Volunteer pay cuts

All of  the UH coaches have been asked to take voluntary 5 percent pay cuts.

There will be no penalty if they decline.

Also, because the pay cut would be handled through personnel officers, athletic department administrators would not know who accepted or didn’t accept pay cuts for at least a year. That would remove the appearance of pressure.

This is part of a system-wide effort to curb costs.

* * * * *

It appears that the football career of Fetaiagogo Fonoti is either over or on hiatus. People close to the situation said Fonoti is working and does not have immediate plans to pursue a football career. That’s a shame. Fonoti was one of the most athletic Warriors. He would have been a tremendous special-teams player.

* * * * *

UH is acknowledging that wideout Jovonte Taylor, who led the Warriors in post-catch running last year, will not play for the Warriors in 2010. He was seeking a medical exemption to play as a sixth-year senior.

* * * * *

Except for a kicker, UH’s recruiting is over. You’ve had time to think about the recruiting class. What are your thoughts?


* * * * *

Love him or hate him, Frank Fasi was quite a character. He was innovative (People’s Market, TheBus) and controversial. But he never backed away from a fight or an argument, he was easily accessible, and he spoke his mind. Gotta love that.

(OK, confession: Fasi and my in-laws were partners in many ventures.)

He was known as Uncle Frank around the house, and just to irritate the old editors — who really disliked him — I’d refer to him as Uncle Frank around the office. He came to my wedding rception, and one of co-workers wanted to come to blows with him.

Like, I said, what a character.

I’ll miss him and all of the others who helped shape Honolulu’s history.


* * * * *

Happy birthday to JaM.

COMMENTS

  1. rage777 February 4, 2010 6:47 am

    I said my opinion of this class in the last thread, but it is worth repeating.

    Great job UH coaches.


  2. haka February 4, 2010 6:47 am

    Great recruiting class!
    Great job by the coaches!
    Go Warriors!


  3. WarriorMojo February 4, 2010 7:02 am

    Much love and thanks to our newest WARRIORS!

    UH Warrior fan for LIFE!


  4. Souljah February 4, 2010 7:07 am

    My thoughts are going to all be on UH commits only! Forget the rest, cause they lost out not UH…


  5. Koreankanak February 4, 2010 7:08 am

    Looks good. Cannot get them all….but still a good effort by the coaching staff. Now the task is before them. Good luck to all the new Warriors.


  6. LizKauai [iMac] m/ February 4, 2010 7:13 am

    Success to all – on the field and off.

    HiHo!


  7. djmitcho February 4, 2010 7:16 am

    Good Morning All! I like the recruits we signed, but ask me again in 2-3 years!


  8. ai-eee-soos February 4, 2010 7:22 am

    Welcome aboard to all the recruits.

    Thank you for choosing Hawaii.


  9. oldie February 4, 2010 7:25 am

    Morning Tsaikos!

    I like the fact that this class is mostly high school seniors.

    No disrespect to our current JC transfers, but coach is building a solid foundation by concentrating on high schoolers.

    We’ll see how this class pans out in a few years.


  10. Cheyah! February 4, 2010 7:28 am

    Love the size and speed of the new Warriors! Great job! Can’t wait to see them on the field!

    Go Warriors!


  11. chopsueyboy February 4, 2010 7:39 am

    Top 11


  12. jm2375 February 4, 2010 7:40 am

    Good morning Tsai-kos!

    souljah – from the last blog – unless things have changed recently, employee’s dependents don’t get a tuition break at UH. The employee gets to take up to 6 credits per semester for free.

    Welcome again to all the new Warriors!

    RIP Frank Fasi. I didn’t like his politics, but you gotta admire how much he did for Honolulu. And if he had his way, we’d have a rail system years ago.


  13. believer February 4, 2010 7:40 am

    it will turn out to be one of the best classes!


  14. chopsueyboy February 4, 2010 7:40 am

    Great job coaches! Can’t wait for the season to start.


  15. Jun Tao February 4, 2010 7:41 am

    Great job by the coaches. This is the way to go. Plant the seeds for the program and watch them grow. UH football is heading in the right direction.


  16. whitey February 4, 2010 7:41 am

    Good morning Tsaikos. The 2010 class looks very good and they will give our Warriors a solid base for years to come. Congratulations to the coaching staff for a very good job.


  17. jm2375 February 4, 2010 7:41 am

    Good luck to Jovonte and Fonoti on their future endeavors.


