Thursday, March 10, 2011

Gordy Show is happy with the work ethic of his OL

Asked if the first day of practice helped him figure out who were the starters on their OL, Gordy Shaw said:
"No, we were in our underwear. It'll be different when they put the pads on. But the first day was good." (HSA)


About how he and Brett Leonard will rotate between C and LG, with Chauncy Winchester-Makainai a top candidate to start at RT or LG, Matagisila Lefiti said:
"We have guys who have been waiting their turn." (HSA)


About how their 7 senior OL conducted 2x/week unsupervised workouts during the offseason, Shaw said:
"They took responsibility and ownership of the offensive line. I'm very pleased with their work ethic. I don't think anybody outworked them this offseason. That showed in the first practice." (HSA)


About how their new starters on the OL shouldn't make people worry about their offense, Lefiti said:
"I don't think anybody should worry. We're going to be a high-powered offense. We'll be all right. The young guys are filling in. We'll be good." (HSA)


About how he got married last month and he and his wife are expecting their first child in June, Corey Paredes (held out of contact drills while recovering from shoulder surgery) said:
"It's been hectic." (HSA)


About adjusting to being a safety in football after leaving the basketball team about a year ago, Leroy Lutu said:
"Don't get me wrong, I miss basketball a lot. I told Gib (Arnold, UH's basketball coach) I'll be one of their biggest fans. I played basketball my whole life, but I missed football a lot, too. It's just a better situation for me. I'll have more opportunities to be successful in football." (HSA)


About working on improving his strength, especially via power cleans, Lutu said:
"Kealoha Pilares is one of my best friends, and he was really into the (power) cleans. I'm trying to be like him. He's really quick. That's a key thing to be when you're a football player." (HSA)


About how he gets advice from Rich Miano and Richard Torres regularly, Lutu said:
"(Torres) is like another coach out there. I can ask him a lot of things." (HSA)

http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20110310_Shaw_happy_with_offensive_lines_work_ethic.html

Bryant Moniz has been taking a leadership role this Spring

About feeling like he's been at UH for a long time (3 years), Bryant Moniz said:
"I do feel old. I was telling the guys: 'How can you be here for six years? Guys who use the grayshirt and redshirt years ... that's a long time. I think every season you age twice as fast. It's two years to one. It's like a dog's age. I feel old." (HSA)


About taking a leadership role this Spring as 1 of their 2 returning starters, Moniz said:
"There's a lot of work to do. There are a lot of new guys to break in." (HSA)


About how they will miss both Salas and Pilares this season, Moniz said that working with Salas and Pilares:
"I realized what a pleasure it was." (HSA)


Remembering when he joined UH in January 2009, Moniz said:
"There were guys who knew the offense, and I had to catch up to them. Now it's the opposite way around, knowing the offense and the other guys having to catch up. We have to build chemistry together." (HSA)


About how he's getting comfortable in the offense, Darius Bright said:
"Everything felt like it was falling into place." (HSA)


About practicing as the #1 right slotback while Miah Ostrowski is playing basketball for UH, Terence Bell said:
"It was my first time being in the first group. It was everything I expected it to be." (HSA)


About being a walk-on this season, living with his girlfriend in an off-campus apartment, Bell said:
"Man, it's really hard. We're pretty much scraping by. But this is a good opportunity to play for a good team." (HSA)


About how their first practice went well, Moniz said:
"It was a start. We have to start somewhere. We'll see where we are at the end of spring." (HSA)

http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20110310_Moniz_steps_up_as_leader.html

Feature on the friendship between Mouse Davis and Rolo

When a friend suggested a place for him to stay and he asked if that was a hotel because he hadn't heard of it, Mouse Davis said that he was told:
"No, it is a retirement home." (HSA)


About how he's teased about his age (he's 78), Mouse said:
"(Associate head coach Rich) Miano asked me the other day if my social security number was 2 or 3." (HSA)


About wondering if it would work out for him to serve as Rolo's mentor, Mouse said:
"Nobody wants some old bleep looking over their shoulder, saying, 'I would have done this and I would have done that.' " (HSA)


About how having Mouse serve as his mentor worked out really well, Rolo said:
"You couldn't have dreamed for it to turn out any better." (HSA)


HSA Note: "The bottom line on this April-December marriage of the minds came in a 10-4 season in which the Warriors led the nation in passing offense and finished in the top 10 in total offense and scoring."


