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

Idle chatter

By Stephen Tsai on October 16, 2013

If it’s hump day of bye week, it’s time to ask again: Why isn’t UH playing Colorado in Boulder this Saturday? * * * * * The Rainbow Warriors resume practice today. While the framework of the game plan for Colorado State is in place, the more specific details and adjustments will be implemented during next week’s practices. UH won’t decide on a starting quarterback until next week. But expect the Warriors to go back to the more aggressive, blitzing […]

Scrimmage plans

By Stephen Tsai on October 15, 2013

Taylor Graham, Ikaika Woolsey and Jeremy Higgins will split the reps at quarterbacks in Friday’s extended situational scrimmage. The rotation does not mean UH has selected a starting quarterback for its next game, against Colorado State on Oct. 26. Sean Schroeder will be withheld from the scrimmage because he already has played a significant number of reps in the past three games. The coaches want to give more work to Graham, who has missed the past three games, Woolsey and […]

Bye-ing time

By Stephen Tsai on October 14, 2013

It appeared that coaches, players and nearly everyone else (except a columnist whose initials are “F”L and is currently out of the country) wanted the Rainbow Warriors to accept the $600,000 offer to play Colorado this weekend in Boulder. Alas, since the Rainbow Warriors are home — alone — here’s what to expect this bye week: • The coaches did some recruiting in Las Vegas this past weekend, and will be doing more of the same on the mainland this […]

What the heck

By Stephen Tsai on October 13, 2013

Well, at least it was exciting. The Rainbow still are oh-for-2013 and, except for safety Marrell Jackson’s mysteriously wrapped left arm, they came away relatively healthy from this Vegas trip. Tight end Jordan Pu‘u-Robinson, who is nearly healed from an MCL injury, even made the trip and should be ready for this Saturday’s game against … oh, wait, UH turned down the Colorado offer. Never mind. That means another bye, and another week to dissect last night’s game.

Game day: UNLV

By Stephen Tsai on October 12, 2013

LAS VEGAS, Baby — It should be a B-E-A-utiful day in Las Vegas (or whatever country Sam Boyd Stadium resides) when the Rainbow Warriors and Rebels meet today. The Warriors had an hour-long practice at Valley High yesterday afternoon. The first two road trips they had walk-through sessions at the game site. To work on some new wrinkles, the Warriors preferred being sequestered at Valley. (Not sure what about Valley’s enrollment, but there were more than 20 buses departing after […]

Las Vegas, baby!

By Stephen Tsai on October 11, 2013

We caught the red-eye, and we’re groggy, which got me thinking: • Wouldn’t it be great if they renamed this state as “Baby”? • It was pretty funny that the car-rental guy couldn’t find the GPS device. • Wouldn’t it be cool if there was a Rich Little impersonator? But I digress. Back to football. Wide receiver Keith Kirkwood did not make the trip because of concussion issues. Just another reason why Billy Ray Stutzmann is expected to start. The […]

Bowens moves to WR

By Stephen Tsai on October 10, 2013

Kwamane Bowens, who has been used at cornerback this season, moved to wide receiver this week. Bowens appears to be more comfortable on offense. The move was made because: 1) receiver Keith Kirkwood still has not been cleared to participate in contact drills, and 2) Anthony Pierce has emerged as a reliable third cornerback. (John Hardy-Tuliau also can play corner, if needed, because of the rapid ascent of safety Trayvon Henderson.) There is a strong possibility that receiver Billy Ray Stutzmann, […]

Horseshoe, anyone?

By Stephen Tsai on October 9, 2013

Word on the boulevard is UH is close to finalizing a deal to play Ohio State in the Horseshoe. It makes sense, of course. AD Ben Jay still remains very well connected with The Ohio State folks. An announcement could come as early as tomorrow. * * * * * It appears Keith Kirkwood has a strong chance to be included on the 64-player travel roster. Kirkwood was told he suffered concussion-like symptoms during the San Jose State game. That […]