  18. Okole Maluna February 4, 2010 7:45 am

    Fonoti don’t give up if not as Warrior there is always FA.
    I have been following UH recruiting for many years and this year class is at the top of list. It may top any of JJ era but we always hope for the best.
    Too bad about VJ but we got Elisara, Umu and Yap. We got a Bright, Dean and Spain recruiting cross country? And at 6-5 and 6-7 recruits is it basketball players?
    We all wish them the best and can’t wait till who will be on the Walk-On list.
    Where is Shaydon Akuna going?


  19. bstunna2002 February 4, 2010 7:50 am

    The thing about this class that impresses me is theere was only one person whose heart was tugged in a different direction which was understandable cause now he gets to play in front of family and friends. Looking at the schools we beat out for some of these recruits amazes me and it also shows the character of these kids to stick to a commitment they made. As for the coaches great job fending off the poacher’s till the end and securing this class.


  20. Don Weir February 4, 2010 7:53 am

    Na Koa Mahalos

    We want to take a moment and give a big mahalo to the coaches for their hard work at home and on the road during this recruiting season. The recruits are very specific to the needs of Warrior Football and the organization during the recruiting process was quite evident. Statistics can be misleading so when we saw the video of the recruits we saw the ‘real deal’: size, speed, postion excellence.

    Mahalo to the coaches families who dealt with the separation while husbands/fiances were gone from home so much since 12/6/2009 when recruiting started. The Warrior Football Ohana is so much stronger for their unwavering support.

    Mahalo to the football office staff for the coordination of the recruiting efforts: paperwork, recruit video organization, recruiting travel arrangements, and more than we ever can list.

    Mahalo to Kurt Osaki & the staff at the Hukilau Restaurant for hosting the Coach McMackin Review of the Warrior Football Recruits of 2010. Also mahalo to Better Brands and Budweiser for their support last evening.

    Mahalo to Mark Studebaker of Harbor Financial who donated the printed programs for last evening and the .pdf file of the program that was sent out to all Na Koa members.


  21. Buffoman February 4, 2010 7:54 am

    I am in agreement that this may turn out to be one of the best. Just looking at who stayed and who went, and looking back at what these young men did in HS, I believe that in the years to come, we will have kept most, if not all of the best at home. The others who went will contribute whereever they land, but as many have said, this is our team and we congratulate, believe and will support them.

    #370, I think your last line sort of hit home. As an entertainer and one who is charged with building spirit, it is hard to see the individual as believable. In this case it would be pure entertainment. No faulting the young ones, but it is just a byproduct (may be an ugly one, but still it is what it is) of human nature, especially when the employee (not student) was there coaxing us to “believe” in the team, his team.


  22. LizKauai m/ February 4, 2010 8:00 am

    Kauai Warrior spirit!

    http://tinyurl.com/ykfcg8y

    Three Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation football All-Stars participated in National Signing Day on Wednesday…

    Shigematsu made himself a hot commodity at the All Poly Camp at Kapi‘olani Park on O‘ahu in July, attending with a number of his Kapa‘a teammates. It was there that he quickly put himself on UH’s radar.

    His full scholarship offer came shortly after that and he headed into the KIF season already knowing he had a spot at UH waiting for him.

    “It kind of took some of the weight off my shoulders,” Shigematsu said. “Like I didn’t have to worry. But it gave me some incentive to play better.”

    Even though he knew about seven months ago that he would likely end up as a Warrior, Wednesday’s events were still exciting and a lot to handle.

    “Today was pretty overwhelming,” he said. “But it was exciting to be able to represent my family, my school, the island and UH.”

    The jump up from the KIF to a Division I program can be a daunting one, but Shigematsu seems to know what to expect and sees the challenge as one he is prepared to handle.

    “Guys are going to be a lot bigger, but I’ll be able to handle my own once I get up to their stature,” he said.

    UH will be looking to bounce back from a 6-7 season that included a six-game losing streak and a 3-5 record in the WAC.

    Asked about what he was looking forward to the most in his upcoming journey, Shigematsu is keeping his sights on the basics.

    “Just going to college to get my education and becoming a Warrior,” he said.

    Shigematsu was planning to celebrate the occasion Wednesday night with some family and friends, missing out on his varsity basketball game as Kapa‘a took on the Island School Voyagers.


  23. Bulla February 4, 2010 8:00 am

    Congrats to all of the new Warriors,

    they are recruits, the new seeds that have been planted, and with enough watering, nutrients, TLC, and committed workouts, they will sprout and become true Warriors.

    Time will tell, but at least we have a solid starting point to build upon. I really like Pride’s tag line……sums it all up…..

    WARRIOR IS AN ATTITUDE

    Go Warriors 🙂


  24. expat February 4, 2010 8:02 am

    I am impressed with the class. More importantly you can see how last year’s class has influenced this class — less emphasis on going after JC players who are needed to plug immediate holes. There will always be some gems coming out of JC and they should not be overlooked, but having guy for four or five years in the system makes a difference.


