had. I think Jim is trying to do his job but there are certain things that I want to discuss with the regents (today) and we'll see where we go from there." (HA)


HA Note: "UH's financial plight has been the result of several factors, including declining ticket sales in its major money producers, football and men's basketball, a $716,000 loss in its investments and rising costs in travel, guarantees and salaries. UH said it tops the nine-member Western Athletic Conference in travel expenses ($2.78 million), is second in coaches' salaries and benefits ($5.6 million), first in staff and administrative salaries and benefits ($5.1 million) and has the highest student aid expense ($5.5 million). Meanwhile, Donovan told the committee that UH is the only school in the WAC that doesn't receive some form of student fees. UH has said that a $50 per semester student athletic fee would "generate approximately $2 million." Moreover, Donovan said, athletics receives none of the $400,000 in parking revenue he said its events generate and pays approximately $735,000 annually for student housing and shares only marginally in the sales of logo items.

In an effort to trim costs, Donovan told the committee, 17 positions in the department have been abolished or are no longer funded, saving more than $580,000 annually. He said ticket prices have been dropped in some areas for all events in an attempt to lure more ticket buyers. In addition, new and more lucrative concessions, TV and radio agreements have been negotiated and an additional $209,000 in revenue generated by securing parking at Aloha Stadium."


About how UH is limited in its options for cutting a sport to reduce the deficit, JD said:
"Sometimes people ask me, 'Can you cut a sport?' Because of Title IX and gender equity, we can't cut a women's sport unless we cut football. And if we cut football, we couldn't stay Division I. So that would leave on the table for us (men's) swimming, tennis, golf, baseball and volleyball." (HA)


JD said that out of the men's sports that UH could cut:
"the biggest (financial) loser for us right now is baseball." (HA)


About how baseball lost $659,899 during the 2007-2008 season, JD said:
"So, if you were looking at it just from a fiscal standpoint, you'd pick baseball. But then, we'd have seven acres down there (on the lower campus) that would have a stadium and wouldn't have a sport in it. And I would claim we're pretty much a football, volleyball and baseball state. So, there aren't any easy choices." (HA)


JD said that the other men's sports do not lose much money so cutting them:
"might result in a $250,000 savings a year for any one of those sports, so it wouldn't make a big impact on that ($2.6) million." (HA)


HSB Note: "UH was operating in the black through 2001, dropped into the deficit in 2002 and has fallen deeper since. The exception was the 2008 fiscal year, when revenue from the UH football team's appearance in the Sugar Bowl — approximately $2.4 million — gave the department a profit of $295,243. The department had about $28.7 million in expenses in 2008-09, a slight drop compared to the previous year's total of $28.8. Donovan noted that the department has reduced expenses by not filling vacant positions and cutting administration and support service costs.

Women's volleyball led the UH programs by turning a profit of $84,071 for the 2008 season. Football showed a $1.5 million deficit, though Donovan said football accounts for most of UH's pay-per-view revenue of $2.5 million, which would push the program into the black. In his
presentation, Donovan pointed out that UH was at or close to the top of the Western Athletic Conference in ticket revenue ($8.6 million) and fundraising ($5.2 million) for the 2007-08 year."


HSB Note: "Donovan said UH generated revenue by lowering ticket prices and providing family packages in selected sections."


About how they will have only selective price increases until they are able to sell out their games, JD said:
"The bottom line is we're going to try to keep the prices as low as possible but at the same time balance the need for more revenue for our budget. My philosophy is when seats are all getting filled up, then we can look at price increases. Until then we have to be very selective at our price increases." (HSB)

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20100218/NEWS01/2180335/University+of+Hawaii+athletics+deficit+may+hit++10.1+million

http://www.starbulletin.com/sports/sportsnews/20100218_Athletic_deficit_closing_in_on_10M.html

The Warriors coaching staff will be shuffled (Aranda to DC, Cal Lee to LBs, Tuioti to DL coach, Lumpkin to recruiting coordinator)

HA Note: "The assumption is that Tuioti and a current assistant coach would switch positions. By law and the Board of Regents' hiring policy, any move between an assistant coaching position and a non-coaching position must be advertised for 10 work days."


About the assistant coaching position that they advertised, Mack said:
"I'm going to give a fair look at all of the applicants." (HA)


HA Note: "If Tuioti were an applicant for the assistant coaching vacancy, and a better candidate were found, he could remain at his current position. Tuioti is a former UH defensive tackle. He has drawn praise for helping to assemble the Warriors' past two recruiting classes."


HA Note: "There were published reports that another move would involve defensive coordinator Cal Lee and defensive line coach Dave Aranda. There are no public postings for the defensive coordinator's position. It is possible for McMackin to change a coach's title without a public posting as long as the combined compensation for all of the assistants does not exceed the current total of an estimated $1 million annually. Regardless of title, such as coordinator or associate, each is considered to be an assistant coach. The NCAA limits each Division I-A football team to nine assistant coaches. All of the defensive coaches have collaborated on the game plans in McMackin's first two seasons as head coach. But McMackin called the defensive plays during games in 2008. McMackin and Aranda split the play-calling duties in 2009."

HSB Note: "Cal Lee, the current defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, is expected to remain on staff in the latter position. The athletic department posted job listings for both assistant football coach and administrative assistant for football operations (director of football player personnel) on Tuesday with a closing date of March 3."


About the changes he will be making to their coaching staff, Mack said:
"There will be some changes on the staff and we're going through the hiring process right now. We won't announce anything until mid-March." (HSB)


HSB Note: "According to the sources, Tony Tuioti, currently the director of player personnel, will coach the defensive line. George Lumpkin, who coached the defensive ends last season, moves into the player personnel position."


HSB Note: "Lumpkin is the longest tenured member of the coaching staff. He currently holds the title of assistant head coach and focused on working with the defensive ends last season. Aside from a two-year absence in 1997-98 when he coached at Kamehameha Schools,Lumpkin has been on the UH staff since 1974."


Dave Reardon wrote: "If I had a dime for every time I've heard the Hawaii head coach refer to Dave Aranda as a genius … well, I could buy you and me each a soda. He said it after every game.

McMackin obviously has a world of confidence in Aranda. Why else would he promote the young defensive line coach to coordinator, a post previously held by McMackin's long-time friend Cal Lee?

McMackin seemed as impressed by Aranda's energy as much as his acumen, and gave him more responsibility as last season went along. Aranda got a lot of the credit for UH's great defensive effort against Navy's option.

Who would've thought that before the start of McMackin's third season he'd have taken the play-calling duties from Ron Lee, whom he described as his "offensive coordinator for life," and demoted Ron's brother Cal? It was a strange situation from the beginning, as McMackin retained defensive play-calling responsibilities; Cal Lee's role seemed more adviser than coordinator."


