UH hopes to find out soon if Brashton Satele can play this season

HNN = Hawaii News Now

HNN Note: "Satele missed all of the 2009 season with a shoulder injury. He has applied for a medical redshirt that would allow him to play again in 2010, but Satele redshirted in 2005 and there are no guarantees he will be granted a 6th year of eligibility."

Hoping that Brashton can play this season, Mack said:
"I'm really anxious to find out from the NCAA if Brashton can come back. If he comes back, we're sitting good at linebacker. He's an outstanding middle linebacker. He's a leader. He bring it all to the table." (HNN)

http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=12231996

Article on how the Warriors are prepared for Spring Practice

About preparing for the spring practice to begin, Shane Austin said while eating on the way to class:
"I've got my PB and J. I'm good to go." (HA)

About how he will be limited this spring due to his recovery from a fractured fibia and tibia in his left leg, Rodney Bradley said:
"I'll be able to catch. I won't be running." (HA)

HA Note: "Brett Leonard, who was recruited as an offensive tackle in 2009, will open as the top left guard. Leonard, a junior-college transfer, was on the active roster and made the first three road trips last year. But he did not get into a game, and was available on a need-to-play basis. At mid-season, it was decided it would be best for Leonard to redshirt. Facing the Warriors' first-team defense every day in practice, Leonard was used at both tackle and guard. In preparing for the Idaho game, Leonard portrayed Vandal guard Mike Iupati in practices."

About moving him from tackle to guard, Brett Leonard said:
"I think that's where they got the idea." (HA)

About telling OL coach Gordy Shaw during his exit interview last season that he was interested in competing at LG this year, Leonard said:
"It just helps me out with my future, if I want to make one after my two (seasons) here." (HA)

Brett Leonard said that knowing how to play both guard and tackle:
"makes me a more valuable asset to the team and makes it more valuable to me." (HA)

About weighing 320 pounds, the 6'5" Leonard said:
"It's all good weight." (HA)

About how they have excellent 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 workouts and using the weight room in the mornings on their own, Spencer Smith said:
"We've had great workouts, the best since I've been here." (HA)

About how the disappointment of not making a bowl game has motivated them this offseason, Smith said:
"I think everyone realizes how serious it is and how hard we have to work. We didn't make a bowl game, so I think that really slapped the taste of winning out of our mouths. It made us realize you can't show up and make it to a bowl game. You have to work hard every day." (HA)

About how their focus after the Wisonsin game has been on getting ready for spring practice, Shane Austin said:
"It's something you look forward to all season. It's a little miniature season. It's fun. It's always exciting. We try to live ahead, not live in the past. (The Wisconsin game) is something to build on, learn from, and really grow as a team. It's time to put that in the past and get better and go from here." (HA)

http://sports.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100331/SPORTS0201/3310366&template=UHsports

Feature article on #1 QB Bryant Moniz

HSB Note: "Moniz joined the Warriors last year as a walk-on aiming to make the roster, seemingly miles away from seeing significant playing time. Injuries to the quarterbacks above him on the depth chart elevated Moniz to the starter by October. He enters spring practice today as the incumbent at one of the program's most visible positions."

About how he just hoped to catch someone's attention in last year's training camp, Bryant Moniz said:
"Last year I was all over the field just trying to catch somebody's eye, whether it was on scout or playing safety. I was just trying to do something. This year it's more concentrated on my role as a quarterback and a leader." (HSB)

About grading the QBs each day in spring practice in his "king of the mountain" competition, Offensive Coordinator and QB coach Nick Rolovich said:
"Each quarterback will be judged each day and we'll rank them." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Once the Warriors start facing a defense in practice, Rolovich plans to have the offense run in two huddles. The top two quarterbacks will lead one group, the rest will be in the other huddle."

About how QBs can move up and down in the competition, Rolo said:
"They can swap, they could fall, they can move. Their grades will be posted and you have to be able to keep your spot." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Along with Moniz, the Warriors also return junior Shane Austin, who led the Warriors to an overtime win at San Jose State last season. Brent Rausch is back after a hand injury sidetracked his season. Freshmen David Graves, Corey Neilsen and Cayman Shutter join the competition following redshirt years."

