Empire state of mind
Former UH defensive end Tavita Woodard has reached agreement with agent Cameron Weiss of Empire Athletics, which is based in Santa Monica.
A week ago, Woodard texted the Warrior Beat to report he had chosen Weiss. Details were not worked out until the past couple of days. Weiss said there had been “11th-hour negotiations,” but now “the paper work is in and out.”
Woodard will train under Chad Ikei in Hawaii.
Weiss is a lawyer who teamed with Joe Barkett to found Empire Athletics in 2012.
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It was an interesting agreement to play five full sets in last night’s volleyball exhibition between UH and Thompson Rivers no matter the outcome of the first four sets.
The arrangement allowed the Rainbow Warriors to experiment with different lineups. One thing is evident: Kupono Fey could be UH’s best local outside hitter since Tony Ching. Fey, a 2013 Punahou graduate, is an accurate passer, intuitive blocker, multiple-angle hitter, and has the range to play middle back.
It will be interesting to see current Punhou senior Larry “Tui” Tuileta join the mix in 2015.
Ekahi–Aloha kakou!
Playoffs!!!
Good morning Tsaikos!
Congrats to Mr. Woodard. Hope his Pro Day and tryouts are successful.
Had a great time at the game last night. UH definitely played better than on Thursday. Got to talk to Kupono’s and Kolby’s parents at the booster club potluck after the game.
ST – know anything about the yellow card they gave to UH last night? I guess it was for trash-talking and Charlie was trying to get the refs to tell him what exactly was said, but they wouldn’t tell him.
GOOD MORNING HAWAII!
Boolakanaka: The “Big Three” of the SEC (GA, FL, and AL) didn’t do too well in Bowl Games – FL not even making one. Some of the so-called Lesser Lights won but some just barely.
No doubt SEC is a top conference but in your opinion, how will this affect economic love affair between SEC, ESPN and the possible shifts in super conferences in the coming year(s)?
ALOHA KAKAHIAKA!
Any news about other local NFL hopefuls?
top ten
If Larry Tuileta can be our starting QB I think he should give up playing volleyball for awhile.
Playoffs?
Tuileta probably is one of the best high school volleyball players in the country.
The key is to land Pono Maa’s son.
Jm:
I thought I saw Siki arguing about something, but I’m not sure which language he used. Sometimes the presentation is worse than the words.
Joby Ramos and Kolby Kanetake need to stay healthy this season. They’re the keys.
4–Tommui, to be honest I forgot the original point I made regarding the SEC. But, I think what I was trying to say, is that one; these programs are highly profitable (if I recall, Bama has a 100 million surplus fund exclusively for athletics) and two, while no doubt the SEC had a down year in bowl games, if one were to look at final rankings for the last 10-15 years, there has been consistently been at least a couple of teams in the final Top 10.
My posit then is that there are a very known quality, and have not just robust state followings, but the entire SE region of the US are rabid football followers, e.g a marketers dream. As with most business decisions, data touch points are at the heart of decision making. Thus, I suspect, the love affair will continue….What the SEC has in its favor is the equivalent of having both a stiff jab, and a killer uppercut, that is to say, sellout of stadiums in excess of 70,000 coupled with TV followers who watch religiously. To a certain degree, almost for the same marketing reasons that make stock car racing is so popular, that same demographic is almost evangelical about college football.
ST – the ref made it a point to state that the yellow card was for the WHOLE team. Whatever.
Oh, just a follow-up point to my post above. Consider that in general, the upper echelon of the BCS derives it profits from two sources: ticket sales and sponsorships. So by way of example, when UMichigan, Bama or UT play a home game, they will make a gross between 6-7 million, per game–yes, per game. Their net profit will be roughly 50 percent of that amount or about 3 million, every home game. It is the reason that these programs in some instances will pay to move an away game to home, without payouts in the 2 million range.
Really shows the stark distinctions between the haves and have-nots, e.g. there was much adieu when UH didn’t take the Colorado game this year for 600k(or whatever the amount was) and probably would have netted something closer to 200k, or a difference of a multiple of 15xs.
Boy, that red-headed QB is having a bad day. 🙄
guess college football is much like the US economy where the “haves or 1%” have it all and the 99%s, like me, got only the crumbs
great to see the “stock market” advance, but it benefits the 1% as they own most of the outstanding shares
if Obama care does well, what will the Republicans harp on next as the US and global economy seems to doing well – positive step for me as clients will continue their business rather than close shop.
which brings me to how much will UH make with the “body bag” games against Wisconsin, Ohio State and Michigan? at least $1.3 mil?
and the count down begins to watch the “game” in the frozen tundra called Green Bay – it’s mind boggling to b playing in minus degree weather with a wind chill – perhaps the at that cold it does not really matter
Army buddies from Alaska says they play a game to urinate when it’s below 15 degrees because it freezes as soon as it exits and one must be careful not to “back draft” – they are crazy!!!
#9 ST, I didn’t know Tuileta was so highly regarded in the VB world. Charlie must be licking his chops.
Clarification on my last post above–I meant to say, that these programs will offer a payout of a couple million dollars on previously scheduled away games. Which begs the question–why?? Simply even after turning over 2 million, it will still result in 1.5 to 2 million in net profit for their program. And yes, these top programs are the Warren Buffets of the college football landscape.
Hi, gang!
Good luck to Tavita!
jmxxxx, cheer for me at the MVB games. Will miss seeing those guys play.