HSB Note: "Since Tuioti is technically coming from off the coaching staff, the job had to be posted. That brings into play those pesky state hiring rules, and that's why no one at UH wants to be quoted about the changes."

http://sports.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20100218/SPORTS0201/2180353/sportsfront&template=UHSports/McMackin+plans+changes

http://www.starbulletin.com/sports/sportsnews/20100218_Positions_switch_on_UH_staff.html

ESPN will televise the UH season opener against USC

HA Note: "For the second time in six years, the University of Hawai'i football team will open its season on national television and, once again, the attraction will be Southern California. The Warriors' Sept. 2 opener against the Trojans has been picked up by ESPN and the Thursday kickoff will be at 5 p.m. at Aloha Stadium, UH athletic director Jim Donovan confirmed yesterday. UH's 2005 opener with USC was also shown on ESPN. The game, which was Colt Brennan's UH debut, featured Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart. UH is 0-5 in nationally televised home season openers."


About how ESPN showed interest in televising their 2010 season opener when they approached him before the 2009 season began and asked him to see whether UH and USC would be willing to play the game on a Thursday, JD said:
"It worked well for USC and for us. They (the Trojans) wanted to allow their team some time to enjoy the stay and it was good for us because the next two (UH games) were going to be on the road and it allowed us, in a sense, to make back that travel day." (HA)


HA Note: "UH follows the USC game with games at Army (Sept. 11) and Colorado (Sept. 18). Under the Western Athletic Conference's new five-year contract with ESPN, which begins with the 2010-11 school year, the conference is required to furnish a specified number of non-traditional dates (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday) for games. Under WAC policy, UH will receive a $75,000 "inconvenience" fee for playing on Thursday. Overall, UH is to receive approximately $400,000 annually as its share of the new contract."


http://sports.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100217/SPORTS0201/2170366&template=UHsports

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Davone Bess set his expectations high

HNN = Hawaii News Now

HNN Note: "The former Warrior wide receiver led the Miami Dolphins in catches with 76, and in receiving yards with about 750, this past season. Those are remarkable numbers considering Bess wasn't drafted out of college and he's played just two years in the NFL."


About how he is not surprised with his success because he set the bar high for himself, Davone Bess said:
"My success now doesn't surprise me because I set the bar high for myself. I set my expectations high. It's just a matter of me going out and, you know, the coaches blessed me with an opportunity and then just making the most of it." (HNN)

http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=12003083

Monday, February 15, 2010

Article about Colt Brennan meeting Pres. Obama

RS = redskins.com

RS Note: "One of Brennan's fans is Congresswoman Mazie Hirono, of Hawai'i's second district. Hirono had met with Brennan -- a University of Hawai'i standout -- before a game during the 2008 season, and she had followed his career ever since. And Congresswoman Hirono does understand the injured reserve rule. So when her husband was unavailable to join her at the White House 2009 Christmas party, she correctly guessed that Brennan wouldn't be doing much else, and invited him to come along as her guest."


About how he had to rent a tuxedo because he doesn't own one yet, Colt said:
"I don't own a tux yet. I own a lot of nice suits, but I didn't feel like being underdressed at the White House. So I rented a tux, rolled in there and did my thing." (RS)


Asked to explain what doing his thing meant, Colt said:
"It's hard to tell where you really all a lot of the time inside the White House, but it seemed like the whole downstairs was opened up. There were tables of food and drink, and you basically just walked around and got a real in-depth tour of the White House and got to meet all kinds of well-known people in politics. It was just really fun, hob-nobbing it with some big-time people." (RS)


RS Note: "Brennan met both President Barack Obama -- who was born in Hawai'i -- and Vice President Joe Biden -- two meetings that he described as "really, really, really cool." "


About meeting the President, Colt said:
"You're in a huge line to meet the president and you have a designated time. They kind of shoo you in and shoo you out. I mean, I've met a lot of celebrities, a lot of big time people, but meeting the President ... it was an honor. Just sharing thirty seconds to a minute with him, and him saying [to wife Michelle], 'Honey, this is the best quarterback that ever came out of the University of Hawai'i.'" (RS)


About the nice words from Pres. Obama, Colt said:
"So right then and there. I was like, 'I like this guy a lot.'" (RS)


About having a limited time with the President, Colt said:
"Like I said, everybody's there and everybody gets a chance to meet him, so they're real adamant about getting you in and getting you out. So the whole time he was asking questions and was real talkative; they were almost shooing me out the door when he was still asking me questions." (RS)


About how meeting the President was different than all of his meetings with other prominent people, Colt said:
"I've met a lot of celebrities and stuff, but to sit there and share that minute, I was, like, 'Wow.' My hands were a little clammy, you know? They say this guy's the most powerful guy in the world, and I could definitely get that feeling when I was around him. Like I said, I was a little shy and I just kind of sat there while he said real nice things. It happened real fast. Just met him, took a picture, and was on my way." (RS)


Asked if he would run for public office someday, Colt said:
"No. No. I'm not really a politics type guy. I think I'd be a solid political advisor, but I wouldn't be a great politician. I shoot from the hip a little too much for that." (RS)

http://blog.redskins.com/2010/02/15/monday-february-15-colt-brennan-at-the-white-house/

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Q&A with UH Athletics Director Jim Donovan

Asked what has been the focus of his first 2 years, JD said:
"We really focused on who we see as our customers, which are our student-athletes, our corporate sponsors and fans who either come to games or watch us on TV. We've tried to build value in all those areas. We are working hard to improve our facilities, which directly involves our student-athletes.

We've worked hard to increase value across the board. We've lowered some ticket prices and concession costs. In the meantime, we've done it through maybe the hardest economic times this program has seen. The fact that the economy has done so poorly has been a weight around our ankles." (HA)


Asked what was the financial picture of UH athletics when he took the job, JD said:
"From my perspective coming in, things financially were very much out of whack and had been from about 2002, when you look at the (numbers). Within about a month of really doing some financial forensics, we found out that the (accumulated net) deficit was more like $5.5 million." (HA)


Asked about their profit from the Sugar Bowl, JD said:
"That (2008) first year was the Sugar Bowl year and we made over $2 million from the Sugar Bowl. So my assumption when I was hired in March was that we had over $2 million to go spend. The reality was we only had about $200,000 left over of the $2 million because the department was running at a $1.8 million (fiscal year) deficit. If we hadn't had the Sugar Bowl funds, we would have turned in a $1.8 million deficit that year." (HA)


Asked about the Athletic Department's budget deficit, JD said:
"They were running about a million to a million and a half (dollars) annual deficit (each year) from about 2002. We're hitting about $2 million a clip right now and doing it in probably the worst economic times in 50 years. It is definitely a struggle and we have to get it turned around." (HA)


Asked when he sees them balancing their budget, JD said:
"I think we need some more time. I think it will probably take another year or two. In a sense we have to sort of grow out of this. We have to either increase our self-generated funds or we have to get more support." (HA)


Asked how they will get more financial support, JD said:
"I think argument could be made a Division I program operating in the middle of the Pacific has more costs than any other Division I program. We could argue that we need some more support. It is just that I don't know if it is available with the situation that government and the university are facing with this recession.