About how he will have to compete for his job every day, Moniz said:
"Every day I have to fight for it. I don't think anybody's job is ever secured. Just have to mess up one time or somebody else is starting to do better than you. It's all about getting the best person on the field." (HSB)

About how Moniz had to adjust to being at UH during Fall camp last year, Rolo said:
"There was some 'wow' factor. He was a teammate last year, but he was more of a fan at this point last year. He knew what he wanted to be a part of, but there was still some disbelief he was here and it went very quickly for him." (HSB)

About how they can take advantage of having so many returning players on offense, Rolo said:
"It's not starting from scratch, you're building on a solid foundation of experience and knowledge. We can get more detail oriented, we can spend time on route running, there's not going to be a lot of swimming in their mind. Sometimes (last season) we seemed unsure, which decelerates you, and this offense doesn't work without aggressiveness." (HSB)

http://www.starbulletin.com/sports/sportsnews/20100331_QB_Moniz_ready_for_year_2.html

Feature article about Blaze Soares preparing for UH's Pro Day

About preparing Blaze for the NFL, trainer Ethan Banning said:
"The first thing we did was teach him how to eat." (HA)

HA Note: "Soares sought help in preparing for a National Football League audition. Soares will participate in tomorrow's Pro Day in Carson, Calif. — a one-day event attended by scouts and personnel directors from every NFL team. Each participant goes through a series of disciplines, such as the 40-yard dash and bench-presses. Soares was recommended to Triple Threat Performance, a training program that has helped scores of pro prospects."

About having 12 weeks to help train Blaze for Pro Day, Banning said:
"you have to do a lot of things simultaneously. You have to work on running mechanics and skills of speed, in addition to strength development and conditioning for speed. And you need the proper muscle balance. You have a small amount of time to fix some bad habits." (HA)

About working with Blaze on nutrition, as he reported to their Arizona facility at 237 pounds with 14% body fat on his 6'2" frame, Banning said:
"Generally speaking, the young men don't eat the best. They eat when it's convenient." (HA)

HA Note: "Triple Threat has its own chefs and nutritionists. The recommendation was to place Soares on a six-meals-a-day program that was high in protein and low in fat. Water replaced soda."

About having Blaze eat 6 meals each day, Banning said:
"We wanted to make sure he had adequate calories and adequate hydration." (HA)

HA Note: "Banning said protein came from small portions of chicken, lean pork, fish and beans. He also had 15 eggs a day. Soares ate brown rice twice a day, and four meals of green vegetables. Soares did conditioning drills and weight training twice day, for a total of about six hours. Those were followed by body-recovery sessions, such as massages and ice treatments."

About how they enable athletes to train all day, Banning said:
"You need to make the body health, so you can train day in and day out." (HA)

About getting 6-pack abs, Blaze said:
"Maybe a month or two into my training, I started to get abs." (HA)

About how Blaze responded well to their training regimen, Banning said:
"The nice thing about Blaze is that he's what I can say is an 'easy responder.' An easy responder is a guy who, once you get him adequate calories and appropriate training, loses fat and develops muscles very quickly. Blaze is one of those guys who works very hard, and is committed to everything we do. He's had pretty dramatic results." (HA)

HA Note: "Soares has gained nine pounds, and now weighs 246, but dropped his body fat to 8.4 percent. He also is capable of bench pressing 225 pounds 30 times, a 50-percent increase from January."

About how he wants to run the 40 in 4.6 seconds or faster, Blaze said:
"That's my goal. The NFL is based on speed, and I wanted to get faster. I've been working on this for three months. I'm ready to show what I can do." (HA)

http://sports.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100331/SPORTS0201/3310364&template=UHsports

Dave Aranda and Nick Rolovich are the new UH coordinators after UH's coaching shuffle

HA Note: "Under the pay ranges set by the Board of Regents, Rolovich and Aranda will earn undisclosed raises that are expected to boost their annual salaries to the low six-figures. The changes actually have been in place for several months. Rolovich took over the play-calling duties, from Ron Lee, for the final 12 games last season. In 2008, McMackin made all of the defensive calls. Last year, he began yielding play-calling duties to Aranda."

Praising new defensive coordinator Dave Aranda, Vaughn Meatoga said:
"He's a genius. He knows his football. It's ridiculous. You put a pen and a pad in his hands, he can draw up every single formation and defensive scheme in the world." (HA)

About how he loves coaching, Aranda said:
"I love the work. My wife will probably say I love it too much." (HA)

About how he believes in "Mack's system" that blitzes from all points, Aranda said:
"I'm a believer in a defense that attacks and dictates, rather than sits back and defends. We want to build two things: schemes that are easy for us and hard for them, with 'them' being the other team." (HA)

HA Note: "Aranda coached the defensive ends in 2008 and the defensive tackles last season. He said working with the linebackers is a natural fit for a coordinator because it allows him to see the back end (defensive secondary) and front end (defensive line)."

About how there is a "sense of urgency" to establish their defense this offseason, Aranda said
"I see a lot of gray that needs to be worked out to black and white. We're in the process of doing that. This has been the best offseason, in terms of coaches working together to get the gray out." (HA)

About how he is committed to UH's four-wide offense, new offensive coordinator Nick Rolovich said:
"You can win throwing the ball. We're not going to change the offense or the mindset." (HA)

About how they can attack through the air with their offense, Rolo said:
"We need a killer instinct. We need a knockout-blow attitude as far as throwing the ball. ... What we need to do is instill the confidence into the players. I think when everybody feels the way I do about the offense, fear goes out the window." (HA)

HA Note: "Last season, the Warriors were dead last nationally — 120th — in red-zone offense, converting 61 percent of the drives inside an opponent's 20. Rolovich said the solution can be found in fewer turnovers, sticking with schemes that "worked for a decade," and avoiding poor down-and-distance situations."