Go Niners!
A-House 15: Curious that the 1% “haves” seem to have forgotten the the Dow was in the 6,000-7,000 range with the US ecomomy on the verge of collapse under their watch. With the Dow now at or near all time highs at over 16,000, Obama is in their eyes is still the greatest threat?!??!
(OK, can of worms open)
………and of course, Let Go Bows!
A-House: guessing those payouts to UH are gross figures. Hope we don’t see a repeat of Sugar Bowl spending with unauthorized staff and family getting free trips. It was embarrasing to the program to have to collect from those individuals after the fact.
as much as I like Hinshaw, I hear tell that she was the one to authorize so many “extras” tagging along for the free wide – several who took their children because they could not find baby sitters on such short notice
and, I hear tell that many from “upper campus” do not back athletics, but wanted the free ride.
yes, I agree with 3-prong – take only who you need for the game including the medical staff and trainers who assist the injured players during the game – some were left behind for the Sugar Bowl
time will tell for Apple and Jay
also, charter a plane for the players and if got extra seats, sell them to fans on a first come first serve basis – for the 1992 Holiday Bowl we were with the UH band both ways.
21:
also, several told UHAD they wanted to pay or paid their own way, but lumped together with those who had to repay UH
23
Very true. A team doctor friend of mine paid his own way on the charter flight but was included as part of the people who traveled on UH’s dime. Was surprised to see the name of a student worker (my son’s former girlfriend) at the time included as having her traveled paid for by UH to the Sugar Bowl.
This is prime example of an institution “not staying in their lane” . While it was a once a life time opportunity, it’s a mistake to act like your with the big boys. Won’t most don’t realize the size and magnitude of a year in, and year out, BCS program. Now when you mix in institutional fiscal malfeasance, it makes for embarrassing outcomes.
I think the past several years, Tuileta’s teams have won national age-group titles. And each year, Tuileta is the MVP.
Re: Sugar Bowl
The paying part is a matter of timing.
There were some who paid after the fact, which meant they initially thought they would be getting, literally, a free ride. But when they learned it was not permissible, they reimbursed the school.
Then again, didn’t Aloha Airlines go belly-up after that, anyway?
Re: Alaska
As the story goes, the ground is too hard during the winter, so many of the burials are delayed until the spring thaw.
Yes, again, timing is everything.
day started cloudy and chilly – turned into a beautiful mid-day to mdi-afternoon then the clouds took over and the wind chill became a factor – nothing close to the 49er game which was a nail biter, but on to Carolina
9er OC called a very conservative game and it nearly cost the 9ers the win – officials didn’t help with calling very few holding calls against the Packers – the Golden Gazelle needs to be more patient in the pocket and calling so many audiles as the LOS and the WRers must do a better job knowing their position after the play is called – too much wasted time
yet, count another win for the post-season 49ers – my initial bet for the 9ers to win it all still good
ST:
no worries for the “body” until Spring arrives –
like the Rainbow Warriors, the 9ers this season, seem to get into a “funk” offensively during certain parts of the game – so many 3 and out situation – up the middle or off tackle with the “box” stacked with 8 or 9 players – and some were “bumboochas”
luckily, each time the opponent does the same or the defense holds them without scoring and the 49er win – keep this up and they will lose
too similar to the Warriors except UH loses
wafan:
if still here, safe travels back to the PNW
if already at home, keep warm and dry!
hello, Izzy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hot dog, most of the Tsaikos are absent or just to tired reading back ‘n forth between certain idividuals
was it the cold weather that affected Kaepernick’s floating passes or did he just “baby” his passes?
Hi, Mr. A-House!
Nope. Back home in the PNW and almost ready for school.
Tui’s club team has won the national title the last six years. He’s been the MVP, and Micah Ma’a his setter. To get them to play together at UH would be a coup since they’ve been on the court with each other for so long.
Hi, Garret! Hope you had a good visit home.
Something a little of topic but interesting is that Cayman Shutter had a good season for the University of Regina Rams. I believe he won their MVP. I understand its a lower level but one thing I didnt understand is why they didnt push harder for him to stay and compete for the job. QB play this year wasnt terrible but I would really like to see a 1 QB system going forward.
Too bad Caymen didn’t play.
Tony Ching… Man, he was fun to watch. That guy had a massive vertical jump.
34… I think Kaep was trying to put some air under the ball but they didn’t appear to come off his fingers right (a little wobbly). There was enough wind to affect deep throws that don’t have a tight spiral.
He’s got more than enough arm to drive the ball through the wind, but he lofted the balls on the under thrown ones.
In any case, he was really good and made some key runs/throws to set up the win for the 49ers. The TD drive after Green Bay took the lead was big time and was the most impressive thing I saw from Kaep. He didn’t press or panic after the 49ers lost the lead and all the momentum was in the Packers favor.
A good frozen Monday, all!
Great Morning All!
Terrific Wild Card Weekend.
Now on to the NC! Who ya got?
FYI–Little birdie has said that Charlie Strong is seriously considering retaining Duane Akina for two reasons: Vance Bedford (ULouie DC and coming over with Charlie Strong)) is a former longhorn DB, and thinks highly of Duane; and two; Duane brings a proven pipeline to in-state recruiting in Texas. More details to come….
3 got Auburn and Masaboy took Florida State
Good morning, Tsai-kos and Lurk-ers!
Happy Monday!
I see how that worked for mvb!
We were treated to 5 games!
Hehe