Warrior Beat

Quarterback Tyler Graunke will not be joining the team for this weekend’s start of training camp while he resolves a personal issue. Graunke told The Advertiser he is hopeful his situation will be resolved soon, allowing him to participate in Monday’s first practice of training camp. The veterans report Sunday. But in a news release, coach Greg McMackin said: “Tyler has things to work on. At this point, he will not practice with the team. Because of privacy laws, I […]

A highly regarded linebacker from Las Vegas has accepted a football scholarship from the Warriors. T.J. Alofipo gave his verbal commitment this morning. “That’s where I want to be,” Alofipo told The Advertiser. He is rated as Nevada’s top linebacker, and the state’s fourth-best player overall.  Alofipo is 6 feet 2 and 235 pounds. He said he has been timed at 4.7 seconds over 40 yards. He can dunk a basketball. Last season, Alofipo made 66 tackles, including 11.5 for […]

Congratulations to running back Joey Cadiz, who has been invited to the Warriors’ training camp, which opens this weekend. Cadiz, a 2007 graduate of Mililani High, attended Humboldt State last year. He earned one of 104 spots (UH is keeping one open) because of his hard work in running drills and weightlifting sessions this summer. Cadiz, who is 5 feet 6, is expected to serve on the scout team. But earning a berth against tough competition is quite an accomplishment. […]

Thanks again to Kealoha Pilares for serving as our chat guest today. We appeciate his time, insights and typing ability. By request, here are pix of Pilares’s tats:

Right slotback Kealoha Pilares will be our chat guest today at about 11:30 a.m. A separate post for the chat will go up at 11;15. Please join us. * * * From a news release: Elected officials from Aiea and Pearl City will be hosting a community town meeting with University of Hawaii Athletic Director Jim Donovan and Head Football Coach Greg McMackin to “talk story” about the future of the University of Hawaii Athletics Program. The meeting is scheduled […]

The Temecula (Calif.) pipeline is still active. When Brett Symonds of Chaparral HIgh reports to training camp Saturday, he becomes the third Temecula-raised kicker to play for the Warriors. He follows Eric Hannum and Dan “The Iceman” Kelly. Symonds turned down scholarship offers from Weber State and Idaho State to enroll at UH as a walk-on. But he said welcomed the opportunity to serve as Kelly’s apprentice. Kelly is entering his senior season. “And,” he said of his decision, “it’s […]

Two seasons after leaving UH to become Portland State’s head coach, Jerry Glanville is coming to the Warriors’ defense. Glanville allowed defensive back Daniel Smith to join the Vikings and he signed a scholarship release for offensive lineman Whitley Fehoko. In February, Smith, who will be a freshman this season, filed a lawsuit against UH, claiming it reneged on a promise to honor a scholarship offer made in April 2007. UH argued that Jeff Reinebold, who was a UH assistant […]

The Warriors have drawn praise for receiving early verbal commitments from Billy Ray Stutzmann, Corey Nielsen and Kimo Makaula. But nearly forgotten is that the first member of the 2009 class actually signed a letter of intent in February 2006. Linebacker Waylon Lolotai is set to join the Warriors next season. He signed with UH in 2006, then went on a church mission. His grandfather Al Lolotai is acknowledged as the NFL’s first player of Samoan ancestry. His father Liloi […]