Finding Nino
It will be a homecoming of sorts when kicker Nino Alibegic of Independence (Kan.) Community College joins the Warriors as a walk-on this summer.
Alibegic was born in Idaho, moved to Hawaii in the fourth grade, and moved back to Idaho just prior to his freshman year at Rocky Mountain High School.
It was the summer before his senior year when Alibegic and a Rocky Mountain player were kicking around a soccer ball. Head coach Scott Criner asked Alibegic to join the football team. The Grizzlies won Idaho’s 5-A championship in 2015.
The following year, Alibegic and his half-brother, defensive tackle Tristan Nichols of Saint Louis School, enrolled at Arizona Western. A year later, Alibegic transferred to Independence. Nichols, who had made a verbal commitment to the Warriors, remained at Arizona Western and recently signed with Nevada.
Alibegic will earn his associate’s degree at the end of this semester, and join the Warriors for the July 25 start of training camp. He will have three years to play two UH seasons.
Alibegic said he chose UH because of the coaches, the emphasis on special teams (newly hired Michael Ghobrial works solely with the specialists during practices) and a chance to return to Hawaii (his mother and step-father live here).
Alibegic said he can comfortably convert from up to 53 yards. He said he has focused on attempts up to 40 yards in recent training.
“I cannot wait to come in and get to work,” Alibegic told the Warrior Beat.
Alex Trifonvitch, Ryan Meskell and Michael Boyle also are competing at kicker for the Warriors.
You just plain crack me up!!!
GO WARRIORS !!!
Tsai – I would say I got a kick out of your pun, but that one’s been done to death.
Continued prayers for Wena’s mom.
Welcome, Nino!
Go check out Nino’s tweets … lotsa comments.
Welcome Nino!
Can you help me reach my goal by chipping in $25 online with the last below link?
Got this email from Rolo:
Tom,
Received your email from my mom. Can’t tell you how thankful we are for what you have done throughout the years. I would like to pledge $500 to the account. Please put a $50 in the name of all the assistant coaches, I will let them know. Appreciate it.
—
Best Wishes and Aloha,
Nick Rolovich
Head Football Coach
University of Hawaii
#LiveAlohaPlayWarrior
http://www.hawaiiathletics.com/index.aspx
https://twitter.com/NickRolovich
Can you help me reach my goal by making a $25 donation to the UH Foundation Fund I created for UH Football recruiting–see below link.
If 2000 fans do this, we will raise $50,000. So far, I got 609 donors ($15,225), so only 1391 more donors to go–each donor spot represents $25.
After donating, text me your name to 415-324-0585 or email your receipt to: tomkitaguchi@yahoo.com so I can add it below (if you don’t mind):
1. Tom Kitaguchi, CA
2. Joel Gushikuma, VA
3. Michelle Houlihan (mom of Ben Scruton #36), Australia
4. Timothy Ho, CA
5. Jeffrey Domdoma, HI
6. Toni & Chris Martines, HI
7. D. Ng
8. Tom Mui, HI
9. Glenn Okada, HI
10. J Sakai
11. W Stallworth
12. Daniel Ng, CA
