Warrior Beat

Unless a certain XXXL-sized lineman from San Mateo decides to commit or a top-notch transfer becomes available, the Warriors appear to be set with their 2012 recruiting class. There is some flexibility with scholarship space. One signee is considering going on a church mission, and a couple of others are agreeable to delaying their enrollment a semester. As it stands, the Warriors addressed most of their pressing needs. They entered recruiting with a wish list of tight ends, offensive linemen […]

UH decided to leave  the WAC before, it appears, WAC commissioner Karl Benson will leave the WAC (reportedly for the Sun Belt Conference), and upon reflection, these soon-to-be exes had a good marriage. Sure, Benson has absorbed the heat for the misfortunes that probably will lead to the downfall of the WAC, at least as a football conference. But he was acting within the parameters set by the school leaders who often made decisions that minimized Benson’s bargaining options. But […]

In 1994, the presidents of the WAC voted to add six teams, increasing membership to 16 teams beginning in 1996. A quadrant system was created in which four-team groups would pair to create two rotating eight-team divisions each year. But by 1998, seven pre-expansion WAC members and UNLV met in a Denver airport conference room to plot their secession from the WAC to form the Mountain West Conference in 1999. It was significant that several of the presidents who voted […]

It’s official: The Mountain West Conference and Conference USA will merge beginning in the summer of 2013. Here’s Ferd Lewis’ story: Merger. So, here are the questions: • Will UH have to pay travel subsidies? Well, probably. • What happens to the MWC’s television contracts? They get scrapped, and negotiations begin anew. • Teams from Carolina and Hawaii in the same league, really? Yes. Sorta. There likely will be geographical splits, so don’t expect too many crossover trips. * * […]

I was cleaning out the files at home when I came across the news release for the Warriors’ 2009 recruiting class. I was surprised to remember that five members were on the All-State first team — quarterback Cayman Shutter, receiver Billy Ray Stutzmann, offensive lineman Chauncy Winchester-Makainai, and defensive backs Aulola Tonga and Kamalani Alo. Here’s a look at that class: • Kamalani Alo — Top special teams player; backup outside linebacker. • T.J. Alofipo — Did not qualify; attended […]

Norm Chow has always placed a high emphasis on education. After all, he does have a PhD. His children have advanced degrees, and a daughter-in-law was No. 1 in her BYU law school class. That is why it should be no surprise that Lacy Lavarias is helping to manage the football office on a voluntary basis. Lavarias, an Iolani graduate, is a third-year law student who will graduate from the Richardson School of Law in May.

He never started a UH game, but safety Gus Cunningham will be missed. Because of ROTC obligations, Cunningham is not on the Warriors’ spring roster. Cunningham worked hard, never complained and eagerly embraced whatever role was available. By the end of the 2011 season, he found a spot on special teams. This year, new disciplinary rules have been implemented for the Warriors — codes of conduct that Cunningham already embraced: High GPA, high effort, low maintenance. His workmanlike contributions should […]

As the story goes, a few weeks ago, a couple of football players were late for an evening study hall. They were told to report at 6 a.m. the next day. After they reported, each was told to hold a textbook over his head. For 30 minutes. The past two weeks, no player has been tardy for study hall. * * * * * Big week on the Manoa campus. Tonight, the softball team opens the 2012 season tonight, and […]