About how Mouse and Rolo work well together, Bryant Moniz said:
"They've had a real good chemistry from the start; Rolo runs the show and Mouse pretty much invented it." (HSA)


HSA Note: "One of the initial indicators to its impending success was when the Warriors ran one of Rolovich's so-called "special" plays -- "something with a funky name like 'fear the beard' or 'duck buns,' " Davis recalled -- and Rolovich asked for an instant assessment. To which Davis reportedly replied, "That's pretty bleeping average" and Rolovich quickly retorted, "Tell me how you really feel." Then, they both broke into laughter."


http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/ferdswords/20110310_Warriors_odd_couple_has_become_perfect_pair.html

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

The Warriors will try to develop chemistry on offense quickly despite returning only 2 starters

About how he realized that he couldn't leave football behind after completing his eligibility at UH in December 2011, Rolo said:
"Certain guys have a sickness where leaving football is almost impossible. I think I was diagnosed with that pretty early." (HSA)


About returning only 2 starters on offense, Rolo said:
"We're going to try to develop chemistry — between the receivers and the O-line, and within the receiving crew. I feel good about our team." (HSA)


HSA Note: "Rolovich said Shane Austin, who will be a senior in the fall, David Graves, Cayman Shutter and Corey Nielsen will receive equal reps in the competition for the No. 2 quarterback job. Kevin Spain, who had shoulder surgery last summer, might be limited in his number of spring reps."


About how Shane Austin, David Graves, Cayman Shutter, and Corey Nielsen will receive equal reps in Spring Practice while they compete for the #2 QB job, Rolo said:
"We have a good idea of what Shane can do. We want to evaluate all of the quarterbacks. It's getting some depth, and some insight to what our future might look like." (HSA)


HSA Note: "Rolovich said Moniz will get a lot of work with the top receivers. That group includes wideouts Pollard, Billy Ray Stutzmann, Darius Bright, Joe Avery and Cecil Doe, and slotbacks Terence Bell and Allen Sampson."


Rolo said that Bell will practice at #1 right slotback until:
"Miah gets back with us."

HSA Note: "After that, Bell likely will move to left slotback. Stutzmann, who is listed as a right wideout, will get some work at slotback."


About having Bright start at left wideout and move to slotback if he masters the wideout position, Rolo said:
"I want (Bright) to feel comfortable at one position first." (HSA)


About how their offense is very different than the run-oriented system that Doe had at his JC, Rolo said:
"This (offense) is much different than what he's been in. His strengths are attacking the ball when it's in the air. He appears to have good hands from the films we've watched of him." (HSA)


About slotback Corey Paclebear, who missed 2009 due to a broken arm and didn't play much in 2010, Rolo said:
"He's in a good place, as far as mentality-wise. He's ready. He's got quickness and he understands the system. As long as you can do those two things, you have a chance to play." (HSA)


About how "handyman" Justin Clapp can play all 4 receiver positions, Rolo said:
"He plays very hard. And he's matured. He has a desire to get on the field. He gives us a bigger, tougher body if we go that route." (HSA)


About how Sterling Jackson is different than Alex Green, Rolo said:
"Sterling has underestimated speed. He's a very tough, strong runner. He'll be a little more north-south. A.G. had some quick feet. He could give one move and go. I think Sterling will run through more tackles and get us some tough yards." (HSA)


HSA Note: "Rolovich said there is some experience on the offensive line. Matagisila Lefiti and Brett Leonard are seniors who will rotate between left guard and center. Left tackle Clayton Laurel also is entering his final season. Chauncy Winchester-Makainai should earn a starting job on the right side, and freshmen Dave Lefotu, Sean Shigematsu, Frank Loyd and Jordan Loeffler will compete for playing time."


About their young OL who will be fighting for the open spots on the OL, Rolo said:
"You've got a bunch of hungry guys who are smelling their opportunity. The thing is, we're not bringing anybody else in. These are the guys. We feel good about them. They need to find their place in the O-line." (HSA)

http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20110309_Warriors_eager_to_unveil_players_who_can_help_on_offense.html

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

The WAC schedule not being set yet is making it harder for UH to keep costs down for the conference road trips

HSA Note: "Eleventh-hour dithering by breakaway schools Fresno State and Nevada has been blamed for sending the 2011 schedule "back to ground zero," commissioner Karl Benson told members in a frank e-mail recently. At a time when most major conferences have already announced their schedules and TV lineups, Benson added it will be later this month before a WAC schedule or TV lineup is finalized."