13. Dean Shimabukuro, CA
14. Dave Mutter, IL
15. Aaron Avilla, HI
16. Tammy Hadden (mom of former K Tyler Hadden), CA
17. E Hananoki
18. Scott Isara, CA
19. C Kobashigawa
20. J Nanya, CA
21. Daniel Ng, CA
22. Glenn Okada, HI
23. Mike Perry (brother of Fred Ulu-Perry’s grandpa), NV
24. D Rutt, HI
25. E Scott, ID
26. Keith Sherman, PA
27. E Stallworth
28. H Takahashi
29. E Stalwart
30. Rick Santana, HI
31. Glen Iwamoto
32. Graham McConnell, NY
33. C Kuniyuki, HI
34. Gerald Ushijima, HI
35. Barbara Heiking, HI
36. Curtis Sano, VA
37. M Yuen, HI
38. Al Kimura, HI
39. Dave Mutter
40. Andrew Uffman, CA
41. Wayne Miyasato
42. Garret Okamoto, CA
43. Neal Morisato, HI
44. Stevie Kiyosaki, HI
45. Carey Adachi, CA
46. Brian Koji, CA
47-50. Harold Imai $100
51. Jeff Duva, first QB for Dick Tomey 1977-78, CA
52. David Kam
53. J Aniya
54-57. William & Ramona Stutzmann $100
58. Greg Cummins, first punter for Dick Tomey 1977-78, CA
59. Wayne Coito, HI
60-64. Tom Kitaguchi $125
65-66. Timothy Ho $50, CA
67-70. Daniel Ng $100
71-74. Dave Mutter $100, former OL in 1970’s & biggest supporter of former players
75-76. Rick Santana $50
77-80. Gil Horita, HI
81-96. anonymous
97-98. Chad Sanborn $50, HI
99-102. Tom Kitaguchi $100
103-104. Herb Ho $50, HI
105. Gary Tokumori, CA
106-107. Leburta Kanno $50, HI
108-109. Milton Gibo $50, CA
110. Tyler Siu
111. Ipu Man
112. Lesley Torres, HI
113-114. Ross Shiraki $50, UHM ’80, CA
115-119. Tom Kitaguchi $125
120-121. Scott Simon
122. Roger Simon
123. Jarin Simon
124-127. Gerald Ushijima $100
128. Eric Saruwatari
129. John Amaki, CA
130-134. Glen Morisato $100, CA
135-136. Harold & Denise Imai, HI, Warrior fans for life!
137. Lee & Tricia Afusia, parents of Kody Afusia (former OL), CA
138. Gregg Isara, CA
139. Grant Tanimoto, HI
140. Roger Ikeda, CA
141. David Oride, HI
142-151. Rick Nakashima $250, HI
152-191. $1000 from Water Controls Inc. of Maui, who challenges other companies to do the same!
192. Desmond Ogata, HI
193. Carol E. Ogata, HI
194. Gwen Martin, HI
195-204. Pat Rogers $250
205-208. Rich Yamane $100
209-210. Rick Ikemoto $50
211. Garret Yamanaka, HI
212-237. Tom Kitaguchi $650
237-240. Ed Tamura $100, HI
241. W Figueira, HI
242. Shilene Matautia (mom of our star LB Solomon #27), HI
243-244. C. Y., WA
245. Ed McIntosh, HI
246. Bob Medeiros
247-250. Tom Kitaguchi
251. Kelly Toguchi, HI
252-254. Joey Gushikuma $100, VA
255. Fuchsia Yamashiro (UNLV tailgate head) $25 ongoing monthly, NV
256-275. Carey Adachi $500, CA
276-279. Mike Higa $100
280. G. Miyashiro, HI
281. Jason Shimizu, HI
282. Ken Araki, CA
283-284. Carl Nagami
285. Stephen Miller, AZ
286-289. Allen Kamemoto $100, HI
290. Matt & Ioke Wong, HI
291-292. Tim Chang, CA
293. Brian Perry (Fred Ulu-Perry’s grandpa), HI
294-295. Keone Chin, HI
296. Lance McGee, WA
297. Eddie Kim, CA
298-302. Lori Rolovich (yes, Rolo’s mom), CA
303. Matt Mitchell, HI
304. Clyde Matsusaka, HI
305-306. Curtis & Carol Kobashigawa, NV, Warrior fans for life!
307-310. Ronald Malandra, Maui, Long Bch St alum.
