Warrior Beat

Expanded coverage of UH football, including practice notes, game analysis, recruiting info and observations on the Mountain West Conference.

About the blog host

Stephen Tsai covers University of Hawaii football for the Star-Advertiser. Follow him on Twitter @StephenTsai and sign up for the Hawaii football newsletter here: http://www.hawaiiwarriorworld.com/email-signup/

Latest news

Wade signs contract

By Stephen Tsai on September 12, 2014

Better late than … oh, never mind. The important thing is Warrior volleyball coach Charlie Wade has a new two-year contract that runs through June 2016. Wade’s original five-year contract expired a couple months ago. He continued working through an agreement letter he signed the past spring. Under terms of what is technically an extension, Wade will receive a slight bump on an estimated $105,000 annual salary. Wade was among several UH head coaches whose contracts were in limbo. * […]

Roll with the punches

By Stephen Tsai on September 11, 2014

Against Northern Iowa, the Warriors will be monitoring how officials are calling hits on punter Scott Harding. Harding is an intriguing test case because he is unique punter who can roll out to either side and punt with either foot. The rule is once he takes a few steps laterally, he should be treated as runner, even if his intent is to punt. That’s fine, and the UH coaches are OK with the rule. The objection is that last week, […]

JJ as administrator?

By Stephen Tsai on September 10, 2014

Speculation might be a fun party game, but the reality is June Jones is not — NOT — going to be coaching at UH in the foreseeable future. First, Jones and Norm Chow are good friends who talk or text each other regularly. After Jones stepped down at SMU on Monday, Jones and Chow exchanged several texts. They care about each other — as coaching-fraternity brothers and friends. When Jones was set to leave UH in January 2008, he recommended, […]

Next up

By Stephen Tsai on September 9, 2014

In addition to Steven Lakalaka, the immediate replacement for injured Joey Iosefa, Dominique Small and Justin Vele are expected to get upgraded workloads at running back. Vele, who was recruited as a linebacker, has made steady growth at the do-everything position known as F. He can play tight end, H-back and fullback. Vele is an aggressive blocker who also is efficient catching swing passes. And, as coach Norm Chow noted, Vele “is a Farrington guy. … Farrington breeds tough guys.”

JJ resigns at SMU

By Stephen Tsai on September 8, 2014

Six seasons and two games after leaving UH, June Jones has resigned as SMU’s head coach. He turned the SMU program, as he did at UH 15 years earlier, but had a horrendous start this season, managing a lone touchdown in two games. * * * * * When a significant player is lost to injury, coaches often ask the other players to increase their contributions by 5 percent. Not sure what the equation is for the loss of two […]

Garcia-Williams out for year; Iosefa out 4-6 weeks

By Stephen Tsai on September 7, 2014

Linebacker Jerrol Garcia-Williams will miss the rest of the season after being diagnosed with a torn ACL in his left knee, UH coach Norm Chow announced this afternoon. What’s more, running back Joey Iosefa will miss 4-to-6 weeks after suffering a fracture in his right ankle.

Game day: Oregon State

By Stephen Tsai on September 6, 2014

Another Saturday, another Pac-12 opponent for Hawaii. Oregon State offers a top quarterback (Sean Mannion), tandem backs (Terron Ward, Storm Woods), and a receiver (Victor Bolden) who is potentially as good as Brandin Cooks (now with the New Orleans Saints). Hawaii has the equalizer (running back Joey Iosefa) and an improved quarterback (Ikaika Woolsey, who had no turnovers last week). Chat away. * * * * * Avis has selected Jordan Wynn Fan as the winner of the T-shirt. Email […]

Holding out

By Stephen Tsai on September 5, 2014

The Warriors prefer not to use the “R” word, especially around freshmen. But if possible, the Warriors would like to preserve the option of redshirting some newcomers. Some players already have been designated as redshirts, such as defensive ends Marquis Fairchild and Jahlani Tavai and defensive tackle Ka‘au Gifford. The Warriors can help development and depth if they are not forced to use such promising freshmen as wideouts Darrian Josey and Don’Yeh Patterson, linebackers Jamie Tago and Malachi Mageo, and […]