The question is are we getting an appropriate amount of funding for the educational mission we have? A lot of people think Division I athletics isn't part of the educational experience. I say: bull. It absolutely is (part of it). I mean, we teach young people how to make a plan; what to do when things don't go according to plan; how to react to adversity. We teach them teamwork, belief in themselves and belief in others, sacrifice." (HA)


Asked how much money he raises versus how much is provided by UH and the state of Hawaii, JD said:
"We are off the charts — compared to our peers in the WAC and Mountain West — as far as what we self-generate. We're at about 88 percent (self-generated) with about 12 percent provided by the state and the university. The average in the WAC and MWC is somewhere between 50 and 52 percent self-generated with the rest being provided by the state and university. We're way over-performing in that regard but we're coming in short a couple million dollars a year. And that's something we've been working hard to try and eliminate as we make the cuts and create new revenue streams." (HA)


Asked if the current UH financial model is sustainable, JD said:
"It has to be looked at. It is more than the athletic director that makes that decision. It really comes all the way from the state to the university system to UH-Mānoa to the athletic department.

At the same time we bring exposure to the whole University of Hawai'i system and state. We're the only game in town. We're a source of pride for the whole state when we are doing well and consternation for the whole state when we're not. (So), to sit there and say all of it has to fall on the backs of just what can be self-generated by the department itself really doesn't take into itself the scope of how broad we represent the whole state." (HA)


Asked when UH can be back in the black financially, JD said:
"I won't make a claim that we can pay off the accumulated deficit in two years. I'm hoping within a couple of years we can run not only a balanced annual budget, but that we can start to chip away at the accumulated deficit.

Again, a lot depends upon how fast the economy continues to improve because that gives disposable income to people to actually purchase tickets or pay-per-view. Potentially, if the economy improves, there may be a way for the university system or the state to provide us some more funding." (HA)


Asked how UH or the state could provide them more funding, JD said:
"One of the big things that hasn't been on the table is that we're the only school in the WAC right now that doesn't earn revenue from a student fee deal. That's where students get to go to the (events) for free and, in return, there's a student fee that helps fund athletics." (HA)


Asked where the student-fee proposal, JD said:
"We went forward on that with a proposal last year and met with the Associated Students of UH (leadership), the Graduate Student organization and a student committee. We were just not successful in getting that moved forward. We are currently working on campus to take a look at something that would be even more inclusive, some kind of activity fee instead of a straight athletic fee." (HA)


Asked if UH is interested in being a part of the Pac-10 expansion, JD said:
"I've reached out and had a preliminary conversation with the Pac-10 just to find out what the process might be." (HA)


Asked when he will make a decision on whether or not to bring Bob Nash back as men's basketball coach, JD said:
"I've learned that you need to wait and see how the season plays out and get all the data in. But I think it is really important that we see improvement in our programs." (HA)


Asked how he evaluates the handling of the basketball program overall, JD said:
"Bob Nash is an outstanding man; you can't find someone out there that has better character than he does. I would love for my son to play for him in that sense because I know that he'd mature into a very good person. Bob's improved the grade point average for the men's
basketball team. Their academic progress rate went from being in the danger zone — I think we even lost a scholarship one year — and that was what he inherited and he has gotten them out of the danger zone. They are not under any penalty situation so a lot of things outside of win/loss Bob has done a very good job on. But win/loss is also a very important component of the success of a coach." (HA)


Asked what in-roads UH has made in taking the UH brand into Asia and overseas, JD said:
"Coach (Greg) McMackin and I went to (Japan) last spring. We've also signed on with a company called Pacific Rim Sports Initiative that has contacts in Japan. Currently, the home football and men's basketball games that we have rights to are being aired in Japan on a cable network with approximately a half million homes on a delayed basis. We're also looking at the possibility of airing some of our events in Australia." (HA)


Asked if they will be recruiting more athletes in Asia, JD said:
"Hopefully the contacts we are building in Australia will help. Right now, Japan, China and Korea, because of the language barrier and (entrance) requirements, that may be more difficult." (HA)


http://sports.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100214/SPORTS02/2140386&template=UHsports

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Articles about Leonard Peters playing for the USA rugby team

LVS = Las Vegas Sun


About how Leonard Peters picked up rugby quickly, USA rugby head coach Al Caravelli said:
"Leonard started playing in July, and he's really picked up the game quite rapidly. The passing is different, so sometimes he has a little difficulty with that. But he knows the rules probably better than most referees." (LVS)


LVS Note: "Peters, who played college football at Hawaii, joined the team last year after the Bears cut him from their practice squad. When the coaches explained to him that the sevens version of rugby was all about quick games, Peters thought the sport would be easy to adjust to. He was in for a rude awakening."


About how it was hard to adjust to rugby, Peters said:
"When I heard it was only 20-minute games, I was like, 'Man, I would kill that. I've played two-hour games in college and the NFL.' The first game I ever played in rugby, after two minutes, I was begging the coach to take me out." (LVS)

"The running in rugby is unbelievable. In football, you run for nine seconds and rest for 30 seconds. In rugby, you run for seven minutes straight." (LVS)

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/feb/13/two-former-nfl-players-fill-usa-rugby-teams-roster/

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/feb/13/usa-rugby-team-hopes-strong-showing-home-turf/

Friday, February 12, 2010

JD talked with the Pac-10 to express UH's interest

HA Note: "University of Hawai'i athletic director Jim Donovan said yesterday he talked to the Pac-10 to inquire about "potential opportunities" for the school."

HA Note: "Donovan said the call took place yesterday but declined to say who he talked to in inquiring about the expansion process or characterize the nature of the reception he received."


About his discussion with the Pac-10, JD said:
"I asked what process they would be looking at and they said it hadn't been determined at this point." (HA)


About how he brought up the positives for UH, JD said that he discussed:
"some attributes the Pac-10 may want to look at." (HA)


About how he discussed possible assistant with the Hawai'i Tourism Authority before his discussion with the Pac-10, JD said:
"Mike McCartney and David Uchiyama of the HTA were able to see the potential value of a relationship like that." (HA)


http://sports.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100212/SPORTS02/2120391&template=UHsports

Thursday, February 11, 2010

UH Athletic Department revenue is on the rise this spring

HA Note: "Coaching changes in women's basketball and men's volleyball have not only led to more victories but also, apparently, have contributed to significant gains in revenue for the University of Hawai'i athletic department. Meanwhile, men's basketball is running similar to last year and baseball is poised for an uptick, according to figures supplied by UH."


JD said that the increased revenue of Spring sports:
"likely has to do with the coaching (changes) and the economy." (HA)


HA Note: "Women's basketball, which suffered through the most severe victory drought in its conference history last season with an 8-23 record, also hit financial bottom with just $20,250 in ticket revenues. Entering this week, the Rainbow Wahine were 9-13 and had taken in $38,966 with three home games remaining, according to UH. Dana Takahara-Dias took over in June 2009, replacing Jim Bolla. The men's volleyball team, which was 9-18 last year with ticket revenues of $184,453, is 6-5 with sales of $215,659 and 10 regular season home matches left to be played. Charlie Wade replaced Mike Wilton in May 2009. Moreover, baseball, which opens its regular season next week, has so far shown a climb in season ticket sales."