  25. Da Punchbowl Kid February 4, 2010 8:04 am

    Good Morning Gangeez! 🙂 🙂 🙂

    Looks like a great class! Beyond that, all I will say is, I trust the coaches and their process for eveluating and pursuing recruits.

    Welcome to the new recruits, good job coaches!


  26. Da Punchbowl Kid February 4, 2010 8:04 am

    evaluating*


  27. Ken February 4, 2010 8:05 am

    What happened to getting a kicker? This is D1 and not getting an improved kicker will hurt them in close games! Anyone know what is going on with the Kahuku kicker? He would have definitely helped UH out!


  28. al February 4, 2010 8:11 am

    eh no make said,

    – UH was late in the game on much of their recruiting, LAST to contact many of the kids

    – Unlike other coaches there was very in-consistent contact through their football season

    – Didn’t show as much “love” as the other recruiters

    for one thing, how can you justify this statement when all of the top 25 and then some were invited to every home game by the university of hawaii’s football coach. many of them attended all of the games. they had contact throughout the season.

    no love? or no KA?

    c’mon now. well, we need to discuss over lunch.


  29. al February 4, 2010 8:17 am

    this recruiting class is a very good one.

    the one big thing about this class is that they are as a group a very athletic one. i see over half the team contributing to special teams.

    the linebackers are going to make history by the time they are done. i was reminded of their collective athletic skill last night as i watched the replay of the hawaii prep bowl on oc16. that rewind also displayed the talents of the sleeper recruits like samia for example.

    the blend of local and mainland talents is right on que as to our needs.

    so looking at the positives this is by far one of the potentially best classes in a long time.


  30. YODA February 4, 2010 8:18 am

    Recruiting is the “life blood” of a Collegiate program, as always a recruiting class will be determined years from now, kudos to the UH coaches for their hard work during an always grueling recruiting process, wished all top recruits on UH list would have stayed home but unrealistic to believe “all” top recruits in state will not be swayed or influenced by out of state recruiters from PAC-10, Big12, Mountain West, WAC, and even SEC made a run at several local student-athletes.
    Many local kids may have always desired to leave the rock and experience new locations and are fortunate-talented enough to have the scholarship opportunities.


  31. kanakakuuna February 4, 2010 8:18 am

    Great class. Welcome to the University of Hawai`i.


  32. al February 4, 2010 8:20 am

    ken….a kicker who was rated the #4 best d1 kicking prospect by a guy who runs a kicking clinic/school is coming in for a visit this weekend. he goes by the name of michael hunnicutt.

    the offer is on the table and it is his to grab. other kickers are lined up. the kahuku guy disappeared to florida and left no contact info with the staff.


  33. Souljah February 4, 2010 8:22 am

    Just in case anyone forgot…this recruit still has 2 more years

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G13phTrQJiw

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6xLS7G4-ZI&feature=related


  34. Ken February 4, 2010 8:23 am

    Mahalo Al for the info on the kicker. Hopefully UH can improve the kicking game. They’ll need it big time with next year’s schedule.


  35. traff February 4, 2010 8:25 am

    EH NO MAKE !

    Did you get those six season tickets that you renewed last week yet?


  36. innocent observer February 4, 2010 8:29 am

    It is really a sad day as again no top ten recruits committed to UH. If UH is to rise above its current status, it must garner most of the top ten recruits in the state.


  37. RedZone February 4, 2010 8:34 am

    ST how come no coaches comment in paper on Darius Bright? Tall, physical and fast wide receiver is just what we needed. He will also give our corners someone that will only make them better when they work against him at practice.


  38. al February 4, 2010 8:36 am

    if the university of hawaii can start building tradition more and more local kids will want to stay home.

    june jones was right with his visionary ideas. this is the one thing i didn’t like when the current regime came in broke down all the tradition that june was trying to build.

    developing the tradition of our football program is tantamount to our future success..

    bring back the black.. believe it or not the black n green that was our uniform is something very “cool” to the recruits, fans, and current players. we probably sold more jerseys when they were black at the rainbowtique stores.

    bring back the e noa toa. hawaii 5-0 to me is more commercial than that. if you want 5-0 then perhaps towards the fourth quarter when we are rolling up our sleeves.

    the haka should never be lost from our routine.. we established that tradition and we need to build upon it. schools across the nation have been emulating it, why? go figga. we should do it before and after if you ask me. win, lose, or draw…..to display that we left it all out on the field.

    bring the alumni back in to the fold.. invite them to practice and more importantly invite to speak to the team throughout the year. alumni like pride. for example could give them “chicken skin” moments each time he went to speak. he like many others would relish at that opportunity.

    i have more thoughts on this. but, its time for breakfast.

