Warrior Beat

The Warriors today received oral commitments from: • Clark Evans, a JC All-America tight end from Cerritos College. Clark Evans video. • Gus Lavaka, a lineman from Kearns High in Utah. • Ronald Fields, a cornerback from College of San Mateo. * * * * * No rest for the recruiters. The UH coaches will be back on the road tomorrow, in search of more prospects. There are two more recruiting weekends remaining before signing day on Feb. 1. * […]

Kahuku High linebacker Bennetton “Benny” Fonua, the state’s 2011 Defensive Player of the Year, told the WB he made an oral commitment to “Uncle Norm” — Norm Chow — to accept a scholarship offer from the Warriors. Fonua said Chow visited his home this morning. Fonua said he is 6 feet 1, 220 pounds and is capable of running the 40-yard dash in 4.6 seconds. Fonua’s late grandfather, John Farley, and Chow were good friends. * * * * * […]

There is football life after Manoa for former UH defensive end Zach Masch. Masch has been invited to participate in the Jan. 21 AstroTurf NFLPA Collegiate Bowl in Carson, Calif. Former NFL coaches Dick Vermeil and Tom Flores will lead the teams. Masch has signed with agent William Baldini of BAC Sports Management. Masch is training in Arizona. Wideout Royce Pollard and linebacker Aaron Brown are playing in Monday’s Casino Del Sol All-Star Game. Defensive tackles Kaniela Tuipulotu and Vaughn […]

For those old enough, there probably was a cringe-worthy moment when  it was announced that the Downtown Athletic Club was being formed. Besides the legal aspects of using a name that might be copyrighted by the folks that deliver the Heisman Trophy, “downtown” and “UH” are words associated with a time of back-room politics and power. It was the so-called “downtown hui” of the 1970s  and early 1980s that stirred UH sports. But times have changed, and yesterday’s inaugural Downtown […]

Dave Aranda has been hired as Utah State’s defensive coordinator. What’s more, according to a source, Aranda will earn more than  the $130,000 annual base salary he received at UH in 2011. Aranda was not retained at UH after the coaching change. * * * * * During today’s luncheon at the Hukilau restaurant, Norm Chow confirmed that Thom Kaumeyer will be the Warriors’ defensive coordinator. Kaumeyer served as the Jacksonville Jaguars’ DB coach the past three years. Kaumeyer and […]

Expect Thom Kaumeyer to be named the Warriors’ defensive coordinator. Kaumeyer, who coached the Jacksonville Jaguars’ DBs the past three years, and UH have reached a tentative agreement. A final stamp of approval is all that is needed to close the deal. Kaumeyer and Tony Tuioti are expected to coach the linebackers. Here are the other hirings announced today: • Chris Wiesehan — offensive line. He previously was the receivers coach with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL. • […]

Offensive linemen Kiha Sai of Kamehameha Schools said he has accepted a football-scholarship offer from UH head coach Norm Chow. “He asked, and I said, ‘Hell, yes,’” said Sai, who is 6 feet 4 and 315 pounds. “I want to stay home and get that Chow legacy started, with the Hawaii boys staying home.” Sai had previously made an oral commitment to Utah. He said he was not recruited by UH until after Chow was hired on Dec. 22. Here’s […]

Norm Chow will be making his first open-to-the-public speaking appearance at noon Wednesday at the Hukilau on Bishop Street. It also will mark the first event of Hawaii’s newly created Downtown Athletic Club, which will bring sports figures to Honolulu’s downtown area. * * * * * Former UH linebacker Aaron Brown texted to say he has been invited to compete in the Tucson Del Sol All-Star Game on Jan. 16. The game previously was known as the Blue-Gray Game.