Warrior Beat

When it comes to professions, sports reporters evoke as much sympathy as lawyers and the kiosk people who want to help you lotion away your constipated-wrinkled look. Yep, Pro Bowl week is difficult for reporters who have to go through TSA-like checks, chase around players who don’t want to be chased, and then have to take orders from rental guards who say such things as: “Step back … no, I said step back … no, not that far back …” […]

It was later in the practice, the 13th of 18 periods, when auditions were conducted for spots on four special-team units. “That’s why we call it the big four because it encompasses all four — punt, punt return, kickoff, kickoff return,” said Chris “Demo” Demarest, who coordinates special teams. In the big-four drill, there are four players on each side, starting in a prone position. At the whistle, coverage players jump up and sprint downfield. The hold-up players jump up […]

Taz Stevenson, who spent the past four seasons at Washington, is expected to join the Rainbow Warriors as a walk-on this summer. He will be eligible to transfer without restrictions after   earning his bachelor’s degree next month. Stevenson was an all-state player at Mililani High, where he played running back, receiver, defensive back and returner. He played in 35 of Washington’s 39 games between 2010 and 2012, mostly on special teams. He was listed as a safety. He did […]

Remember the kids who would raise their hands to remind the teacher to assign homework? They grew up to be UH football players. This past Sunday was a mandatory off day in spring training. But several players went to the football office that day to study videos on their own. With new plays being implemented on offense and a new system being installed on defense, players were busy reviewing videos of Saturday’s practice in preparation for yesterday’s practice. It’s a […]

From this morning’s practice: > Linebacker David Manoa has been diagnosed with a dislocated left kneecap. He will miss the rest of spring training. The estimated rehabilitation is six weeks. > It’s still too early to pick a No. 1 quarterback, according to head coach Norm Chow, but Ikaika Woolsey took all the reps with the first. But yet … > … Chow praised Jeremy Higgins for having a strong practice. “He just makes plays,” Chow said of Higgins. > […]

Another successful year came to an end last night. The UH Band completed its 2013-14 schedule with the Rainbow Warriors’ volleyball sweep of second-ranked BYU. The band  played well every performance. Hana hou! * * * * * The two-match sweep vaulted the Warriors into a strong playoff  position. The Warriors are in a three-way tie for sixth —only the top eight advance to the MPSF playoffs — with two road matches against Pepperdine remaining in the regular season. In […]

Writers use “improbable” as a default word to describe, well, improbable outcomes. But, yes, the volleyball Warriors did construct an improbable victory in defeating nemesis (another default word) Brigham Young last night. The Cougars were No. 2 nationally, poised to win the MPSF’s title outright, and were beating the kukai out of the Warriors in the first two sets. “There was only one team on the court,” outside hitter Siki Zarkovic said. And then the Warriors rallied, and kept rallying, […]

Defensive coordinator Kevin Clune proved to be prophetic when he said the Rainbow Warriors would improve noticeably between the first and second practices of spring training. “We did take a step forward,” Clune said. “We’re on about step 2 of 150 right now. The guys are starting to ask the right questions. They’re starting to see the right things. It’s going to be a little bit of a process. Without the pads on, it’s not exactly real. But we did […]