About needing to avoid bad down-and-distance situations, Rolo said:
"Fourth-and-16 is not a real successful down." (HA)

Rolo added that their red-zone problems:
"can be cleaned up." (HA)

Asked about his aggressive approach, Rolo said:
"I'm a pirate 200 years too late." (HA)

About becoming the offensive coordinator at UH, Rolo said:
"If I was going to have this position, the one place I'd want to have it would be here. Especially after playing here, being part of the program, understanding the success that's been here and what this offense can do. I'm going to keep that at the front of my mind. I am very fortunate and I have a responsibility to carry this on." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Rolovich was given the play-calling responsibilities in the second week of the Warriors' 6-7 season, while Aranda was gradually given a greater voice in calling the plays as the season progressed."

About the responsibility that Mack has given him, Aranda said:
"(McMackin has) put a lot of faith and trust in me, so I feel that and I take the responsibility very seriously." (HSB)

About how he will have more time to focus on the WRs now, Ron Lee said:
"Everybody is on the same page; now I can really focus on the receivers." (HSB)

About how he isn't going to change even though he has new responsibilities now, Rolo said:
"I'm going to be the same guy. I'm going to coach the same way, be positive, spontaneous, being open to different ways to get points across. I just have responsibility over more guys now." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Likewise, Aranda isn't planning on overhauling the defensive scheme. He spent part of the offseason visiting with the staff of the Philadelphia Eagles, who run the same defensive system the Warriors have used during McMackin's tenure."

About how he isn't going to change their defensive scheme, Aranda said:
"This particular scheme has been an attacking, aggressive scheme, and I see our defense as that way. Coach Mack is an aggressive defensive coach and I believe the same way. I believe you don't play defense to defend. I really believe you play defense to attack. There is talent coming back. ... The No. 1 thing we can do is play together. If we do that, along with playing with great effort, then the defense we're talking about is going to come to fruition." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Aranda first worked with McMackin as a graduate assistant at Texas Tech in 2000 and '01. He spent two seasons coaching linebackers at Houston and was defensive coordinator at California Lutheran and Delta State before joining McMackin at UH."

About how he has confidence in Aranda, Mack said:
"(Aranda) knows the package and can teach the package and I've got complete confidence." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Tuioti, a former UH defensive tackle, is a former head coach at Kalaheo and served as defensive coordinator at Silverado High School in Las Vegas in his last on-field coaching stint."

About being able to coach on the field now, new DT coach Tony Tuioti said:
"Whether I was going to be on the field or not, I was really excited about this season just because of the depth and the quality of guys that we have coming back. On and off the field we have class guys, that's the important thing. I had an opportunity to watch it all from a distance and to actually get your hands dirty with the guys is going to be fun." (HSB)

HSB Note: "After yesterday's announcement of revised assistant coach assignments, McMackin said that in addition to getting the titles and higher pay, offensive coordinator Nick Rolovich and defensive coordinator Dave Aranda would be the ones calling the plays this season. That wasn't the case with the former DC, Cal Lee. McMackin called the defenses in 2008, and at the beginning of 2009, with Aranda gradually taking on the role. Former offensive coordinator Ron Lee called the plays in 2008, but quarterbacks coach Nick Rolovich took over that job in the second game of the 2009 season."

About letting Aranda and Rolo call the plays, Mack said:
"When you have good coaches you have to let them coach. I believe in these guys and I'm going to let them do their work." (HSB)

HSB Note: "That makes me wonder if UH's record the past two seasons would be better than 13-14 if McMackin had embraced that philosophy from the beginning. If Cal Lee had been allowed to pick the defenses in 2008, it would've given McMackin more time to work on overall game management."

My Note: Does this imply that Mack did not think that Cal Lee and Ron Lee were good coaches?