    …nuff said.


  39. Pomai February 4, 2010 8:39 am

    al no hold your breath


  40. RedZone February 4, 2010 8:44 am

    I like the new unis. Especially the whites. My top 10 players all play for the University of Hawaii.


  41. cavewarrior February 4, 2010 8:51 am

    Al, agree with you on building tradition and what JJ started…should be continued/improved…now skip breakfast take early lunch and blog more ideas…i like hea.


  42. Pomai February 4, 2010 8:58 am

    Ok I am going to go over this once again. A lot of comment’s are complaining about not getting any of the top ten recruits. My question is who made these kids the top ten? Was it someone who watched every game they played, was it a poll among the High School coaches who coached them or coached against them? According to Ferds own words “The Advertiser surveyed seven college coaches from three conferences and got almost as many opinions on ranking the top players”

    Most of us know that we can’t put any real faith in the star ranking that these so called experts make, but can we put as much faith in some college coaches who I can’t believe put in the time evaluating every High School player in the state.

    So IMHO we got the top 13 players in the State, period.


  43. RedZone February 4, 2010 9:05 am

    I no worry about the fish that got away. I savor the ones that I caught.


  44. madeinhawaii February 4, 2010 9:08 am

    If the so called top ten players don’t want to play at home, what are you going to do? If they don’t want to be here, the chemistry would have been wrong, anyway. So just wish them well, and just let them go. It may be better to have players that will peak in a couple years than those who may have already peaked, too. Watching these second tier players grow into NFL prototypes makes for better talk story players, anyway.


  45. Garret February 4, 2010 9:08 am

    Souljah,

    I do not think that Coach Shoji’s kids would have gone to UH for free. That is one benefit I checked into when I was looking at professor jobs around the country. Private Universities tend to let kids in for free, but public Universities really limit that benefit in the places I checked.


  46. Garret February 4, 2010 9:15 am

    I am very happy with this recruiting class. My biggest 3 reasons:

    1. A LOT more high school recruits than JC recruits which gives them time to learn the system and get the full benefit of the S/C program at UH.

    2. The coaches obviously targeted LB as a need area and the 5 recruits listed at LB in ST’s article today are all high quality recruits. This class of LB recruits is very, very impressive to me, and solid LBs are crucial for Mack’s defense.

    3. The coaches held onto almost all of their commits, fending off poachers for a lot of recruits. UH even poached a few recruits in the final days before NLI day.


  47. Garret February 4, 2010 9:17 am

    The emphasis on high school recruits may explain why UH might not have actively followed up with JC recruits. I remember that there was a coach from a JC that was complaining about UH not showing interest in his recruits…but if the coaches were focused on high school recruiting first, that makes sense that they wouldn’t be actively engaged with JCs early in the recruiting process.


  48. madeinhawaii February 4, 2010 9:22 am

    Okay, now that recruiting is almost over .. come early next season can we have guys like”

    Mana Silva and Ikaika Rodenhurst – Oregon St
    Kaniela Tuipolotu – Arizona
    Kapono Rawlins-Crivello – Boise State
    Gary Nagy – BYU

    come on the WBeat and tell us what it feels like to be back home playing for the home crowd?

    Or maybe we should wait till the end of the season to give recruiting a boost.


  49. RedZone February 4, 2010 9:23 am

    If the NCAA would allow him to do so coach Mack would recruit more.


  50. madeinhawaii February 4, 2010 9:24 am

    Oh yeah.. and bring in , “play where you want to live,” Coach Stant too…


  51. al February 4, 2010 9:25 am

    mih….you forgot ryan eastman – weber st.


  52. al February 4, 2010 9:26 am

    btw….gary nagy is not enrolled at uh.


  53. al February 4, 2010 9:27 am

    i’m with you all….today’s top ten are warriors.
    check that, make it top 26.


  54. al February 4, 2010 9:28 am

    aloha to fearless frank fasi who passed away last night.

    i may not have voted for him, but, he did make some bold moves which we have benefitted from.


  55. Garret February 4, 2010 9:30 am

    Ferd has been taking a LOT of criticism in this blog and in other forums so I think I should defend him a little. The biggest complain about the list that Ferd published is that it didn’t take into account what UH’s needs were and how the UH coaches evaluated the recruits. That is a fair complaint and *no* recruiting list is perfect…we won’t really know how the recruits end up for 2-3 years.

