Warrior Beat

In the late 1980s, Riley Wallace, then the UH basketball coach, had his version of the gray-shirt program. At the start of training, each player was issued a plain gray shirt. The reward of good practices was to be awarded a “Hawaii” basketball jersey. Chris Gaines always was one of the first to earn a promotion. Back then, one of the drills was a one-on-one, no-rules, full-court game. Joe Hudson, a transfer from Alabama, was a quite confident guard. He […]

Sad to hear of the passing of Chris Gaines, who was the UH basketball team’s career scoring leader.  Gaines, 41, died in Orlando, where he was living with his wife, Diane, and their three children, according to his step-mother, Clara Gaines. Gaines was a soft-spoken guy, tremendously nice, and a pure shooter.  UH’s Circle of Honor committee has been meeting. Gaines deserves to be honored, for his athletic performance and how well he represented UH.  * * * * * […]

Yep, that was rough. Another season-ending loss on national television. It likely will cost the Warriors their national ranking, and stall momentum going into a long offseason.  And that’s too bad, considering it was an otherwise good year. Ten victories. Record-setting performances from Greg Salas, Kealoha Pilares and Alex Green. And when it’s all over, Bryant Moniz still should be the leader in total offense.  The schedule looks favorable for next season, with the two biggest obstacles — Washington and […]

Hawaii is the “visiting team,” but for purposes of records and statistics, this is considered a home game. * * * * * At the end of yesterday’s walk-through, the quarterbacks gathered and let out a yell for senior Brent Rausch. Rausch might be eligible for an exemption that would allow him to compete as a sixth-year senior in 2011. But he has opted to get on with his life, and today’s Hawaii Bowl will be his last game as […]

The Warriors have implemented their game plan, practiced it thoroughly, and are prepared — strategically, at least — for tomorrow’s Hawaii Bowl. This afternoon’s walk-through is a way to keep the players active. But like all walk-throughs, there will be no hitting and no pads. Some of the players will be wearing other people’s uniforms. Tonight, the Warriors will be sequestered in meetings.  Things I learned this past week: • Defensive end Kamalu Umu’s mother, who is a nurse, had […]

The Warriors are shaking up the left side of their offense, with Billy Ray Stutzmann to start at left wideout over Rodney Bradley, Kainoa LaCount at left tackle over Austin Hansen, and Brett Leonard at left guard over Brysen “Bula’ Ginlack.  * * * * *  Backup quarterback Brent Rausch said he woke up today with an infected right eye. He wore a patch today. (Several years ago, WAC commissioner Karl Benson wore an eye patch to a news conference. […]

Mr. Dacuycuy crafted action figures of Kealoha Pilares and Greg Salas. How accurate? The Pilares action figure has precise tattoos; Salas’ figure is making a one-handed catch.  * * * * * Pilares poses with former Warrior Craig Stutzmann (now an assistant coach at Idaho State) and Bill Stutzmann. * * * * *  Defensive end Siaki Cravens said he will not play in Friday’s Hawaii Bowl, and is set to undergo surgery on his right patella in January. * […]

Securing commitments from offensive lineman Thomas Olds Jr. of San Clemente (Calif.) High and linebacker Brenden Daley of Ventura (Calif.) College was big. What could be bigger is the the Warriors now are in the running for one of the state’s best prospects — defensive end Juda Parker of Saint Louis School. Parker said he withdrew a verbal commitment to Tennessee, and now lists UH, Washington and Oregon State as his favored choices. He said he completed a UH recruiting […]