UH FOOTBALL COACHING STAFF
Greg McMackin: head coach
Cal Lee: assistant head coach/defensive ends
Rich Miano: associate head coach/defensive backs
Dave Aranda: defensive coordinator/linebackers
Nick Rolovich: offensive coordinator/quarterbacks
Ron Lee: assistant offensive coordinator/receivers
Chris Tormey: special teams coordinator/safeties
Tony Tuioti: defensive line
Gordy Shaw: offensive line
Brian Smith: running backs
George Lumpkin: director of player personnel
Inoke Funaki: graduate assistant (quarterbacks/receivers)
Ryan Biesemeyer: graduate assistant (linebackers)
Chris Williams: video coordinator
Tommy Heffernan: strength and conditioning

http://sports.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100330/SPORTS0201/3300356&template=UHsports

http://www.starbulletin.com/sports/sportsnews/20100330_Aranda_Rolo_officially_named_coordinators.html

http://www.starbulletin.com/columnists/furtherreview/20100330_UH_coach_realignment_frees_Mack_to_manage.html

Warrior Football Spring Preview

About how people in Hawaii do not recognize him, Bryant Moniz said:
"I'm still under the radar. Nobody knows me." (HA)

About at least he doesn't have to worry about being cut like he worried about last year, Moniz said:
"That thought was in my mind (last spring)." (HA)

About how he has gained 17 pounds since the end of last season (he's now at 202), Moniz said:
"Weight training, proteins ... more pizza. I feel quick. We'll see." (HA)

Moniz said that after the 2 months they spent in their conditioning program:
"there's a good vibe in the locker room. The workouts have been good. There's good team chemistry. Everybody is excited to put on some pads." (HA)

Even though Moniz enters the spring as the #1 QB, QB coach Nick Rolovich said that he would:
"mix it around." (HA)

About how they will have "king of the mountain" competitions, with the highest point earners getting to be in the first group (2 QBs) and the other 5 QBs in the second huddle, Rolo said:
"We'll run two huddles. The key is to be in the first huddle." (HA)

HA Note: "Moniz, who will go on scholarship this summer, has kept to a strict program to improve his arm strength. Moniz suffered from arm fatigue in 2009 as he tried to adapt to the increased workload in practices and games. Although Moniz is capable of making all of the throws in the four-wide offense, he is seeking to improve on his deep throws on streak patterns. Last year, there were 15 incompletions that were each within six inches of being 30-yard-plus plays."

About how they have great potential to improve on offense, Rolo said:
"We were a top-five passing offense, but we still left a lot of yards on the field. We haven't reached the ceiling yet. There's great potential." (HA)

About fracturing his pinkie when hitting a teammate's helmet on a follow-through, Brent Rausch said:
"(Stuff) happens." (HA)

Asked if he was discouraged by having just 14 pass attempts in his first 2 UH seasons, Rausch said:
"I'm cool. I'm trying to take it play by play. I'm not worrying about the other stuff." (HA)

About the struggles that Rausch has had with injuries at UH, Rolo said:
"He's had a difficult career, but he's really matured since he's come to Hawai'i. He understands the offense, and he puts in a lot of hard work." (HA)

HA Note: "Key absences have opened the competition at the outside spots. On the left side, Bradley continues to recover from surgery to repair a broken fibia and tibia in his left leg. Right wideout Malcolm Lane said he is on suspension because of poor grades during the fall semester. Right wideout Jovonte Taylor's eligibility expired after an unsuccessful attempt to appeal for a medical hardship."

About how Royce Pollard has a part-time job selling cutlery, his father Anthony Pollard said:
"He needs gas money," (A)

About how OL coach Gordy Shaw told them during exit meetings that there were 12 potential starters among the players returning, Austin Hansen said:
"And the 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th guys are working just as hard." (HA)

About moving Brett Leonard to guard, Shaw said:
"He's a very physical player." (HA)

About how Kainoa LaCount will get first shot at starting at LT if Laupepa Letuli's medical exemption petition to play a 6th year is turned down, Shaw said:
"A lot of things hinge on Pepa's ruling." (HA)

About how the OL worked hard during the offseason, projected LT starter Austin Hansen said:
"We're all working together." (HA)

About his happy personality, Hansen (who first met his wife Rachel in Elementary school) said:
"I like to have a good time. "(HA)

About how he was accepted by the people of Hawaii, Hansen said:
"People in Hawai'i are more loving and accepting than anywhere else I've experienced. It's been easy to fit in. I don't know if I fit in as much as they accept me." (HA)

Praising Paipai Falemalu's pass-rushing ability, Dave Aranda said:
"Paipai has developed into a marque player. He's very athletic. As physical as he is, his footwork and athleticism make a good combination."(HA)

About how Marcus Umu (who redshirted last season after transferring from Charleston Southern and has just *1* season of UH eligibility) is expected to start at the other DE spot, Aranda said:
"He did a lot of good things for us on scout team last year.He is very light on his feet. He's very explosive with his hands." (HA)

Praising Vaughn Meatoga, Aranda said:
"He's a technician. He understands football. And there's a nastiness to him." (HA)

About how he relies on massages, Tuipulotu said:
"It helps me relax." (HA)

About his aggressiveness on the field, Tuipulotu said:
"I can't be a big softy in the middle. I do what I need to do to get the job done." (HA)

