Lion-hearted

Pro days measure a player’s height, weight, vertical jump, speed over 40 yards and on zig-zag courses and strength. But heart? If there were such a test, John Hardy-Tuliau would put up numbers that would make Mel Kiper Jr.’s hair stand at attention.

112His last name has a hyphen, but it really should include a slash. At UH, Hardy-Tuliau played cornerback, free safety, strong safety, nickelback and dimeback. That’s five positions — make that 11, if you count his time on six special-team units. He also would have been a punt returner if he wasn’t needed to block punts.

Despite all that, there were many nights — months? — when his cell phone was silent. But he worked hard, kept the faith, and knocked on proverbial doors. The reward is his place on the B.C. Lions’ practice roster. Earning an international spot — any international spot — is significant in the CFL, where Canadians are guaranteed a majority of the roster berths.

Hardy-Tuliau won’t play in the Lions’ season-opener this week. While he awaits a promotion to the active roster, he will work hard and keep the faith.


Here’s the ultimate video: Hardy-Tuliau video


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COMMENTS

  1. Da Punchbowl Kid June 23, 2014 8:51 am

    Ekahi!


  2. Da Punchbowl Kid June 23, 2014 8:52 am

    Elua!


  3. Stephen Tsai June 23, 2014 8:53 am

    DPK:
    That was your one-two punch?


  4. Da Punchbowl Kid June 23, 2014 8:54 am

    Great news about Hardy-Tuliau! He was a great as a Warrior, let’s hope he can do the same up north!


  5. Da Punchbowl Kid June 23, 2014 8:58 am

    Stephen – that was as close as it gets I reckon.

    From yesterdays post, was that Rough Rider as big as he looks? Was he the big guy you had mentioned?


  6. Stephen Tsai June 23, 2014 9:00 am

    No, the big guy wasn’t the Rough Rider. But he’s pictured in one of the group photos. I wasn’t sure if I could identify prospects, so I decided to leave breadcrumbs for people to figure out.


  7. Da Punchbowl Kid June 23, 2014 9:14 am

    Let the games begin…


  8. boolakanaka June 23, 2014 9:18 am

    Aloha All! Big new on the scholarship front, see: http://www.oregonlive.com/pac-12/index.ssf/2014/06/new_4-year_usc_scholarship_policy_called_a_game_ch.html#incart_river_default

    In short, because you place no warrants on the scholarship, and it is secure for the entire 4 years, it really does place them in a very enviable position competing against other PAC 12 and for that matter upper tier BSC schools.


  9. Ipu Man June 23, 2014 9:21 am

    Go John Hardy Tuliau!


  10. Stephen Tsai June 23, 2014 9:46 am

    It sounds good but: 1) It doesn’t account for a redshirt year. 2) It limits USC to 21 initials each year. 3) Based on 5-year players, that goes down to 17 initials each year


  11. boolakanaka June 23, 2014 10:03 am

    All good points, but since the NCAA created parity in the 80s by bringing down the scholarship numbers for all D1 football programs, this only underscores the importance of being accurate on your recruiting. Not many schools, probably less than two dozen have the financial where-with-all, to underwrite such scholarships. From my perspective, when most of your recruits are all top 50 HS players, to make such an offer, when no one else is doing so, creates a fairly pronounced incentive.


  12. Da Punchbowl Kid June 23, 2014 10:04 am

    Stephen –
    Saw that big kid you were talking about. If he’s got potential, I hope UH is already talking to him.


  13. boolakanaka June 23, 2014 10:06 am

    And as well, I think the move, was to redistribute a little more security and autnomy in the player’s column.


  14. OC Warrior June 23, 2014 10:26 am

    Apparently, USC was not the first to do this, just the first to make a big deal out of it:
    http://www.insidesocal.com/usc/2014/06/23/the-pr-benefit-of-4-year-scholarships/


  15. boolakanaka June 23, 2014 10:32 am

    I think what is probably figured also into the equation is whether this effectively mitigates your annual attrition. So, if you can stabilize that number, it-offsets a higher number of signees. Thus, almost like a HR algorithm, you do much better planning, even with smaller numbers, if you know your players are their for the entire 4 year period.


  16. tommui June 23, 2014 10:36 am

    GOOD MORNING HAWAII!

    Good for Hardy-Tuliau!


  17. SteveM June 23, 2014 10:37 am

    Good morning everyone!

    Top 20 again.

    Congrats to John Hardy-Tuliau!


  18. Stephen Tsai June 23, 2014 10:37 am

    Wonder what happens with a limbo guy like Wittek. Under the SC promise, he’s still entitled to another year of tuition.


  19. Stephen Tsai June 23, 2014 10:38 am

    By extension, could Wittek then take the money he is owed, then apply it to tuition and expenses at UH?


  20. Andrew June 23, 2014 11:05 am

    18.

    Wouldn’t that promise of tuition be contingent on him being on the football team?


  21. boolakanaka June 23, 2014 11:47 am

    20–Yes, I think, in situations of someone leaving the program, and having a scholly only for a year or two, I would think a deserving walk-on would fill those spots.


  22. Inyoface. June 23, 2014 11:51 am

    GOAAALLL!!!!!


  23. HALEAKALA June 23, 2014 12:10 pm

    That is great to hear about John H-T!


  24. bowwar June 23, 2014 2:02 pm

    What’s up with the hotlink for this blog…I keep getting an email response request…However, when I go through the “all blogs” and select WB, I get through??
    Is anyone else experiencing this?