About how the delay in finalizing their schedule makes it harder for UH to book their road trips at a cheaper price, JD said:
"For us, the biggest concern is that we don't know when we are playing on the road, so we haven't had the opportunity to go ahead and grab the air (arrangements). Seemingly, every week now airfare prices have been going up and so the sooner we know, the easier it is for us to make arrangements before prices get worse." (HSA)


HSA Note: "Nevada threw the first late monkey wrench into the schedule when it changed its mind about playing previously booked nonconference games on the road in succession against Oregon (Sept. 10), Texas Tech (Sept. 24) and Boise State (Oct. 1) — and sought to drop one of them. Then, "24 hours before, when we were going to announce the WAC schedule," the conference learned about Fresno State's Dec. 3 game at San Diego State, Benson said."


About how WAC schools had been asked to leave the Dec. 3 date open for a conference game, so Fresno State scheduling San Diego State on that day upset the WAC, Karl Benson wrote in a e-mail to Fresno State's AD:
"For you (Fresno State) to do this without our knowledge and now cause (associate commissioner Jeff Hurd) to start over making the schedule is neither fair nor equitable to the other seven WAC members. Jeff will do his best to establish a fair and balanced schedule for all eight WAC football teams, but you have just made his job much more difficult." (HSA)


About how they would like to avoid having back-to-back road games again, JD said:
"I certainly don't feel like, if it happens, that it is something that it is, quote, something being done to us, unquote, because we're leaving the WAC. (Rather) it is just the nature of trying hard to get everybody in." (HSA)


About how UH fans have been trying to arrange their schedule to be able to attend road games, but he can't tell them anything about the conference schedule, JD said:
"I get e-mails all the time from people who want to (attend) away games, and we don't know what it is yet." (HSA)


http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20110308_WAC_football_schedule_in_limbo.html

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Spring Practice Preview for Warrior Football

About the importance of Spring Practice for their team, Mack said:
"This spring is a crucial spring for us. If you look at our team, we have a lot of talent, but we don't have a lot of experience. The guys we lost had an outstanding season. But we have guys who have been getting reps and are talented, and in some ways, we're excited about our young players. They're ready to go." (HSA)


About having just 2 returning starters on offense, just like in 2008, but how things are different than 2008 because they have a returning QB in Moniz, Mack said:
"It's different this time." (HSA)


About making adjustments every year, Mack said:
"I believe life is a bunch of adjustments. If something is working, you go with it. If something isn't working, you make adjustments. Your decision has to be what's best for the program. That's what I always keep in mind: What's best for the program? What's best for the players?" (HSA)


About giving defensive play-calling duties to Dave Aranda last year, Mack said:
"It was a decision I made that I felt was better for the program and the players. I knew Dave could handle it." (HSA)


About gaining 7 pounds since January to now weigh 212, Bryant Moniz said:
"My goal was 210 for the season, so I already surpassed that." (HSA)


Praising Sterling Jackson's running style, Mack said:
"He's a tough runner with speed." (HSA)


About how he is recovered from a broken right thumb that required surgery, Sterling Jackson (who scored a TD in a scrimmage with the broken thumb) said:
"Everything is good now." (HSA)


Abotu how RGM gave him tips to understand the offense better, Terrence Bell said:
"He taught me not only how to run a route, but the idea behind it. He gave me a lot of good advice." (HSA)


About how this is his first year of eligibility (and really his only year due to being cleared by the NCAA after 10 games last year), Bell (who was the faster receiver in the 20-yard dash, running it in 2.61 seconds) said:
"I've got only one year to play.. I'm going to make the most of it." (HSA)


About how a broken leg stopped him from playing 2 years ago and a broken wrist stopped him from playing last year, Clayton Laurel said:
"It's kind of frustrating. I had my chances. I'm trying to focus and make sure I don't get injured. I'm working hard for that starting spot." (HSA)


About looking to have a greater role on defense, Paipai Falemalu said:
"I'm trying to be more of a stout run defender, so I can be an every-down defensive end. I want to be a complete defensive end. That's my goal this year." (HSA)


About how being able to get free of blockers works for pass rushing but is not always the most important thing against the run, Paipai said:
"I'm trying not to force everything." (HSA)


About how redshirting was hard on him, Tank Hopkins said:
"First game (of 2010), I cried in the locker room." (HSA)


About how missing the year was important for his body to heal, Hopkins said:
"I wasn't 100 percent until the end of January." (HSA)


HSA Note: "In team testing, Hopkins ran the fastest 20-yard dash (2.6 seconds) among the Warriors. At the end of each voluntary workout the past month, a one-on-one competition was staged. The line of scrimmage is the 5. The win went to the player who makes the touchdown catch or pass breakup. The winner stayed on the field to face the next challenger. Hopkins set the record for most consecutive victories as a defender (eight) and receiver (nine)."