About accepting a scholarship to Arizona, Tuipulotu said:
"I got caught up in the hype. I wasn't really recruited by UH. I saw more Mainland coaches in one week than UH coaches during the whole recruiting season." (HA)

About how he climbed Stairway to Heaven, George Daily-Lyles said:
"That was pretty scary. It was straight vertical in some spots." (HA)

About how he didn't play last season due to redshirting, Daily Lyles said it:
"was a pain in the butt, actually. But it was a blessing in disguise, too." (HA)

http://sports.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20100328/SPORTS0201/3280400&template=UHSports/Springing+forward

UH hopes to avoid injuries during Spring Practice

About the importance of avoiding injuries during the spring, Mack said:
"We've got to come out of there healthy. I've seen teams come out of spring just beat to heck and they never survive. I'm very sensitive to that, but I know for our first three ballgames we have to be physical. We can't be learning how to play the run and be playing 7-on-7 in spring ball. People are going to see a lot more contact." (HSB)

About how their defense has more experience returning this season, Mack said:
"Last year we were a little young and we got better as time went by. But I feel we have a jump on that because they've had a year to learn it." (HSB)

http://www.starbulletin.com/sports/sportsnews/20100328_good_health_a_perfect_prescription_at_camp.html

Interviews with Coach McMackin about Spring Practice

About how all starting positions are open for competition, Mack said:
"Everything is open." (HSB)

HSB Note: "The Warriors are scheduled to practice on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, with the spring culminating under the Friday-night lights with the annual Warrior Bowl April 30 at Ching Field."

About how they have scheduled every minute of spring practice, Mack said:
"We have every single minute planned out, offensively, defensively, special teams. We're ready to go." (HSB)

About having the Warrior Bowl at Ching field, Mack said:
"It'll make it easier. The kids will be here, the coaches, everybody will be here." (HSB)

HSB Note: "He said this year's spring will include more full-speed contact to better prepare to defend the run and a scrimmage situation at the end of each practice with the offense and defense matched up in an overtime scenario, which also allows them to work on red-zone
situations.

While the Warriors' 116 players gear up for the spring, the wait continues for offensive lineman Laupepa Letuli and linebacker Brashton Satele. Both are awaiting word on their appeals to the NCAA for another year of eligibility after injuries cut short their seasons last fall. McMackin said the seniors are planning to attend UH's pro day next Thursday in Carson, Calif., and would remain eligible as long as they don't speak to agents.

Offensive lineman Clayton Laurel, a backup tackle last season, will not be in spring drills due to a broken wrist."

HSB Note: "Rodney Bradley continues his comeback from a gruesome broken leg he suffered in a loss at Idaho. McMackin said redshirting is a possibility, depending on Bradley's progress in fall camp. Malcolm Lane sat out last season to concentrate on academics and will not participate in spring practice. McMackin said he will remain on scholarship and the coach will decide in the summer whether the senior will rejoin the team."

About how they will have live tackling during spring practice, but the tackling will be limited, Mack said:
"We're gonna take 'em down. More physical things this spring." (HSB)

"Shots of full-speed (tackling). But we have to be smart about it and we want to stay healthy." (HSB)

About the need for more contact this spring, Mack said:
"We have to find out who our linebackers are. We have Brashton (Satele) and everyone else is pretty new." (HSB)

HSB Note: "The run-and-shoot is being tweaked. McMackin has always been a believer in the four-receiver sets. But now he says it's going to be a little different ... his magic formula is 75 percent run-and-shoot, 25 percent "Colts, Patriots and some of what Cincinnati does.""

About their changing responsibilities for their coaches, Mack said that he will announce them after he tells the players on Monday, but:
"be ready for anything." (HSB)

HSB Note: "I'm pretty sure "anything" might mean quarterbacks coach Nick Rolovich — who took over play-calling duties last year — becoming at least a co-offensive coordinator with Ron Lee."

http://www.starbulletin.com/sports/20100325_Whats_crackin_with_McMackin.html

http://www.starbulletin.com/columnists/furtherreview/20100325_Hawaiis_focus_on_hitting_surely_a_sick_proposition.html

The Warrior Bowl will be at Ching Field

About how they will have the Warrior Bowl at Ching Field (Aloha Stadium is not available due to renovations), Mack said:
"It will be held right here. This is actually better for our players." (HSB)

HSB Note: "The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. kickoff on April 30 and admission is free."