Unsure how much of the increase is due to the economy and how much is due to the coaching changes, JD said:
"We're seeing some indication that the worst of the economic downturn may be ending. It is sort of tough to say for sure right now how much it is one (coaching changes) and how much it is the other (the economy), but the two are the most obvious reasons." (HA)


HA Note: "UH is forecast to run at approximately a $2 million deficit for the current fiscal year that ends June 30. Women's basketball ran at an estimated $1 million deficit for the previous fiscal year and men's volleyball at a $220,000 shortfall. Men's basketball has so far taken in $983,220 in ticket revenue and, with three home dates remaining, is on track to meet or surpass the $1,023,808 of last season. Men's basketball turned a nearly $120,000 profit in the last fiscal year. With a week to go before its Feb. 19 regular season opener against Oregon State, UH baseball has sold 17 more season tickets than last year. The total, as of early yesterday, was said to be 635, the most in nearly a decade."


Asked if UH was interested in joining the Pac-10, JD said:
"I don't think it's a secret that a lot of people in Hawaii would like to see us in the Pac-10 someday. But we're in the WAC and my job is to get us competitive in all sports in this conference unless the landscape changes." (HSB)

http://sports.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100211/SPORTS02/2110359&template=UHsports

http://www.starbulletin.com/sports/sportsnews/20100211_UH_AD_cautious_in_Pac-10_comments.html

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Kicker Tyler Hadden signed with the Warriors

HSB Note: "Hadden, a kicker from California (Whittier, Calif.) High School, committed to join the Warriors' recruiting class Thursday night, reversing an earlier commitment to New Mexico State."


Happy to have his recruiting process over, Tyler Hadden said:
"It's a huge relief; I've been so stressed out about it." (HSB)


HSB Note: "Hadden said he also had offers from New Mexico State and Weber State, but had Hawaii at the top of his wish list. He orally committed to New Mexico State on Thursday morning, but got a call from the UH coaches offering a scholarship later in the day. He accepted the UH offer, then called the NMSU coaches back to break the news."


About selecting UH over NMSU, Hadden (who cited UH's business school as a factor in his decision) said:
"I sat down and thought about it with my family, and with Hawaii being my first choice it seemed like a better fit for me." (HSB)


HSB Note: "Sailer, a former UCLA kicker and now a prominent instructor, runs camps for kickers and punters and has worked with Hadden since his freshman year of high school. Sailer said Hadden had a strong showing at a camp last month in Las Vegas and listed his strengths as "his technique and consistency, and he's a very polished kicker." "


Praising Hadden, Sailer said:
"His leg strength is well above average, his ability to kick off the ground is well above average and his kickoffs are well above average. I see him as a guy who can play right away. He's a guy who's still going to develop physically. Give him a year or two and he's going to add so much strength and flexibility." (HSB)


HSB Note: "Hadden said he made 13 of 15 field goals last season, with a long of 50 yards. He kicked off a 1-inch tee in high school and has worked on kicking off the turf, which he'll have to do in college. Senior Scott Enos handled all of UH's place-kicking duties last season and went 12-for-19 on field goals and made all 34 of his point-after attempts. The Warriors were looking for a kicker who could compete for the job this season and provide depth with Enos entering his final season."

http://www.starbulletin.com/sports/sportsnews/20100206_hawaii_convinces_highly_regarded_kicker_to_join_program.html

Blaze Soares will play in the Texas vs. The Nation All-Star Challenge today

HSB Note: "Former UH linebacker Blaze Soares will have a chance to perform for the scouts in the Texas vs. The Nation All-Star Challenge today at the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas. The game will be shown on CBS College Sports. Soares is listed as a linebacker and long snapper for The Nation against a team of college seniors hailing from Texas. He has been training at Triple Threat Performance in Arizona to prepare for the game and for UH's pro day, set for April 1 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. While Soares is looking forward to hitting in a game setting today, most of the evaluations took place in the practices leading up to the game."


Feeling that he did well in the practices and got the attention of the NFL scouts, Blaze Soares said:
"I felt I competed and made some plays and turned some heads. I showed what I can do. ... It was great exposure being in this game." (HSB)

http://www.starbulletin.com/sports/sportsnews/20100206_hawaii_convinces_highly_regarded_kicker_to_join_program.html

Friday, February 5, 2010

UH Football looking ahead to the 2011 recruiting class

About looking ahead at the 2011 recruiting class, Tony Tuioti said:
"It brings this season to a close, and come Monday we'll start turning our attention to 2011 recruiting and spring ball." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Tuioti said the coaches have already identified some of next year's top local prospects, and the next major push will come in mid-April with the program's annual junior day."


Tony Tuioti said that on the mainland the UH coaches:
"want to look at Washington, California, Las Vegas, Utah, and be able to keep that pipeline we have to Texas and Florida." (HSB)


HSB Note: "For now, with the 2010 class nearly complete, the next date circled on the calendar is March 31, the opening day of spring practice."


HSB Note: "In crafting the class, the UH coaches targeted depth on both sides of the line of scrimmage as a priority. They signed five offensive linemen to replenish the depth chart. With the defensive front fairly stocked with interior linemen, they signed seven pass-rushing defensive ends, an area where the Warriors ran thin last season."


About how they addressed areas of need with this recruiting class, Tuioti said:
"This class was critical for us to address some of the positional needs we have." (HSB)


HSB Note: "The Warriors signed Siaki Cravens, a converted receiver, for immediate help at end or outside linebacker and got a boost when Kamehameha's Beau Yap switched his commitment from Baylor to UH. Tuioti said Kailua's Calen Friel may have been among the state's top linemen if he hadn't been sidelined by a knee injury early in the season."


About how his recovery is going well, Calen Friel said:
"I'm ahead of schedule, my knee is strong now. My doctors are tripping out at how fast I'm healing. ... I'm ready already. I can't wait." (HSB)


About how they plan to use 6'5" wideout Darius Bright to help them convert in the red zone, Tuioti said:
"We believe he gives us size and speed, especially in the red zone. He gives us another threat for our quarterbacks to look at." (HSB)


HSB Note: "In the secondary, UH coaches are high on the lockdown potential of cornerback Dee Maggitt and the play-making ability of John Hardy-Tuliau, whose special teams acumen (he blocked a record 26 kicks in three years of high school) could get him on the field early in his career. As for outside opinions of the class, rivals.com rates the Warriors' group 65th in the nation, while scout.com placed Hawaii 81st. Both recruiting services ranked the Warriors second in the Western Athletic Conference behind Fresno State."


