Warrior Beat

Here are key dates for the Warriors: > Jan. 12 — The first day of UH’s spring semester. > Jan. 15 — The first day teams may resume bringing in recruits. That basically allows three recruiting weekends before Feb. 4 signing day. > Jan. 26 — The Warriors will begin their offseason conditioning program that week. The NCAA allows eight weeks for school-coordinated conditioning program. That leads to … > March 23 — The start of UH’s spring break, which […]

A new year has brought some changes to local television. > The past Friday was Mike Cherry’s last day as the head sports guy at Hawaii News Now. He joins KITV’s morning show, with his first appearance set for the end of this month. It appears rising star Mark Carpenter will be handling all of HNN’s sports segments until another sports person is hired. > Kanoa Leahey will be spending the next several Wednesdays on the mainland as play-by-play announcer […]

Former Arizona outside linebacker Makani Kema-Kaleiwahea (who used to be known as Keoni Bush-Loo) is joining the Warriors. Kema-Kaleiwahea, a 2012 Kamehameha Schools graduate, is 6 feet 4 and 240 pounds. He played in 25 games total as a freshman and sophomore, mostly on special teams and as a third-down, pass-rushing specialist. The Wildcats employ a 3-3-5 defense in which the outside backers are used as pass rushers and in coverage. He was on the active roster for three games […]

This time, UH is awaiting good news from the NCAA. UH has petitioned the NCAA for a waiver that would enable Kawika Borden to return as a sixth-year senior in 2015. The argument is considered to be strong because Borden missed the 2012 and 2014 seasons because of situations that were “out of his control” — a main criteria for waiver approval. Borden did not play last season because of sports hernia. Borden is valued as a long-snapper (he did […]

Several Florida State football players could learn the aloha spirit from UH sports teams. After each home game, the UH basketball and volleyball teams shake hands or fist-bump opposing players, then circle the court to do the same with fans. The Warriors will gather in front of the band for the alma mater. (Even when UH and Cincinnati players fought several years ago, they at least did it during the hand-shake line.) Post-event rituals are just good manners, from tee […]

While UH seeks a committee to seek a new athletic director, former Chaminade athletic director Mike Vasconcellos’ passing allows reflection on a simpler time in local sports. While the “Miracle on Ward Avenue” – the Silverswords’ upset of No. 1-ranked Virginia in 1982 – is archived in college-basketball lore, what is forgotten is the tiny school still operated on an austere budget after that game. There were no upgrades to McCabe Gym, no increases in personnel, and Vasconcellos and coach […]

Mililani slotback Kainoa Wilson said he will join the Warriors in 2015. Wilson suffered a broken collarbone in the 2014 opener against Saint Louis, a game in which he caught two scoring passes. He missed the next six games, but returned to catch seven passes for 129 yards and two touchdowns against Kaiser. He had two scoring catches in the state championship game against Punahou. Here’s the full story: Wilson