About how he finally was allowed to play on the kickoff-coverage unit during their regular-season finale (he made 2 tackles vs. UNLV), Kamalani Alo said:
"It's the Kahuku mentality. The opening kickoff at Kahuku is always nuts. The Kahuku fans are great. They do the tomahawk. The feeling of running down on the opening kickoff always felt good. It made me want to do it in college as well." (HSA)


http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20110306_mcmackin_and_warriors_ready_to_spring_into_action.html

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Oceanic starting a UH sports channel could mean no UH sports on free TV or on Dish/DirecTV

HSA Note: "Employees of KFVE — which, along with its family of stations, has aired UH sports since 1984 — said they were told by management recently that "everything" is moving to Oceanic, which plans to inaugurate a new UH channel in the fall in addition to its OC 16 channel, which features high school sports among its programming. Oceanic's new station will be dedicated, it said, to "all things UH."  Oceanic and KFVE paid UH $2.45 million this past year for TV and pay-per-view rights to its athletic events, all but $500,000 reportedly coming from Oceanic."


HSA Note: "Oceanic has about 400,000 subscribers. Exclusive UH viewing would give it an edge against satellite competitors DirecTV and the Dish Network."


About how Oceanic may be taking over the production of TV coverage of UH sports, KFVE VP and GM John Fink said:
"We're still in discussions with Oceanic, and the best thing that I can say at this point is — and I hate to use this term — but (talks) are fluid. We should have some definite information in a few weeks." (HSA)


About how it is unclear if the UH sports channel will be part of basic cable or a premium sports pack, an Oceanic employee said:
"A lot of things surrounding this are still up in the air." (HSA)


http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/hawaiinews/20110301_Free_TV_viewing_dims_in_cables_UH_sports_deal.html

Monday, February 28, 2011

Alex Green and Greg Salas excelled at the NFL Combine

About how he felt about how he did at the Combine, Greg Salas said:
"I was pretty happy with my performance." (HSA)


About how Salas was initially credited with running a 5.0 instead of the 4.50 that the statistician meant to input, Salas' agent Kenny Zuckerman said:
"We knew it wasn't a 5 flat. We knew it was in the 4.5 range." (HSA)


HSA Note: "NFL.com reported that Salas completed his second 40 in 4.57 seconds. Each NFL team records its own times for each player at the combine. For Salas' first run, the range was between 4.49 and 4.54."


About using a technique where he stretched his arms on the surface, then bear-crawled back to the starting line, Salas said:
"It's a technique we've been working on. It's supposed to help you explode off the line." (HSA)


HSA Note: "Salas had a 37-inch vertical jump and a 10-foot broad jump. He bench-pressed 225 pounds 15 times. He was credited with running the three-cone drill in 6.65 seconds (seventh-fastest among running backs, receivers and quarterbacks yesterday) and the 60-yard shuttle in 11.21 seconds (ninth). He initially was credited with completing the 20-yard shuttle in 4.10 seconds, but that number was adjusted to an undisclosed slower time."


About catching all of the dozen passes that were thrown to him in the receiver drills, Salas said:
"All of those routes (at UH) had to help. I have confidence in my hands." (HSA)


About how Salas did all of the Combine drills instead of waiting for his school's Pro Day like some players, Zuckerman said:
"My mantra is to get the best bang for the buck. The most (NFL) people are at the combine. Your value increases when more people watch you. It's supply and demand." (HSA)


HSA Note: "Green yesterday had a vertical jump of 36 inches, and a broad jump of 9 feet 6. He completed the three-cone drill in 6.91 seconds. Earlier, he bench-pressed 225 pounds 20 times."


About performing at the Combine, Alex Green said:
"I wasn't nervous at all. It was kind of cool." (HSA)


HSA Note: "Despite receiving praise from ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. two weeks ago, Green arrived as a relative unknown. Agent Michael Hoffman said NFL scouts projected Green as a "4.6 guy," which would be a so-so time for an NFL tailback. NFL.com reported that Green ran the 40 in unofficial times of 4.55 seconds and 4.52 seconds. NFL scouts credited Green with a more favorable range of between 4.46 and 4.48 for his second — and best — run."


