Warrior Beat

To spice the offseason conditioning program, strength/conditioning coordinator measures each player’s biceps at the end of a training cycle. The next measurement is in three weeks, but the clubhouse leader is defensive tackle Saui Matagiese with biceps measuring 52.5 centimeters. (That equates to 20 2/3 inches.) Marcus Malepai, who bulked up to make the move from defensive end to defensive tackle, is in second place at 51.5 centimeters. There is no reward other than bragging rights. But the contest, just […]

In building competition, the Rainbow Warriors are bringing in a three-tool player. Jackson Dionne of Orange Coast College is expected to be included on the Warriors’ 104-player roster for training camp. “He can kick field goals and kickoffs, and he can punt,” said Brad Bohn, director of the prestigious West Coast Kicking Academy. “We trained him the past two years as far as kicking and punting. He’s a tremendous athlete. He’s real calm and collected. The best way to describe […]

“I can’t wait,” wide receiver Vasquez Haynes texted of his scheduled arrival in Honolulu. “I’m counting down the days.” The magic number is now two. Haynes, offensive lineman R.J. Hollis and receiver/cornerback Kwamane Bowens are set to arrive Friday ahead of Monday’s start of UH’s second summer session. * * * * * Ran into Samson Satele during today’s taping of the Leahey & Leahey show. His segment either airs tonight or next week Wednesday. He’s in town to host […]

Athletic director Ben Jay deserves credit for rearranging the athletic department’s priority list. With the academic center completed and renovations underway on the football locker room, the focus has shifted to two other departments that treat the student-athletes. Renovations will begin in January on the athletic trainers’ room — think of it as an in-house clinic — and equipment room. While that start date is six months away, it is earlier than the initial projection of “whenever.” The initial wish […]

Former UH head coach Dick Tomey is returning to the television booth as color analyst for OC Sports’ pay-per-view telecasts of Rainbow Warrior football games, the Warrior Beat has learned. Tomey, 75, succeeds Darnell Arceneaux, who is now quarterbacks coach at Occidental. Tomey will partner with Robert Kekaula, who is the play-by-play announcer. Tomey was a football analyst during KFVE’s telecasts in 2001 and 2002. Tomey was UH’s head for 10 seasons, through 1986, compiling a record of 63-46-3. He […]

Turning lemons into lemonade? Quarterback Sean Schroeder is making the most of his journey from back surgery to comeback. He studies videos, chats up quarterback counsel Jordan Wynn, and helps coordinate unsupervised workouts despite being on modified-activity status. UH coach Norm Chow has praised Schroeder’s approach, even as Taylor Graham, Jeremy Higgins and Ikaika Woolsey share the reps during Schroeder’s rehab. “Everybody is trying to do their part,” Schroeder said. “We’re trying to improve from last season.” Schroeder started 11 of […]

It was a homecoming of sorts when running back Willis Wilson, who transferred from the University of Washington, arrived in town yesterday. “I was born here,” said Wilson, who spent his early years in Pearl City. “Then I moved to American Samoa, then to Arizona, then to Washington in high school.” Wilson’s father, Jack Wilson, played for the Rainbow Warriors in the late 1980s. Wilson said his ancestry is Samoan and African American. “My auntie and cousins live here,” he […]

Rest in peace — Gary Holden aka “Curveball” * * * * * Ground and walls were broken with the start of the remodeling of the Rainbow Warrior football locker room. As one worker said: “Anything tile is coming down.” The project is expected to be completed — knock on koa — by the time the freshmen report to training camp on July 31. * * * * * * Several members of the d-line: * * * * * […]