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

Changing places

By Stephen Tsai on July 20, 2012

With the start of training camp 12 days away, the Warriors are awaiting for three players to complete their transfers to Manoa. Cornerbacks Ronald Fields and Justin Turner are finishing work on their associate degrees. If one or both join the Warriors, then John Hardy-Tuliau, who finished spring drills as a No. 1 cornerback, likely would move back to safety, where he started 13 games last year. Tight end Ryan Hall, who played at Duke the past three years, is […]

Richard Torres back at Red Nation

By Stephen Tsai on July 19, 2012

Former Warrior defensive back Richard Torres will be an assistant coach at  his alma mater, Kahuku High,  this coming semester. Torres completed his UH eligibility in December. He had turned down GA offers at Washington, Washington State and Wyoming to play for the Georgia Force. He was cut a couple of weeks ago. He will pursue other GA or playing opportunities next year. * * * * * Congratulations to Aaron Brown, a proud, new father. Brown said he reports […]

Waiting game

By Stephen Tsai on July 18, 2012

NCAA president Mark Emmert left the door unlocked. The father of a UH quarterback hopes Emmert’s sentiments open the way to allowing easier transfers when a player’s head coach is no longer with the program. Emmert is agreeable to some flexibility to the rule that requires a player to redshirt after transferring between FBS schools. Of concern is when a player, who signs with a coach and a specific system, is no longer a good fit with the program after […]

“I’m ready for some football”

By Stephen Tsai on July 17, 2012

It’s summer. Time to give away stuff. Today, we will be giving away: A Barefoot League T-shirt of Kealoha Pilares (size XL): A Norm Chow tank top (size XL): A Greg Salas football card: An MJ card: An El Sid baseball card: A Camile Velasco card: To enter, please post: I’m ready for some football. You may submit multiple entries. Avis will pick the six winners. Because I’m unreliable, Wena will be in charge of the prize distribution. * * […]

Tachibana suspended

By Stephen Tsai on July 16, 2012

Head coach Norm Chow today suspended linebacker  Alema Tachibana from team-related activities pending the resolution of his drunken-driving case. Tachibana was arrested in Kalihi on June 18. He was released after posting $500 bail. Through attorney R. Patrick McPherson, Tachibana entered a not-guilty plea today in District Court. Tachibana was not in attendance. The trial is set for Oct. 15. Tachibana, a junior linebacker, is a 2008 Kahuku High graduate. He has been participating in the Warriors’ offseason conditioning program. […]

Warriors add two GAs

By Stephen Tsai on July 15, 2012

Daniel Bukarau and Jared Vanderbeek have been recommended as graduate assistant coaches for the Warriors this season. Both served as volunteers during the spring semester. They were selected from more than 50 applicants in a vetting process that took more than a month. Bukarau will help coach the offensive line; Vanderbeek will work on defense. Bukarau is a 2003 Kailua High graduate. He joined Utah as a walk-on offensive lineman in 2003, then went on a church mission to Costa […]

TE seeks to join Warriors

By Stephen Tsai on July 14, 2012

Speak of the Blue Devils. Ryan Hall, a reserve tight end for Duke the past three years, is seeking to join the Warriors. Hall is trying to follow the path of  a former Blue Devil teammate. Quarterback Sean Schroeder earned a bachelor’s degree — a requirement for transferring without having to sit out a year — was accepted to UH two weeks ago, and will compete for a starting job with the Warriors. Hall also has earned a bachelor’s degree. […]

UH reaches out to students

By Stephen Tsai on July 13, 2012

Last night, UH athletic department officials met with leaders of UH student groups in a forum to rebuild relationships. At the heart was UH’s search to make its sporting events more student-friendly. The students voiced suggestions such as improving the bus schedule between the campus and Aloha Stadium, and exploring the possibility of offering child-care services for students with families. Football coach Norm Chow made an impassioned speech, punctuated with a video of the University of Pittsburgh fans who sing […]