About how every starting position is up for competition, Mack said:
"Everything's open. Every position's open." (HSB)

http://www.starbulletin.com/news/breaking/89063082.html

2010 UH Football Schedule Released, Only 1 ESPN Game

About how only one UH game has been chosen for ESPN so far, possibly leaving the other 12 games for their PPV package, UH associate AD John McNamara said:
"The more games for pay per view, the better." (HA)

HA Note: "Last year sales of the pay-per-view package, which is largely made up of football games, dropped approximately 16 percent from the $4.1 million in sales in 2008, according to UH. Because of a restructured payment schedule, UH's share of the revenues dropped approximately 4 percent to about $2.5 million. UH's partners, Oceanic and KFVE, share in the revenue. UH has averaged three regular-season ESPN appearances per season since 2002 and had a high of five in 2007. It had one in 2006, plus the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl."

About how they might get more national TV games if the football team is having a good season, JD said:
"I think if we play well we may get additional games." (HA)

HA Note: "UH's Nov. 6 game at Boise State and Dec. 4 home finale with Nevada-Las Vegas were said to have previously been under consideration. Defending WAC champion Boise State already has six games scheduled for ESPN. Under the terms of its contract with the WAC, ESPN is obligated to show at least 10 games involving WAC members on its primary outlets, ESPN and ESPN2. It announced nine yesterday plus the Boise State-Virginia Tech game, which does not fall under the WAC contract."

About how ESPN could chose still more games to televise (1 more ESPN or ESPN 2 game must be televised and 6 games can be shown on ESPNU, half with just 12 days notice), McNamara said:
"We have to be mindful of the window for ESPN to add late games." (HA)

HSB Note: "The Warriors' 2010 schedule was released yesterday, with the Warriors playing 10 games before getting a week off in November. Still, compared to last year's schedule, UH's upcoming slate appears relatively straightforward while providing a tough stretch right from
the start."

Saying that they have a challenging schedule this year, Mack said:
"It's a very challenging schedule, especially the first part playing USC at home and traveling to New York and Colorado. Every team in the WAC is returning a lot of players, so it'll be a very competitive conference. We're working hard and look forward to the challenge." (HSB)

2010 Warrior Football Schedule
Sept. 2: USC (ESPN)
Sept. 11: at Army
Sept. 18: at Colorado
Sept. 25: Charleston Southern
Oct. 2: Louisiana Tech
Oct. 9: at Fresno State
Oct. 16: Nevada
Oct. 23: at Utah State
Oct. 30: Idaho
Nov. 6: at Boise State
Nov. 20: San Jose State
Nov. 27: at New Mexico State
Dec. 4: UNLV

http://sports.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100316/SPORTS0201/3160362&template=UHsports

http://www.starbulletin.com/sports/sportsnews/20100316_UH_football_teams_first_bye_in_November.html

Tokai University (Japan) football players and coaches are spending this week with UH's players and coaches

HA Note: "Tokai University players are training this week on the University of Hawai'i's Lower Campus. Their day begins early. At 6:30 a.m., the Tritons watch the UH football players go through weight-training exercises. The Tritons then practice on UH's grass football field from 9:30 a.m. to noon. At 1 p.m., the Tokai coaches watch videos of football plays with the UH coaches. A question-and-answer session follows. At 4:30 p.m., the Tritons watch the Warriors go through on-field conditioning drills."

About how NCAA rules forbid their coaches from providing on-field instructions to the Tokai players, Mack said:
"We can coach the coaches. Their coaches can come up to our offices and watch films and ask questions." (HA)

HA Note: "Tokai's visit, which has been in the works for about a year, is part of UH's plan to build relations with athletic programs in Japan. The hope, according to McMackin, is to one day use Japan as a recruiting base. In turn, that would help UH develop marketing and merchandising efforts."

About being a featured speaker at a football clinic in Japan last week, Mack said:
"They asked good questions, like how to defend the spread offense." (HA)

About how there are about 70 high schools in Japan that play football, with Tokai comparable to a D III football program, and how UH football telecasts are showed on a delayed basis in Japan, Mack said:
"It's getting to be a pretty big deal over there. We're doing this not just for football. We think there's a potential for all of our sports." (HA)

http://sports.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100311/SPORTS0201/3110355&template=UHsports

Q&A with Coach Reinebold including a discussion about Davone Bess

SFSS = South Florida Sun-Sentinel

I'm just putting the Warriors related quotes here. For the full article, please go to the link below.

SFSS Note: "Jeff Reinebold is the current wide receivers coach of the SMU Mustangs. Before that he was with June Jones at Hawaii and has spent more than 25 years coaching at the college level, in the CFL and NFL Europe. It was in Europe where I first became aware of Jeff as his special teams units were outstanding and he appears as a semi regular studio analyst for the NFL coverage here in Britain, where he never wastes a single word, often making his analysis more fulfilling than the game itself.

What comes across immediately on television is a passion and a knowledge for the game that is unrivalled. Ranked as one of the top 20 recruiters in all of college football and the only non BCS coach to make the list, he has worked with a pair of current Dolphins in Ikaika Alama-Francis and Davone Bess."