About his goal to run faster then 4.6 seconds in the 40-yard dash, Green said:
"I figured that would help me. It showed I'm faster than some people think. I have to keep working hard, but I'm happy with my time." (HSA)


About Green's good time in the 40, his agent Michael Hoffman said that at Green's weight of:
"225, it was one of the more impressive 40s. He answered one of the biggest question marks." (HSA)


About how Green's performance at the Combine will get scouts to review him closer on film, Hoffman said:
"He's put himself in the right direction." (HSA)


HSA Note: "Former UH slotback Kealoha Pilares benched 225 pounds 19 times Saturday, but did not participate in any of the speed, jumping or position drills yesterday. Three weeks ago, he was cleared to run after suffering a partially torn posterior-cruciate ligament in the Dec. 24 Hawaii Bowl. Pilares said he will participate in all of the activities at UH's pro day."

http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20110228_salas_green_excel.html

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Greg Salas, Kealoha Pilares and Alex Green are having interviews and testing at the NFL Combine today

About the start of the NFL Combine today, with interviews, testing, and measurements, Greg Salas said:
"The waiting is over." (HSA)


HSA Note: "Salas and Green said they will participate in all of the skill drills. Pilares, who suffered a partially torn posterior cruciate ligament during the Dec. 24 Hawaii Bowl, said he will take part in the weight-lifting drills, but not the 40-yard dash. Instead, Pilares said he will run the 40 at UH's Pro Day March 31 in Carson."


About how he won't do the 40-yard dash at the Combine, instead running it at UH's Pro Day, Kealoha Pilares said:
"I'll wait until I'm 100 percent. You don't want to go out there and not be 100 percent. I just got (medically) cleared to run in the beginning of the month." (HSA)


About ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay predicting that he would be a sleeper in the draft, Salas said:
"That was cool." (HSA)


About Mcshay spotlighting him as an under-the-radar prospect, Alex Green said:
"I heard about it, but I didn't see (the report). It's definitely an honor to be mentioned by someone with (McShay's) experience." (HSA)


About coming back from a virus he had after the Hawaii Bowl that dropped his weight from 230 to 219, Green said:
"I gained 12 pounds of muscle since I've been out here." (HSA)


About training at Athletes' Performance for more than a month, Green said:
"It makes a difference to be out here. We train twice a day as opposed to once a day. We don't do much heavy lifting. We do technique lifting. We work on balance, moving laterally, and on our core." (HSA)


About how he was told that he is projected to run the 40 in 4.6 seconds, Green said:
"I want to run faster than that." (HSA)


About how he will return to his family's home in Portland for 2 weeks after the combine, Green said:
"Then I'll get ready for Pro Day. I have to take care of business." (HSA)


http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20110224_Tested_and_measured_3_Warriors_to_perform_at_NFL_combine.html

Bryant Moniz made a Heisman Watch List

About how he often struck a Heisman Trophy pose when he was a kid, Bryant Moniz said:
"Of course. When you're a kid running around, that's what you do. That's what you see on TV." (HSA)


About Heismanpundit.com naming him as 1 of the 22 players on its Heisman Trophy watch list, Moniz said:
"It's cool, I guess. It doesn't change much for me. It doesn't matter what you are before the season. I keep that in mind." (HSA)


About how UH will campaign for Moniz, UH SID Derek Inouchi said:
"We'll be doing a campaign for him. We haven't decided what approach we'll take yet, but we've talked about doing something and are exploring some options." (HSA)


About how UH was #1 in ESPN's study of "explosion plays" (offensive plays that gained 20+ yards) in 2010, Rolo said:
"I figured we were one of the top teams, I just didn't have all the stats." (HSA)


http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20110224_Moniz_makes_Heisman_watch_list.html

Monday, February 21, 2011

UHAD is not talking about cutting any of their 19 teams, will deal with the deficit in other ways

About how they are not trying to get people to donate more by threatening to cut sports teams, JD said:
"I don't think there is any need to threaten to cut sports so that you can turn around and use that as a fundraising mechanism. I don't think that sends the right message to the student-athletes and coaches of those sports you are threatening." (HSA)


HSA Note: "UH officials have told the Board of Regents that, because of NCAA, conference and gender equity requirements, it would be unlikely the school could cut enough sports to save a substantial amount of money without risking its Division I status. UH has 11 women's teams, seven for men and one co-ed squad."


About how they need to cut the deficit and start having an annual surplus in order to deal with their $10 mil deficit, not cut teams to try to cut their deficit, JD said:
"I think the most prudent thing for us to do is get hold of the annual deficit situation, turn that into the black and use annual revenue to pay down the accumulated debt. And that's what we've been doing." (HSA)


About how UHAD has been quickly reducing its deficit each year he's been AD, JD said:
"The first year I was on board we would have had a $2.4 million deficit if it wasn't for the Sugar Bowl money. Then, (the deficit) was about $2.2 (million), Last year, it was about $1.6 million, and right now we're projecting in the neighborhood of $500,000 or less" for the current fiscal year that ends June 30. "So we're doing exactly what we said we'd do." (HSA)


About how UH held fundraisers to commemorate the 100th year of UH football and will hold fundraisers for the 40th anniversary of women's sports at UH, JD said:
"That's in addition to all the regular golf tournaments, dinners and fundraisers we have going on annually." (HSA)