About how he doesn't care about the rating that a recruit has, Mack said:
"I don't care about four stars or five stars, I care that a guy can make plays. We recruit people for what we do, and I have never been influenced by how many stars a guy has." (HSB)


About finally getting to play with his cousin Kamalu Umu (who transferred from Charleston Southern last year), Marcus Umu said:
"I've wanted to play with him ever since I was little. So it's real special to stay home." (HSB)


HSB Note: "California signees Bubba Poueu-Luna and John Hardy-Tuliau are also cousins. Offensive linemen David Lefotu and Kody Afusia discovered they were distant relatives during their recruiting visit."

http://www.starbulletin.com/sports/sportsnews/20100205_uh_football_looking_ahead.html

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Kyle Wilson said that Davone Bess was the toughest receiver he ever covered

Asked who was the toughest receiver he ever covered, Kyle Wilson said:
"Hmm, the toughest? Davone Bess from Hawaii. When he's bad, haha, he's bad. He's a tough guy to guard in the slot. Especially that year, my sophomore year when they had Colt Brennan. Definitely one of the best. What I noticed about him was that he had really had good footwork. And in that offense, where they were very accurate and on the same page, the combo was deadly." (Denver Times)

http://www.indenvertimes.com/interview-if-kyle-wilson-looks-confident-its-because-he-is/

New Warrior Siaki Cravens credits Prodigy Athletes for helping him

SWRNN Note: "Among the players to sign letters of intent was Christian "Bubba" Poueu-Luna of Great Oak High School. Luna, who will attend the University of Hawaii, boasts 32 touchdowns in 15 varsity games, threw for over 1700 passing yards and rushed for 754 yards during his senior year."

SWRNN Note: "John Hardy-Tuliau carried a 4.0 GPA since middle school; his high school stats boast 18 interceptions, 140 tackles, 26 blocked punts, 10 touchdowns and 38 career starts. Hardy-Tuliau will sign with University of Hawaii.

Finally, Siaki Cravens, a four-year honor roll student, will join the University of Hawaii as an outside linebacker. Cravens, who signed with the University of Utah out of high school and played for the 2009 BCS Sugar Bowl championship team, credits his father Kevin Cravens, along with Prodigy as a being a big part of his success."


Praising Prodigy Athletes for helping him, Siaki Cravens said:
"I've been with Prodigy since its beginning. They've been real helpful. They came along and gave me the help I needed." (SWRNN)


About how he son's hard work and discipline have paid off, his mother Crystal Cravens said:
"He's very dedicated. He's been training since he was 6 years old. He (worked out) on prom night and graduation." (SWRNN)


About how his program is geared to help kids advance athletically and academically, Prodigy Athletes founder Lau said:
"Prodigy Athletes began as a movement to get kids into the classroom. It is a mentorship program designed to help kids see what opportunities lay ahead of them. When I send a coach a name, I don't have to worry. I know that my athletes have a strong work ethic, strong academics, they know how to get their business done." (SWRNN)

http://www.swrnn.com/southwest-riverside/2010-02-04/sports/temeculas-athletes-declare-colleges-sign-on-for-education

Article about Sean Shigematsu signing with UH

KGI = (Kauai) Garden Isle


KGI Note: "Three Kaua'i Interscholastic Federation football All-Stars participated in National Signing Day on Wednesday, as Kapa'a High School standout lineman Sean Michael Shigematsu, Kaua'i High School captain and quarterback Trey Shimabukuro and Waimea High School all-everything athlete Kaulana Waalani-Arroyo each penned their names to play football at the next level, starting next season.

Shigematsu will be trading in one Warriors uniform for another, as the 6-foot-6, 255 pound tackle is jumping the puddle to O'ahu to join coach Greg McMackin and the University of Hawai'i."


KGI Note: "Shigematsu made himself a hot commodity at the All Poly Camp at Kapi'olani Park on O'ahu in July, attending with a number of his Kapa'a teammates. It was there that he quickly put himself on UH's radar. His full scholarship offer came shortly after that and he headed into the KIF season already knowing he had a spot at UH waiting for him."


About getting the scholarship offer from UH over the summer, Shigematsu said:
"It kind of took some of the weight off my shoulders. Like I didn't have to worry. But it gave me some incentive to play better." (KGI)


About signing with UH, Shigematsu said:
"Today was pretty overwhelming. But it was exciting to be able to represent my family, my school, the island and UH." (KGI)


Prepared for the challenge of moving up from the KIF to D-IA, Shigematsu said:
"Guys are going to be a lot bigger, but I'll be able to handle my own once I get up to their stature." (KGI)


Asked what he was looking forward to most about going to UH, Shigematsu said:
"Just going to college to get my education and becoming a Warrior." (KGI)

http://thegardenisland.com/sports/high-school/article_c162843c-116a-11df-80d9-001cc4c03286.html

UH signed 26 players for its 2010 recruiting class

Relieved after he signed with UH, Beau Yap said:
"I feel relieved right now, getting this recruiting process off my back. I can be a kid again." (HA)


About his son Beau playing for UH like he did, Boyd Yap said:
"It's terrific. He's going to have a great time." (HA)


Proud that he'll be playing for UH, Beau said:
"I grew up as a UH fan. I'm proud to be going there." (HA)


About choosing to go to UH while flying back to Hawaii after his Oregon State recruiting trip this past weekend, Beau said:
"I woke up (during the flight), and it kind of hit me: I couldn't leave home. Nothing can beat Hawai'i. The comfort level is so high. It was hard for me to say 'no' to (Baylor), but Hawai'i is the only place for me." (HA)


"I was on the plane coming home and it kind of hit me that going away would be hard for me. My family will get to watch me all the time, they don't have to watch on TV or use money and go up. Just staying home felt real comfortable." (HSB)


Happy with his recruiting class, Mack said:
"I'm excited about this class." (HA)


Happy about signing with UH, Tu'ulauena Lolohea said:
"It's chicken-skin time. It feels good to finally get it written down. I'm ready to play for Hawai'i." (HA)


About QB Kevin Spain, QB coach Nick Rolovich said:
"He's unselfish. He wants to win. Physically, he's a good athlete. The best thing about him is the catch-ability of his passes. And his accuracy. He has a lot of natural tools that will make him special down the road." (UH)


About OL recruits Kody Afusia, David Lefotu, Frank Loyd, London Sapolu, and Sean Shigematsu, OL coach Gordy Shaw said:
"Kody never came off the field. I believe he was an All-CIF defensive lineman. Based on his stature and talent, we could project that he was going to be just what we're looking for at that position (center). ...

David is a big, physical guard-type guy who has tremendous strength. ....

Frank is an interesting guy. Last spring, he was a little over 6-3 and 230, but very athletic. He has long arms; that wing span that they talk about. He has a lot of upside. Today, he's touching 6-5 and he's 275. That's over a nine-month period, and he hasn't lost a step. He's going to be a very good tackle-type guy for us. ....

Initially we were looking for a tackle. As we got into camp, and saw we had enough tackle guys we thought would be OK for this upcoming season, we were looking for an inside guy. (Sapolu will) either battle for the starting center position or be a backup. Physically, he's a good player. ....