Asked about SMU WR Emmanuel Sanders, who the Dolphins are interested in, Jeff Reinebold (JR) said:
"He's very quick, with good hands, he runs solid routes, is in and out of his breaks well, he's a very fine downfield blocker who'll track the ball in the air. I can't work out why he's getting a lower grade than some others out there because he does it all. Obviously the knock is size (5'10, 186) but he's not badly sized. Of course it may be that he comes from a June Jones offense." (SFSS)

Asked if it irritates him that JJ's players are branded in a particular way by the NFL, JR said:
"Yeah but there's not a lot we can do about it. We just have to keep getting guys into the NFL and they keep having to be successful. Sanders should be the next one. He's a great kid, he's an intelligent guy. And how many top college receivers were rodeo cowboys? This kid comes from a small ranch town, Bellville in Texas where he was a QB, but he has this swagger, this attitude and toughness of someone who should be playing defense; he's a tough kid. He played hurt for me. Every Saturday he'd line up there and play football even if he was hurting. Often times you hear of kids who won't play but you never hear that with him. Tough kid, loves to compete, he's fearless and like the best ones, he wants the ball in his hands. But he does that in a positive way, not a destructive way." (SFSS)

About how the NFL scouts and coaches are comparing Davone Bess to Sanders, JR said:
"I've had 50 NFL guys in my office talking to me about him. Their biggest concern is that he's very narrow in the lower body. But they also say that he has a lot of similarities to Davone, although physically they're different in that Davone is very thick in the lower body. Emmanuel is a big guy up top but he has skinny legs. So the question I'm asked is how well will he hold up on that frame, especially given how physical he is? I think he'll be fine. He's going to run very well when tested (4.39 at the Combine). I'd put him somewhere in the 4.48 area, maybe a little quicker, but if you look at Davone, Davone ran a 4.6. But both have a good understanding of the
position. Davone overcame his lack of speed because of that and because of his great hands. Emmanuel has the speed that Davone doesn't have. Both of them understand how to get a DB turned." (SFSS)

Asked why Davone Bess was not drafted by the NFL, JR said:
"I think because of something I mentioned earlier on; that GM's and front office people have these parameters for receivers and if a guy doesn't match up size wise and then runs slow, then regardless of how good his hands are or how well he runs routes or how productive he's been, that's going to get overlooked a little. What was critical for Davone was that he was never going to be outworked. Ever. And when you have that mindset, you can destroy a few of those parameters pretty quickly. People miss in this process. How fast a guy is, how tall he is, what he bench presses, those numbers become more important sometimes than the numbers recorded out on the field and Davone was one of those guys. Davone is also mentally strong. He knew he faced an uphill battle but once he got into a camp in Miami he had a clear focus and an ability to concentrate on the job at hand which was making the team and he got through the daily grind of training camp and came out of it with a job. It also helped that regardless of his test scores, he has the talent to play in the NFL. He quickly worked out not only how to compete every single down but also to assume, however small, a leadership role and all these things help to make up
a bigger picture." (SFSS)

About how the Dolphins are interested in Sanders because of his similarities to Bess, JR was asked how interested Miami is and said:
"Hard to say. But Miami has been through the campus here to find out more about him and watch some tape on him. The pro day (Thursday April 1st) will be critical for him as will the private workouts. But there's a lot of interest. I had three more teams through here this week, with high up members of each organisation coming to town. Typically they all want information and they want to know the things that the film won't show, about his personality, those sorts of things. The Dolphins do a good job. They have some very good evaluators. That's why they chose Davone. They look at Davone and they see similar things in Emmanuel; tremendous college production and both of them are quarterback friendly." (JR)

http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports/columnists/hyde/blog/2010/03/analyzing_the_dolphins_draft_w.html

Feature interview with Colt Brennan in the Advertiser

HA Note: "For several hours yesterday, it was 2007, as Colt Brennan put a Sharpie autograph to hundreds of T-shirts, photographs, caps, mini-helmets, paper scraps — basically, anything with a surface, including skin."

Interviewed while serving as a guest instructor at the Field of Legends Football Clinic at Aloha Stadium yesterday, Colt Brennan said:
"I love being in Hawai'i, meeting people, having fun." (HA)

About how he's healthy for the first time since September 2007 (he's had 3 surgeries in the last 21 months), Colt said:
"There are no problems anymore." (HA)

HA Note: "The first was to repair a torn labrum in his right hip. After his rookie season, in 2008, he underwent surgery for a partially torn meniscus in his left knee. Then a week before the start of the 2009 season, he suffered a torn left hamstring. It was later learned that all of the injuries were related: the left knee was worn down by over-compensating for the right-hip ailment; the torn hamstring was a byproduct of a torn labrum in his left hip. Brennan underwent surgery
on his left hip that involved shaving down cartilage to make it a more comfortable fit. He also underwent a blood-spinning procedure in which his blood was drawn, treated, and then reintroduced to strengthen his left hamstring."