About how they will deal with UHAD's deficit, Chancellor Hinshaw said:
"We continually work to generate private support for all of our sports programs and are very grateful for that support, so we are using that approach." (HSA)


http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20110220_uh_trying_to_work_away_its_debt_not_cut_teams.html

Friday, February 18, 2011

New special teams coordinator Coach Tomey says UH is the only school he would have applied to coach at

About how Coach Tomey is a perfectionist, which makes him ideal for the special teams coordinator position, Mack said:
"He's a perfectionist, he's perfect for this position." (HSA)


About how his new job at UH starts today, Tomey said:
"This is kind of the full circle." (HSA)


Asked if he thought football would be out of his blood when he retired, Tomey said:
"not necessarily." (HSA)


About how Tomey was the favored candidate out of the 100 or so applicants, Mack said:
"He was the guy other guys had to knock out of the saddle." (HSA)


About having telephone interviews with 6 finalists, Mack said:
"He was clearly the one. I couldn't find a better person." (HSA)


About how Tomey has a job at UH for much longer than  his 1-year contract, Mack said:
"I'm planning on him coaching as long as he wants to coach. That's up to him." (HSA)


About how long he wiill coach, Tomey (who turns 73 in June) said:
I'm in it as long as I feel good. ... I know I'm feeling good. I know I'm healthy." (HSA)


HSA Note: He said he exercises daily. He runs and lifts weights. He recently picked up stand-up paddling."


About how he would not have applied to work anywhere else, Tomey said:
"It had to be Hawaii."It had to be this job. In my mind, I think it's just a unique opportunity."


About how he doesn't want to be a head coach anymore, Tomey said:
"I've done that, 29 years worth, and I had a great time at three terrific schools. I don't want to spend the time it takes. I've got eight grandchildren. I need to take some time to see my grandkids, and be there for (wife) Nancy. Being a head coach just takes too much time." (HSA)


About how Tomey will assist him in his game-management strategy, Mack said:
"I can bounce things off of Dick. Shoot, he's been a head coach a heck of a lot longer than I have." (HSA)


http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20110218_Tomey_sees_a_unique_opportunity_with_Warriors.html

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Dick Tomey returns to UH as special teams coordinator

About how Dick Tomey is one of his 7 mentors that he's writing about in a book, Joe Onosai said:
"He's one of them. He missed his calling. He should have been a preacher, minus the F-bombs. He would have been perfect. He's so eloquent. He's articulate. He has a way with words that gets to your soul." (HSA)


About how Tomey is great motivator, Onosai said:
"He was such a motivator. We would want to run through walls for him. I didn't realize a guy could have so much power. You never wanted to get him upset. When his baby-blue eyes looked into your eyes, they were piercing. My freshman year, I was late to a pregame meeting. I'll never forget how embarrassed I was when he picked on me. I was never late for a meeting after that." (HSA)


http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20110217_Tomey_brings_expertise_back_to_Warriors_in_special_teams_role.html

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

UH may get 5 national TV games, great exposure but a big loss in PPV money

About how each national TV game UH is on results in less PPV money, Oceanic Time Warner VP for operations Norman Santos said:
"While more games may appear on 'free' TV due to UH being the big dog in the conference in 2011, the number of games available for PPV might be lessened, which would, naturally, mean less revenue for UH." (HSA)


HSA Note: "UH is to receive $2.45 million in fees for its 2010 pay-per-view package, which included 11 of the Warriors' 13 regular season games."

Note: ESPN may show home games with Colorado, BYU, and Fresno State and the road game with Nevada, and the road game at Washington may be on Fox Sports Northwest.


Expecting ESPN to pick a bunch of UH games after their 10-4 season (and conveniently forgetting that ESPN picked only 1 UH game, the one against USC, before last season began), WAC commissioner Karl Benson said:
"I would expect Hawaii to be of interest to ESPN, they always have been." (HSA)


HSA Note: "The WAC has received approximately $4 million a season and been guaranteed a minimum of 10 games on the combination of ESPN and ESPN2, plus six more on ESPNU. UH's share will be about $400,000 when checks go out in June."


Expecting ESPN to reduce the number of WAC games they show and the money they give the WAC next season, WAC associate commissioner Jeff Hurd said:
"There's going to be reduced games, although to what extent I don't know yet." (HSA)


http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20110216_Warriors_popularity_may_come_with_a_price.html

Former Georgia Tech safety Brandon Leslie signed with the Warriors

About signing Brandon Leslie with the scholarship that they saved in case a top recruit became available after NLI day, Mack said:
"Every year, we try to save one scholarship in case a top (prospect) becomes available." (HSA)


HSA Note: "Among the late signings at those schools, according to McMackin, were now All-Pro linebacker Ray Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens and receiver Wes Welker of the New England Patriots."