At the All-Poly camp, Sean was the guy everybody's eyes were going to him. At the time, he was 6-5 and about 235. A great athlete. He really stood out in that camp. He's 6-6, 250 now, and starts on the basketball team, starts on the volleyball. He has tremendous upside. He's going to be one of those tackles who's played here and gone on to play in the NFL." (HA)


About WR recruits Samson Anguay, Corey Lau, and Allen Sampson, Rolovich said:
"Samson is that quick, make-a-guy-miss-type slot we've had success with in the past. I know his size is not the biggest, but he's built really well. He'll make some plays for us in the future. ...

Corey Lau is the same type of player as Samson. He has enough straight-ahead speed to be successful. But he has the ability to make that one guy miss and get the extra yards. ...

People will first notice (Sampson) has world-class speed. But his personality and the person he is will make him a great teammate. He's going to make an immediate impact on our kick return. We have to try to get the ball in his hands to make something happen." (HA)


About DE recruits Desmond Dean, Ipulasi Eselu, David Katina, and Beau Yap, DL coach Dave Aranda said:
"Desmond is a guy we've had on our radar for a long time. He has all of the potential in the world. He has all of the bloodlines. He has all of the ability: the length, the speed. I feel Desmond has the most potential of all of the guys we brought in. His pop is 300 pounds. His grandfather played in the (National Football) League for how many years. What people look at is the weight. He's 6-7 and 215 pounds. But if you look at his family and his genes, weight is not a problem. ...

We like (Eselu's) aggressiveness and his knowledge of the game, with his pop being a coach, and his mentality. He's going to grow into being a defensive end, at 240 (pounds). When we saw him in the summer, he was 190. He's 215 now. He's on his way." ...

(Yap) reminds me of a raw John Fonoti. He has a natural get-off. His explosiveness and his hips are a natural gift." (HA)

About Desmond Dean's weight and David Katina, George Lumpkin said:
"Desmond is thin now, but he runs a 4.52 in the 40 and a 10.87 in the 100. If you remember, (Ikaika) Alama-Francis was about 212 when we got him. This kid is about the same. It's a matter of putting a lot of weight on him. ... The most positive things about (Katina) are his work ethic, his character, and his ability to understand what is required of him. He should be an outstanding defensive end." (HA)


About DT recruits Calen Friel and Moses Samia, Aranda said:
"Moses has unbelievably long arms and unbelievably big hands. He's 250 pounds right now, and doesn't look it. We recruited Moses as a defensive tackle. ... Same thing with Friel. At the (UH coaches camp), he was 220 pounds. He's 260 right now. Both of those guys, in a year, will be 280. We feel they're active, tall, longer than some of the tackles." (HA)


About their LB recruits Dustin Elisara, Tu'ulauena Lolohea, Zachary Quines, Dominick Sierra, and T.J. Taimatua, Defensive Coordinator Cal Lee said:
"(Elisara) is very athletic. He has a great sense for the ball, and he has a motor. He's a big and strong athletic guy who can go out there and control the middle, and make sure nobody runs up the middle. ...

What Tu'u brings on the field are what you look for in a linebacker. What he showed on his visit was the leadership qualities that he had, the take-charge qualities that you need on the defensive side of the ball. He's like a quarterback guy who's going to make people play hard. His actions speak louder than his words. He's not only an action guy, but he's a motivator. ...

Zach is another one who can run to the ball. He's 6-3, a long, rangy kind of guy. The thing about Zach is he can make tackles in the open field. He's like a DB playing linebacker. He has great speed, great range. If we blitz, he's the kind of guy who can come off the edge. ...

Dominick has great potential. He can make plays. He started off at defensive back, but because of his size, he'll become a good linebacker. He's got great closing speed. ...

T.J. is another tall, rangy kind of player, like Zach is. He's not afraid to make contact. Defensively, you want guys who like to make contact. He wants to get there, and put a helmet where you want to put it. He has all of the skills and athleticism." (HA)


About safety recruit Marcus Umu, safeties coach Chris Tormey said:
"We had Marcus in (the coaches) camp last June, and we were really impressed with his ball skills. He must have had eight or 10 interceptions in the three days we worked with him. He has good instincts, and he showed good toughness. He has excellent size. He has great growth potential." (HA)


About CB recruit John Hardy-Tuliau, Aranda said:
"I think John can help us right away, in terms of blocking kicks. Everywhere John has been, he's won. Everything that John has wanted to do, he's done. He's one of those guys. He has a magic touch to him. He has the height we want at corner. Our conference is a running conference, no doubt about it. We have to load the (tackle) box to play the run. Every team has that one receiver who has jump-ball possibilities. I think height at corner was a need, and he fits that need." (HA)


About CB recruit Dee Maggitt, Tormey said:
"Dee was the top cornerback prospect in the state of Washington this past year. He was highly regarded. He comes from one of the very best high school programs in the state of Washington. They're going to be top-5 in the state every year, and they have Division I players every year. Great background there. He played at a high level. Fundamentally, he's very sound. Good feet. Good hands. Breaks on the ball well." (HA)


About recruits Siaki Cravens and Christian "Bubba" Poueu-Luna, Aranda said:
"Cravens is a great athlete. He played tight end/receiver out of high school. A great basketball player, very athletic. We feel outside back on the line of scrimmage is a great position for him. He's 6-3, 240 pounds, but at this point, he's one of our faster players. He's a 4.5 guy. The issue with him is he's going to be raw. In terms of the tools and the mentality. That's there. ...

Bubba is a great athlete. He can play receiver or DB. He played quarterback this past season. He's really in a similar mode to Siaki. He's a super, super athlete. He's a force with the ball in his hand. As a junior, he played safety. We're going back and forth on him in the office. He's a guy who can go either way." (HA)


About choosing between his final 2 of UH and Utah, V.J. Feheko said:
"It was stressful, pretty crazy. My decision came straight from the heart. UH was always a strong pull for me and it was really hard to turn them down — it was like turning down a family member. I grew up cheering only for the green and white, and hating every other team. It was a grueling process, sitting down with my mom and dad, going back and forth. " (HA)


About how he has a better chance for early playing time at Utah instead of UH, Feheko said:
"They lose all three of their starting linebackers (to graduation), and UH only loses Blaze (Soares). I fit their package, it was the situation I was put in to compete sooner (for playing time)." (HA)


About how he looked forward to facing teammate Shaydon Akuna (who signed with Oregon State yesterday) at the end of the 2011 season, Lolohea said:
"Right after I signed I looked up and saw him sign and put on the Oregon State hat. I was like, I've already got the date down." (HSB)


Happy with all of the Hawaii recruits that signed with UH yesterday at the PIAA signing ceremony, Moses Samia said:
"Seeing all the UH hats, people from different backgrounds, different schools to play as one now, I'm excited for that. That's Hawaii." (HSB)


About how they will finish their recruiting class by giving a scholarship to a kicker, Mack said:
"We are going to scholarship a kicker, we need competition at that position and we need to get better at that position." (HSB)


Happy with their recruiting class, Mack said:
"We think we've recruited to help us for the future, and some of these guys are going to complement us right away." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Just three of the Warriors' signees are from junior colleges, compared to 10 in both of McMackin's first two recruiting classes as head coach."