About the surgeries, Colt said:
"Technically. I should be stronger, faster, more agile and more powerful in my hip than I was before I got hurt." (HA)

About how he increased his weight to 218 while lowering his body fat to 10% by training in Arizona for the past 2 months, Colt said:
"I've been running and training. I don't have any serious aches or pains. I feel great." (HA)

About how Washington's offense will change to Mike Shanahan's spread offense, Colt said:
"They love to create a lot of opportunities with play-action. They like to move the quarterback. .... As long as they need a guy (who) can move and sling it, that's exactly what I'll do." (HA)

About his chances to earn a spot in the new offense, Colt said:
"Hopefully, it's a great opportunity to show up and showcase what I've got and make them realize there's a reason they drafted me, there's a reason why they kept me, and there's a reason I'm in D.C. now." (HA)

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20100307/SPORTS04/3070352/1049/sportsfront/Good+sign+Brennan+healthy+again

The Aloha Stadium Authority needs over $200 million for their projects to keep Aloha Stadium usable for the next 20 years

PBN = Pacific Business News

PSN Note: "Work currently is under way on two capital improvement projects totaling more than $25 million. One involves replacing the stadium's upper roof in the L-S and LL-QQ sections, work that should be finished by July. Visitors to the swap meet and drivers-by already have noticed the new dark-green paint job. They also may have seen a giant silver tarp hanging on the stadium's mauka or Halawa side this week, helping shield paint recoating and waterproofing.

On the makai or Pearl Harbor side, meanwhile, a giant crane was being used to install scaffolding. The roofing work, to be finished in July 2011, is part of a second CIP task on structural and health and safety projects. Repairs also are under way on five "orange" seat sections, from LL to QQ and FF to KK, and the patching of cracks in asphalt and concrete walkways."

About how they will try to keep maintaining Aloha Stadium so that it can be used for at least 20 more years, provided they can raise the over $200 million for the projects that want to do by 2016, Aloha Stadium engineer Ming-Yang Tan said:
"The work we've planned should make it last at minimum another 20 years." (PBN)

PBN Note: "Funding, of course, is no guarantee. Like almost every government agency, the Aloha Stadium Authority, the stadium's governing body, is being asked to do more with less as lawmakers debate tax increases to meet a billion-dollar budget shortfall."

About how they are looking to secure funding and renovation projects that are budgeted for about $19 million, State Comptroller Russ Saito said:
"The funded projects will keep us busy for the next work season — January and February to August of 2011 — but we can accelerate the complete refurbishment if more funding becomes available." (PBN)

Appreciating any support they get from the State, Aloha Stadium manager Scott Chan said:
"We greatly appreciate the support the state comptroller and the Legislature has given us. We want to make it safe and enjoyable for everyone to continue coming here." (PBN)

PBN Note: "Perhaps the most visible will be a new LED screen that will replace the JumboTron in time for August games. But this project will not cost taxpayers. The stadium has a 10-year contract with CBS Collegiate Sports Properties to sell advertising and partnership platforms. CBS Collegiate Sports Properties is a division of CBS Outdoor Group (part of CBS television) and is doing business locally as Aloha Sports Properties.

Garrick Dorn, the company's west regional sales manager in Scottsdale, Ariz., said CBS Collegiate has similar contracts with other sports facilities such as Louisiana State University and the Air Force Academy. Last year, CBS Collegiate installed 80 new flat-screen TVs throughout Aloha Stadium, in concession and hospitality areas and outside the ticket office. Serving as an in-house video feed, the screens show the games on the field. They are funded by corporate clients such as Bank of Hawaii, Geico, Heineken and Pepsi. Dorn said similar corporate sponsorships, possibly local, will support the 60-foot-by-19-foot screen that will be called Aloha Vision."

About their investment in "state of the art" screens at Aloha Stadium, CBS Collegiate Sports Properties regional sales manager Garrick Dorn said:
"We would not have chosen to invest in Aloha Stadium if we didn't believe in it. Our corporate partners support the investment because we believe in the fan base and the events that can be held there." (PBN)

Happy with people looking into additional ideas to bring business to Aloha Stadium, including drive-in movies and a farmers' market, Chan said:
"We've got to look for ways to enhance the experience." (PBN)

About how they are not likely to build a new stadium on Oahu anytime soon and instead will try to keep Aloha Stadium usable, Kevin Chong Kee (chairman of the Aloha Stadium Authority) said:
"It was the right decision to repair what we had, especially facing the economic situation we have. It would have been a mistake, for example, to move it out to Kalaeloa. We're centrally located — all roads go to the stadium." (PBN)

http://pacific.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/2010/03/01/story9.html