About signing with UH after NLI day, Leslie said:
"I did my research, and I decided to sign with Hawaii." (HSA)


HSA Note: "As a senior at Fresno's Edison High in 2008, Leslie signed with Georgia Tech, turning down offers from Stanford, Washington and Nebraska. Leslie redshirted that year, and then played in 2009 under Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson, a former UH offensive coordinator."


About his time at Georgia Tech, Leslie said:
"I had good relationships there." (HSA)


HSA Note: "But Leslie left to help care for his father, who was ill. He decided to remain in Central California, enrolling at the College of the Sequoias."


About picking UH over Arizona, Iowa State and Nevada, Leslie (who said he was a Warriors fan "since high school") said:
"I like the program, and I like the coaches." (HSA)


About how he visited his Aunt (who lived in Hawaii for 8 years) a few years ago and went island-hopping, Leslie said:
"I love everything about Hawaii." (HSA)


HSA Note: "Leslie said he will enroll at UH in June, and have two years to play two seasons."


About the 6'1", 208-pound Leslie, Mack said:
"I like his size and his speed and his ability. What I really like is he's a good person. We did our homework. We talked to a lot of people. We talked to high school coaches and his JC coach. We know Paul Johnson. Everybody says he's a great person." (HSA)


HSA Note: "The initial plan was to move John Hardy-Tuliau, who played quarter (nickel back) as a true freshman in 2010, to safety. With Leslie's commitment, Hardy-Tuliau will instead shift to cornerback. Last year's starting cornerbacks, Lametrius Davis and Jeramy Bryant, completed their UH eligibility after the 2010 Hawaii Bowl. Hardy-Tuliau, Tank Hopkins and Mike Edwards, who played at Tennessee in 2009, are expected to be the top three cornerbacks. In several of UH's defensive schemes, three cornerbacks are employed."


About how Leslie gives UH options in the secondary, Mack said:
"On paper, there are a lot of different things we can do now." (HSA)


About himself, Leslie (whose nicknames are Taz and B-Les) said:
"I'm adventurous. I like to try different things." (HSA)

http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20110216_UH_signs_former_Georgia_Tech_safety.html

Sunday, February 13, 2011

UH is reducing the number of D-IAA opponents on its schedule

About how UH doesn't have any D-IAA opponents on its schedules after 2012 and will try not to schedule them in the future, Associate AD Carl Clapp said:
"That will be a last option." (HSA)


About reducing the number of D-IAA opponents they play, JD said that he would:
"prefer to play FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) opponents as much as possible. Nothing against FCS programs, but (opponents) seem to resonate better with our fans if they're an FBS program." (HSA)


About how he's tried to achieve a balanced schedule, JD said:
"We don't want our schedule to be described as 'easy,' but we also don't want it to be Murderer's Row, either. I'm very pleased with Carl's assistance with this. It was one of the immediate things I needed to address when I was hired, And I think we've done a good job of filling out our schedules into the future, and we'll continue to work on it on a consistent basis." (HSA)


About how they have been talking to many schools, including USC, about future games, JD said:
"We have talked to USC, but we still have some more talking to do. Some games take weeks (to make) and others take months." (HSA)


http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20110213_fcs_opponents_vanishing_from_warriors_schedule.html

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Colt Brennan was surprised when he woke up 4 or 5 days after the accident and found that he had surgery

About the scar on his cheek and the scars all along the left side of his chest, Colt Brennan said:
"I've got some scars. It gives me a little street cred, I think." (HSA)


HSA Note: "Yesterday, Brennan reiterated that "four or five days" after the accident, he awakened at The Queen's Medical Center and was surprised to learn he underwent surgery to repair a broken left clavicle, and had received stitches for a gash at the back of his head. He said he also suffered four broken ribs on his left side, and injuries to his left eye socket and left cheek."