311. Darren Aoki, HI
312-313. anonymous
314-317. Wanda Kitaguchi, HI
318-321. Bob Kawai, H
322. Rob Morita, HI
323-324. Glenn & Sharon Yokoyama, HI
325. Clyde Rodrigues, Maui
326. Annie DeWeese, HI
327. Laulauhead
328-525. Previous Warrior Nation Fund donors
526-527. Dave & Linda Olney, CA
528. Mirio Whitley, HI
529-532. anonymous, CA
533. Fuchsia Yamashiro, NV (ongoing monthly donation)
534. Tom Kitaguchi, HI (ongoing monthly donation)
535. The Punchbowl Kid
536. James Watari, HI
537. Daryl Williams, CA (former UH LB)
538. Randy Tobita, Lahaina, HI
539. Wayne Coito, HI
540. Louise Ferreira, HI
541. Yvette Paz, HI
542. Pauline Iwamoto, HI
543. Noreen Myman, CA
544. Stephen & Karen Maddox, NV
545-548. Lance & Eileen Ohara, CA
549-550. Mark Banker, UH football asst. coach
551-552. Corey Batoon, UH football asst. coach
553-554. Mark Weber, UH football asst. coach
555-556. Ricky Logo, UH football asst. coach
557-558. Andre Allen, UH football asst. coach
559-560. Brian Smith, UH football asst. coach
561-562. Craig Stutzman, UH football asst. coach
563-564. Mayur Chaudhari, UH football asst. coach
565-566. Abe Eliminian, UH football asst. coach
567-568. Jacob Yoro, UH football asst. coach
569. Howard Hanzawa, Maui
570. Tony Tony, CA
571. Richard Yuen, CA
572-575. What’s Up, TX
576. Tony N, CA
577. Richard Yuen, CA
578-579. Placido Valenciano, HI
580-584. Anonymous, CA
585. Pride Rock, HI
586-589. Alex & Doreen Dold, HI, of travel agency: doldworldjourneys.com
590-593. Ronald Malandra, Maui
594-597. Tom Mui, HI
598-601. Stanley Yamagata, HI
602-603. Dave Langille & Sherry Allison, Maui
604. Tim Watanabe, HI
605-607. anonymous
608-609. Brian Yamasaki, “In memory of Earl Ushijima”.
610. Kyle Oura, CA
611-614. Earl Mente, HI.
615. Glen Iwamoto, HI
Mahalo, and pls share this with all of your fellow fans.
Tom Kitaguchi, founder of Hawaii Football Warrior Nation Facebook group (over 3050 members)
https://www.uhfoundation.org/impact/students/warrior-nation
You have got to wonder what is going on with the current kickers, as they are bringing in another. You would think that one of the current crop would develop and step forward.
Guy is a walk on. Nothing to lose. Even if you have an All American kicker on the roster and some kid wants to walk on, why would you turn him away without giving the kid a chance? Who knows? The dude could turn out to help the team in other ways, like being a holder, being the kick off guy or maybe even being a very good on side kicker.
The more the merrier.
Go UH sports!
Go journalism!
I watch zero MMA.
They were displaying a giant gold belt outside the Mililani Times.
A man was signing autographs in the parking lot.
It must have been BJ Penn.
Is there anybody else on the board who does not watch mixed-martial arts?
David Mamet is a fan.
ST:
our prayers go out to you and Wena for your MIL’s speedy and 100% recovery.
did your long, lost neighbor finally decide to “move-in”? keep seeing a light on about 4:45 am today and before we left on a trip
Great Morning All!
All for the kicks…
Nino…Pinto…Santo Mario…and… and…:shock:
😯
El. Nino
Can he reach the endzone with his leg on kickoffs?
Wow. A true walk on. Junk.
will the special teams coach be able to help the kickers/punters increase their range?
hope so, cause it was lacking in 2017.
is there another Semiri Ulufale out there who is willing to play for UH and be the “wedge buster” on kick-off”?
hope the new special teams coach will create “alleys” that can go either left or right and keep the “up-da-middle” option if given to UH by an opponent.
eye mus bee on da “robot” list again — so many blocks with cars~!!!!
New post: http://www.hawaiiwarriorworld.com/?p=45718