Warrior Beat

There usually is a lull during the transition period between when a head coach leaves and  the next one is hired. This time, the remaining coaches, led by interim head coach Rich Miano, are taking a proactive stance. Miano said the Warriors will “re-visit” every local high school football team in search of talent. Unless told otherwise, they will work to close deals on junior-college prospects. Next week Wednesday is the start of the signing period for recruits eligible to […]

Head coach Greg McMackin has retired as UH head coach. McMackin has a year remaining on a five-year contract that pays $1.1 million annually. He will receive $600,000 as a separation fee, forfeiting $500,000 that he would be owed. A national search will begin, according to UH. Rich Miano, the associate head coach, has been named interim head coach.

Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw, athletic director Jim Donovan and head coach Greg McMackin met for more than an hour after last night’s awards banquet for the Warrior football team. All declined to comment after emerging from the meeting held in a conference room at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel.

Justin “J.T.” Turner, a former 5-star cornerback from Ohio, has given a conditional verbal commitment to the Warriors. Turner made his commitment this afternoon, shortly before leaving Hawaii after completing his recruiting trip, but is awaiting the status of the UH coaching staff. Turner is close to Tony Tuioti, UH’s defensive line coach. Turner was considered to be one of Ohio’s top high school players as a senior. He signed with Michigan, but left after failing to get along with […]

Sure, this isn’t your parents’ BYU-UH game or rivalry. But for the first time in this (renewed) series, this game actually has postseason ramification. In 1990, Ty Detmer already had won the Heisman Trophy when the teams teed it up. In 2001, an unbeaten BYU had little chance of playing for a national title. For the Warriors, they control whether their season extends another three weeks. * * * * * Bill Stutzmann (right), father of Billy Ray Stutzmann,  sends […]

From the starting quarterback (David Graves) to the uniform color scheme (black/green top, white pants), the Warriors appear set for tomorrow’s regular-season finale against Brigham Young. While many have made uniform suggestions, the Warriors have a limited wardrobe. For home games, they have a predominantly black jersey with green sleeves. Next year, Under Armour will provide a predominantly green jersey with black sleeves, as well as a camouflage-patttern jerseys. There are no plans for game-ready white helmets. For the first […]

With all of the gloom and doom of the past several weeks, the Warriors’ fifth-year seniors put into perspective the changes since 2007. Back then, what remained of Cooke Field’s artificial surface was stripped away, leaving the underpadding that feral cats mistook for a litter box. It was on this surface that Mel deLaura would conduct conditioning drills. The carpet in the coaches’ offices had the DNA from the Dick Tomey era. The student-athlete computer room was closed to student-athletes. […]

UH assistant basketball coach Brandyn Akana earned his bachelor’s degree at BYU-Hawaii, where he was a point guard, and his master’s at UH. But when it comes to Saturday’s football game between UH and BYU, Akana wants there to be no doubts. “I’ll be cheering for the University of Hawaii,” said Akana, whose brother (Jarinn) and wife (Joselyn) were former UH athletes. * * * * * Linebacker Aaron Brown has a request: “We need seats in the seats.” * […]