About the accident, Colt said:
"I don't remember, and it's not like I remember that moment when I woke up. It's not like that at all. ... I was out for four or five days. ... I woke up, and all of my stitches were out of my body, and I was sitting there feeling fine, to an extent. And (my parents) were like, 'No, you went through something traumatic.'" (HSA)


About how he hasn't had any post-traumatic problems because of his memory loss, Colt said:
"I haven't had to face any of that." (HSA)


About how he went on a diet to get to 210 pounds, about 8 pounds less than before the accident, Colt said:
"I definitely lost weight after the accident, but I gained a lot back over the holidays. Basically, about a week or two ago, I was getting a little too big. I put myself on a diet last week. Basically, when I start training hard, it will be easy to get to the right weight." (HSA)


Colt said that the clavicle surgery was performed:
"with the sense I'll be playing football again." (HSA)


About the surgeries he had on both hips and both knees from April 2008 to April 2010, Colt said about his knee injuries:
"Small meniscus tears. On paper, it looks bad. Surgery, surgery, surgery. None of it was any type of structural damage. It wasn't as if I blew out a major ligament." (HSA)


About how the support he got from Hawaii fans helped his recovery, Colt said:
"Whether it was writing a quick e-mail or sending a nice note, my mom is convinced that was a huge part in my healing. The state of Hawaii had a lot to do with that. I'm very grateful." (HSA)

http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20110212_Surgeries_surprised_Brennan.html

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

UH LB recruit Tyler Gray is the first player from his high school to get a D-IA football scholarship out of high school

SLO = Sanluisobispo.com


About how Tyler Gray is the first player from Templeton High School to go to D-IA team with a scholarship straight from high school, Templeton coach Dave Harper said:
"The youth league kids, they all know who Tyler Gray is. A lot of kids want to be No. 37 next year. I just encourage them to do their best, and some day they will be here." (SLO


SLO Note: "He's believed to be the first player in school history to sign with an FBS program directly out of high school and receive a full ride."

SLO Note: "He also had previously visited Air Force and Cal Poly — his other finalists — and San Jose State had also offered him a scholarship."


Relieved that the recruiting process is behind him, Gray said:
"I'm very excited. I'm definitely glad the whole (process) is over, because it's so stressful, all the things you have to go through for four, five years. So it's a good relief." (SLO)


About how he loved his recruiting trip to Hawaii, Gray said:
"I had the best time on my trip. I got along with people really well. I felt like I was part of the team by the time I left." (SLO)


Harper said that the 6'3", 215-pound Gray will likely be used at UH's joker position:
"where he'll be rushing from either side depending on what the play call was in the huddle." (SLO)


About how it is rare for one of their players to make it to D-IA football, Harper said:
"It comes around very seldom, and he's worked very hard to accomplish these things. When I first saw him play, there was something special about him." (SLO)


About how Gray can serve as motivation to future Templeton players, Harper said:
"If it motivates kids to stay in school, to do the right things so that they, too, can accomplish their dreams, that's what I think is the biggest thing with him. We'll have to have some kids fill some big shoes, but we think we have some kids that want to do that. And now, seeing what can happen, how hard work will pay off for you, it's exciting for us." (SLO)


http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2011/02/02/1468554/this-eagle-to-land-in-hawaii.html#ixzz1DS7UZ0fz

PPV revenue dropped for the third straight year, UH will get $2.45 mil in 2010

About how UH will get $17k less in rights fees this year, the third straight year PPV revenue has dropped, UH Associate AD John McNamara said:
"I think given the fact that we're still not out of the economic situation we've experienced the last two years, to have numbers that are consistently performing well has been pleasing." (HSA)


About the varied reasons why PPV subscriptions might have dropped from 7,347 subscribers to 6,038 subscribers, Oceanic VP for Operations Norman Santos said:
"While the economy may have had some effect, there are other factors to consider such as teams' past record, the opponents on the PPV schedule, diluted interest because of over exposure of the sport on TV and perhaps the price of the package overall." (HSA)


Season Packages Rights fee
2010 6,038 $2.45 million
2009 7,347 $2.47 million
2008 8,318 $2.6 million
2007 8,837 $2.54 million

http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20110209_UH_pay-per-view_revenue_drops.html

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Choosing Toronto meant that Chad Owens had to give up his dream to play in the NFL

GM = Globe and Mail

About how he made his decision on where he wanted to play, not for the money, Chad Owens said:
"I tried to look at it outside of the money. If the NFL and the CFL paid players the same, I'd be in Toronto anyway. I got everything I wanted and then some from Toronto." (GM)


About how it was hard to give up his dream to play in the NFL, Owens said:
"My goal growing up was to play in the NFL. It ended up being a very hard and emotional decision for me and my family." (GM)


Happy they signed Owens, Toronto head coach and GM Jim Barker said:
"Obviously, Chad Owens is one of the prime-time guys we wanted to get. He epitomizes everything we want an Argo to be." (GM)


Wanting to win a championship with Toronto, Owens said:
"I've got one goal in mind, and that's the Grey Cup. We have a legitimate shot." (GM)


http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/football/chad-owens-commits-future-to-argos/article1899624/