  25. Stephen Tsai June 23, 2014 2:50 pm

    What’s a hotlink?


  26. tommui June 23, 2014 2:53 pm

    Hotlink is when you have two hotdogs on the grill still connected?


  27. boolakanaka June 23, 2014 2:58 pm

    Remember the “missing link?” Old school days watching wrestling from Bloch Arena…..I suppose if he got really mad, he would be a hotlink…lol

    If not, a connection between documents or applications that enables material from one source to be incorporated into another, in particular a facility that automatically updates material in a document when an alteration is made to the document from which it originated.


  28. SteveM June 23, 2014 3:05 pm

    Coach Larry Price was one of my favorites and probably the most colorful coach in the last 50 years. But back then, UH was an independent “Division II” school and there not a lot of Pac-8 teams on the schedule. But he did beat BYU once.

    But Coach Price did usher in the fierce defense that Hawaii was famous for at the time.


  29. bowwar June 23, 2014 3:12 pm

    The link I referenced is under your subject matter posted…This time it worked with no problem, but recently, I’ve pressed the link and came up with a response an email…How your figgah?


  30. Stephen Tsai June 23, 2014 3:26 pm

    bowwar:
    Sorry to hear that. Glad everything is OK now.


  31. Da Punchbowl Kid June 23, 2014 3:49 pm

    # 27 –

    WOOOOOHHHHYEEEEAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!


  32. 3-Prong June 23, 2014 4:23 pm

    27-31: WOOOOOOHHHHYEEEEAAA, Misssah Francis!

    Was he the guy that did “The Claw”?


  33. Boolakanaka June 23, 2014 4:46 pm

    Chee-hoo! Got dat Braddha 3-prong, who didn’t love wrestling as a kid??! Stay-up late on Friday night, watch Braddha Sammy Steamboat, lord tally no blears, ripper Collins,Curtis da bull iuakea, Johnny Baraend, the MC Gentlmen Ed Francis…only the best time ever!!!!


  34. SteveM June 23, 2014 5:16 pm

    In the mid-80’s I was bowling on the KGMB team (long story how that happened). At the start of the 3rd season our team captain introduced me to a new team member: Ripper Collins. I did not recognize him after all the years and he was one of the finest gentlemen I ever met. But it was always interesting when he picked up his ball and went to the line… teams on both side of us would stop and wait. 🙂 He stayed with us for 1 season.


  35. Boolakanaka June 23, 2014 5:24 pm

    SM–now that’s a classic bowling story!! Even better with a shiro burger….


  36. gobows June 23, 2014 5:35 pm

    michigan students passing on attending football games…

    http://www.thepostgame.com/blog/road-saturday/201406/college-football-fan-stadium-students-business-tv-ncaa-michigan-tickets


  37. gobows June 23, 2014 5:37 pm

    female throws bp for the rays…

    http://sports.yahoo.com/news/rays-bp-against-female-knuckleballer-214256316–mlb.html


  38. nutmegger June 23, 2014 5:53 pm

    #36 gobows link should be a must read for the UHAD. Best article explaining fan loss that I’ve read. Every Tsaiko should read it.


  39. 3-Prong June 23, 2014 6:13 pm

    boo, SteveM: check out this link on 50th State Big Time Wrestling.

    http://www.50thstatebigtimewrestling.com/wrestling


  40. 3-Prong June 23, 2014 6:17 pm

    http://www.50thstatebigtimewrestling.com/wrest1.html

    Try this one instead.


  41. RoyY June 23, 2014 6:57 pm

    32…..masked executioner?


  42. Ipu Man June 23, 2014 7:41 pm

    #36, good read on Michigan decline in student football attendance.
    Greed…


  43. kapakahi June 23, 2014 8:57 pm

    Hopefully UH keeping tabs on Kapolei HS OT prospect Pesi Savea (6-7, 310)…..

    https://twitter.com/DougKimmelScout/status/480203571653144579
    https://twitter.com/DougKimmelScout/status/480203335656427520


  44. d1shima June 23, 2014 9:24 pm

    Great Evening All!

    GO WARRIORS!


  45. JustAsking June 24, 2014 1:01 am

    The 4 year scholarship is probably more significant for basketball recruits. Non-renewals, whether formal or informal, are more significant on the hardcourt. As to football, I think the benefits in recruiting outweigh the problems of limiting scholarship opportunities. Schools like USC are rarely at their limits, due to transfers and withdrawals. Indeed, USC never hit its sanction limited 75 scholarships. And that had nothing to do with non-renewals…..


  46. boolakanaka June 24, 2014 5:23 am

    3 prong…mahalo for that!! For all the old-timers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8ClgVWRURU


  47. 3-Prong June 24, 2014 6:05 am

    47: Nice memories. By the way, “i see you boo, and is that d1 over there?” (Miss Robin’s Magic Mirror) hehe


  48. 3-Prong June 24, 2014 6:25 am

    …..and is Lebron opting out? Saw a report that his attorney is stating so.


  49. d1shima June 24, 2014 6:31 am

    Great Morning All!

    Yep. Das me, 3-Prong!

    …wundah wats happening Unda Da Library nowadays? 😆


  50. boolakanaka June 24, 2014 6:36 am

    FYI, Robin Mann, well last my mom’s told me ( she is the leeward side steward of all things gossip and otherwise) that she was still teaching at KCC–quite a damn good career.


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