About getting JC recruits at OL (Sapolu) and WR (Darius Bright), plus Cravens from a JC, Mack said:
"We needed immediate help at receiver and we felt we needed a veteran offensive lineman and then we have (Cravens) and he's got three years. He's a player." (HSB)


Looking forward to competing for his place on the depth chart, David Lefotu said:
"I can't wait to compete for a spot." (HSB)


HSB Note: "McMackin pointed to Lefotu as a cornerstone of the class following his commitment last summer and said linebacker T.J. Taimatuia of Artesia (Calif.) High has the potential to contribute right away. Texas defensive end Desmond Dean was an intriguing late addition to the class. The 6-foot-7, 215-pounder said he had been in contact with the Hawaii coaches for about a month and was offered a scholarship on Tuesday, which he formally accepted yesterday. Dean, the grandson of former Washington Redskins lineman Fred Dean, had received interest from Utah and Illinois and runs on the 4x200 and 4x400 relay teams at Tyler."


Happy that UH offered him a scholarship on Tuesday, Desmond Dean said:
"I think it'll be a good fit for me. I was wanting to go to Hawaii so it was real excitin


After signing with UH, Kevin Spain said:
"It's just a big relief and I'm pretty excited about my future at UH." (HSB)


http://sports.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100204/SPORTS0201/2040374&template=UHsports

http://hawaiipreps.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20100204/SPORTS03/2040372/sportsfront&template=PrepSports/Isle+standouts+make+11th-hour+decisions

http://www.starbulletin.com/sports/sportsnews/20100204_warriors_sign_26_on_letter_of_intent_day.html

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Moses Samia commits to the Warriors and other recruiting news before the LOIs come in

About committing to the Warriors, DE Moses Samia said:
"I wanted to play in front of my family. Some players miss that opportunity. To me, family means everything. Now I get to play for a great program and I get to play in front of my family. I'm excited about the opportunity." (HA)

"It means a lot. I always wanted to play in front of my family. I'm grateful to have my parents be able to see me play in college at the Division I level." (HSB)


HA Note: "Samia, who is 6 feet 2 and 240 pounds, played defensive end for the Crusaders. He has been told he projects to play defensive tackle or end at UH. He turned down an offer from Baylor."


About choosing UH over Baylor, Moses said:
"I'm thankful for the (Baylor) offer, but I told the coaches, 'I'm going to Hawai'i.' " (HA)


Asked if he would also play for UH's baseball team, Moses (a highly regarded catcher) said:
"If the (football) coaches allow me. Right now I'm going to focus on football." (HA)

"If the coaches allow me to, that's something I'd look into, but football is my first priority." (HSB)


About how he began playing Pop Warner football in the 6th grade, Moses said:
"I fell in love with the game." (HA)


HA Note: "UH defensive coordinator Cal Lee contacted Samia during the 2009 season. Samia competed in the Samoa Bowl and, after returning, kept in touch with Lee. Samia took a UH recruiting trip the past weekend. Defensive tackle Geordon Hanohano, a Saint Louis School graduate, served as host."


About his recruiting trip to UH this past weekend, Moses said:
"It was a good experience. That guy (Hanohano) is a clown. He cracks me up all of the time." (HA)


About being offered a scholarship by Cal Lee yesterday morning, Moses said:
"I talked to my mom, and she told me, 'I'll support you in anything you do.' I told her: 'I want to go to UH.' " (HA)


HA Note: "According to people familiar with the situation, a scholarship offer was made last night. The kicker and his family met last night to discuss the offer. The kicker wants to delay an
announcement until this morning, although he has indicated he will sign with the Warriors. The Warriors were seeking competition for Scott Enos, who converted 12 of 19 field-goal attempts and all 34 of his point-after tries last year. Enos will be a senior this year.

The Warriors reportedly are ahead in the recruiting skirmish for Farrington High linebacker V.J. Fehoko, a member of The Advertiser's All-State first team. Fehoko, the son of de facto UH mascot Vili the Warriors, will announce his decision at a news conference this morning. In a self-created drama, his choice will come from one of five hats, each representing a school, that will be placed in front of him. Spoiler alert: Fehoko has told reporters he narrowed his choices
to Utah and UH."


HA Note: "The Warriors' 2010 class already has received a jump start. Eight players who will count against "initial" signings already are enrolled at UH-Mānoa, including two of last year's starters — quarterback Bryant Moniz and long-snapper Luke Ingram. Because Moniz and Ingram have been in the program less than two years, they count as initial signings. Four players who gray-shirted in 2009 — running back Jon Lister, utility player Joey Iosefa, and offensive linemen Jordan Loeffler and Marcus Malepeai — also count as members of the 2010
recruiting class. A gray shirt is a recruit who delays joining a team for a semester. What's more, two junior-college transfers — wideout Darius Bright and center/defensive tackle London Sapolu — are enrolled this semester."


HA Note: "Two players who made verbal commitments to UH — defensive tackle Viliami Fonokalafi of Kaimukī High and defensive end Charles Tuaau of Leilehua High — have decided to attend junior colleges. They are expected to go to Arizona Western."


About waiting for the signed Letters of Intent to come in this morning, Mack said:
"We think we know who's coming and now we just have to wait for those letters to come in. It's a year to a two-year process." (HSB)


About accepting a scholarship from UH today, LB T.J. Taimatuia said:
"People would say I'm so lucky. I tell them I'm truly blessed. It wasn't easy getting this far. ... One phone call changed my life, that's all I can say." (HSB)


HSB Note: "Taimatuia struggled in the classroom early in his high school career, but with the guidance of his aunt and uncle, Lori and Roger Saleapaga, he has since raised his grade-point average from a 1.5 as a freshman to above a 3.0 and is academically qualified to compete in college."


About how he'll feel when he signs with UH, Taimatuia said:
"When I sign, it'll be a big relief. I grew up never knowing I would go to college. Although at times I felt like giving up, they never gave up on me and they believed in me and what I could accomplish. (Today) is a big thing for me." (HSB)


http://sports.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20100203/SPORTS0201/2030352/sportsfront&template=UHSports/UH+gets+defensive+end

http://www.starbulletin.com/sports/sportsnews/20100203_Signings_mark_end_beginning.html

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

UH commit Allen Sampson was praised by his high school coach in the Tampa Tribune

TT = Tampa Tribune

TT Note: "Sampson, who had Division I-AA offers from Delaware, Georgia Southern, Murray State and Southern Illinois, spent the weekend on Hawaii's campus."


Praising Sampson, Plant coach Robert Weiner said:
"Allen is one of the most electric players that I've ever seen. He is the kind of player that makes you stop coaching and start watching like an excited spectator," Weiner said. "And to top it off, he is an even better human being." (TT)

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/feb/03/sp-plants-sampson-commits-to-hawaii/

Cooper Pulluer talks about his last-minute offer from Washington and his decommitment to UH

DM = Dawgman.com

About being pulled out of class to speak with Washington LB coach Mike Cox on the phone on Monday, Cooper Pulluer said:
"He said that we've got a great opportunity with a possible commitment dropping out. If that were to happen, we'd like you to offer you a scholarship to come play for us." (DM)


About his happiness at receiving the offer from U-Dub, Pelluer said:
"I've always thought about the possibility of U-Dub offering me at the last minute." (DM)


DM Note: "But now? A possible spot on the team he grew up watching? The team where his Dad Scott coached for six years during two different stints? It was beyond his imagination. But there was a kicker; he couldn't tell anyone about it except for his parents. The UW staff wouldn't know for sure the details until late Monday night, so Pelluer had to go through the rest of his day at school and basketball practice with a secret burning a Huskies-sized hole through his stomach. The wait was unbearable."


About the phone call he received from Washington head coach Steve Sarkisian, Pelluer said:
"He laid down the words, 'We'd like to offer you a scholarship'. It happened." (DM)


About how he talked with his parents and then called Sarkisian back with his commit to Washington, Pelluer said:
"Once he said it I knew I would be a Dawg by the end of the night. I grew up a Dawg. It's a dream come true." (DM)


DM Note: "It's a little ironic, simply because if he had ended up at Washington State, he would not only have been a fourth-generation Cougar, but a fourth generation Cougar football player. But WSU never came calling, so it was the Huskies that picked up the slack."


About how the Washington coaches saw the potential in his 6'4", 224-pound son, Pulluer's father said:
"They saw the potential, they realized that he's got a lot of upside. And the Huskies did a phenomenal job of staying with him and keeping in touch and letting him know that something might happen in the last minute." (DM)


About how his father has supported him throughout the recruiting process, Pulluer said:
"He's been so supportive throughout. He's been right there. It was so nice to be able to come home and have my own coach. He's one of my best friends. It's a big thing for the both of us." (DM)


About the tough phone call he had to make to UH Assistant Coach Chris Tormey, Pelluer said:
"It was tough. I appreciate everything he's done for me. But he understands where I'm coming from. Living in the Pacific Northwest, I just love it here, and U-Dub…it's just one of the coolest places to be. I had no idea this would happen. I was set to go to Hawaii. The coaching staff is great, and I really enjoyed my visit over there. I definitely saw myself going there, but once this opportunity came about, it was just tough to say no." (DM)


About telling Sarkisian about his commit 3 hours after he talked with Tormey, Pelluer said:
"He was excited. I'm just excited to be part of that first class. They have good things going and I truly believe we're headed in the right direction, getting back to U-Dub football and what it's all about." (DM)

http://washington.scout.com/2/943141.html

Florida WR Allen Sampson commits to the Warriors

About deciding to commit to the Warriors, Allen Sampson said:
"I know a lot of the people go to Hawai'i for the scenery and the weather, but I fell in love with the program." (HA)


HA Note: "Accompanied by his mother, Sampson completed his UH visit Sunday. Yesterday in Tampa, he was making plans for a return trip to paradise."


About how he was recruited by QB coach Nick Rolovich, Sampson said:
"I love the coaches and the program and the offense they run. I really like Coach Rolo. He's laid back. He's funny. He's so cool." (HA)


HA Note: "By signing his letter of intent with UH tomorrow, Sampson is spurning offers from Toledo, Syracuse, Florida Atlantic and Florida International."


About why some teams stopped recruiting Sampson over concerns of his size, Plant coach Robert Weiner said:
"I think some teams backed off because of his size, but he's a special one. He can do a lot of things with the football." (HA)


HA Note: "Sampson, who is 5 feet 8 and 155 pounds, said he can run 40 yards in 4.38 seconds. A scout timed him at 4.39 seconds."


About Sampson's speed, Weiner said:
"He's as quick as they come. When he gets the ball in his hands, as a coach you stop coaching and you become a spectator." (HA)


HA Note: "As a senior, Sampson averaged 31.6 yards on kick returns and 14.8 yards on punt returns."


About the huge plays that Sampson made for his team, 2-time Florida state champions, Weiner said:
"The greatest plays he's had for us have been at crucial moments. We've had some games that have swung in the other team's favor. All of a sudden, Allen puts us right back on track. He's been on the team two years, and he's been 27-2 and a two-time state champion. It's probably no mistake that happened with him on our team." (HA)


About how his best memory of Sampson came on a punt return, Weiner said:
"He took the punt and broke to his left. And about six yards away from the sideline, he planted his foot and turned his head back inside. Three guys went inside (because) of his head movement, then he went back outside. A guy tried to push him out of bounds. He landed on his left foot, and jumped inside the line. He jumped to maintain his balance. He landed on his left foot again, and then scampered 45 yards for the touchdown. That's pretty impressive." (HA)


HA Note: "As a junior, Sampson was second in the state with 65 receptions. In 2009, the Panthers switched to more of a running attack. Still, Sampson caught 56 passes for 867 yards and 11 touchdowns."


About how Sampson did not complain even though they threw him less passes during his senior season, Weiner said:
"He didn't catch as many passes as he did as a junior, but not once did he give a hint that he was dissatisfied. He's a great leader. In the end, he played a great state championship game." (HA)


About how Sampson transferred to Plant after his Sophomore year, Weiner said:
"Usually when that happens, you have friends in one place and enemies in another. I do not know one person in the world — at our school or the school he came from or any of the schools we play — who does not like Allen Sampson. He's a tremendous person, and a tremendous teammate." (HA)


About how his grandfather gave him his nickname of "Turbo", Sampson said:
"He called me 'Turbo' since I was 2. He said I used to run around the house a lot. He thought I was fast." (HA)

http://sports.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100202/SPORTS0201/2020340&template=UHsports

VJ Feheko always dreamed of playing for the Warriors

HA Note: "Farrington All-State defensive end V.J. Fehoko said he has narrowed his choices to Hawai'i and Utah. Fehoko has been exposed to the UH program since he was 5. His father, Vili, is the Warriors' mascot and V.J. has played the drums at UH games through this past season. But his father also is a friend of Utah coach Kyle Whittingham."


About how he always dreamed about playing for UH, VJ Feheko said:
"I visited UH, Utah, Washington and Texas Tech, and Stanford on an unofficial visit. Oklahoma, Notre Dame and Baylor all wanted me to take trips, and they were trying to convince me not to go to UH. But I think my visit to UH shows my loyalty to the program and how interested I am in a school like UH. It's always been one of my dreams to play there, no matter what other schools came into the picture." (HA)


http://hawaiipreps.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20100202/SPORTS03/2020339/1042/sportsfront&template=PrepSports/4+of+state+s+best+undecided