    However, it appears that coaches at *UH* did target many of the players on the top 10 early on and only offered some of the other recruits when those players chose other schools. I’m sure that nobody who is complaining about Ferd’s list would mind if he took into account the evaluation of the recruits by UH’s coaches. That strategy did not hurt the recruiting of players like Yap or Umu who still signed with UH even though UH offered pretty late in the process…and Yap and Umu are two high-quality recruits that I expect to contribute well to the Warriors.

    UH *did* get 2 LBs that were rated above VJ on Ferd’s list that I thought could have easily been in the top 10, especially since they were the top 2 rated LBs in Hawaii. I think that any of the 3 local LBs that UH signed could have been in the top 10.


  56. J-Dog February 4, 2010 9:35 am

    Too bad about Jovonte Taylor.

    Looks like Malcolm Lane redshirting last season was a blessing in disguise.


  57. J-Dog February 4, 2010 9:37 am

    re: #52

    was Nagy ever enrolled at UH? His name is on the 2009 roster on the hawaiiathletics.com website, along with the other transfers that sat out last season.


  58. papajoe2 February 4, 2010 9:40 am

    landon sapolu’s brother (hs senior) went to another school. were we recruiting him? just curious. maybe we didn’t need him or he wasn’t interested. really like this recruiting class but only time will tell. hopefully some are good enough to play as freshman.


  59. Garret February 4, 2010 9:42 am

    Kyle Wilson said that Bess was the toughest receiver he ever had to cover.

    Alright, there are some top names here, but who’s the toughest receiver you’ve ever covered?

    KW: Hmm, the toughest? Davone Bess from Hawaii. When he’s bad, haha, he’s bad. He’s a tough guy to guard in the slot. Especially that year, my sophomore year when they had Colt Brennan. Definitely one of the best. What I noticed about him was that he had really had good footwork. And in that offense, where they were very accurate and on the same page, the combo was deadly.


  60. IMADONKEY February 4, 2010 9:42 am

    VJ was scared of the incoming competition he had to beat out! That’s why he chose Utah! That’s why he never stayed at Kahuku last year! Kid is a drama queen who needs all the attention. He didn’t want to to be at the bootom of the depth chart. VJ, welcome to the world, we all start at the bottom and work our way up the ladder. Some make it to the top, others halfway, and some are destined to be bottom feeders! Put in the hours and hard work and success will come. Humbleness my boy! Arrogance, will only lead to failure! Remember, Hawaii will always be home, and you don’t want to burn any bridges.


  61. r b i February 4, 2010 9:43 am

    “play were you want to live” Im sure that would go over real well with most mainland recruits. Come on island recruits play were you want to live. Boise,Corvalis,South Bend,Pullman I just cant see it, anyway best to all.


  62. J-Dog February 4, 2010 9:45 am

    Kevin Spain looks pretty good as a dual-threat QB.

    I have a feeling that after this season, a QB or two will transfer out of UH.

    Moniz, Rausch, Austin, Shutter, Graves, Nielsen, Spain; that’s a lot of scholarship QB’s. I don’t even think June Jones had that many on scholarship at a time.

    The last time we brought in 3 scholarship QB’s in 2004 with Graunke, Satcher, Humphrey; the latter 2 transferred.


  63. Garret February 4, 2010 9:46 am

    Three of the 6 players from Temecula’s Prodigy Athletes that signed with colleges yesterday chose UH…so, it appears that UH has a pipeline into the Riverside area and especially with Prodigy Athletes.

    Among the players to sign letters of intent was Christian “Bubba” Poueu-Luna of Great Oak High School. Luna, who will attend the University of Hawaii, boasts 32 touchdowns in 15 varsity games, threw for over 1700 passing yards and rushed for 754 yards during his senior year.

    John Hardy-Tuliau carried a 4.0 GPA since middle school; his high school stats boast 18 interceptions, 140 tackles, 26 blocked punts, 10 touchdowns and 38 career starts. Hardy-Tuliau will sign with University of Hawaii.

    Finally, Siaki Cravens, a four-year honor roll student, will join the University of Hawaii as an outside linebacker. Cravens, who signed with the University of Utah out of high school and played for the 2009 BCS Sugar Bowl championship team, credits his father Kevin Cravens, along with Prodigy as a being a big part of his success.

    “I’ve been with Prodigy since its beginning,” Cravens said. “They’ve been real helpful. They came along and gave me the help I needed.”

    Cravens’ mother, Crystal Cravens, said her son’s hard work and discipline have paid off.

    “He’s very dedicated. He’s been training since he was 6 years old. He (worked out) on prom night and graduation,” she said, noting that she and her husband are working just as hard to prepare each of their five children for a college education.


  64. papajoe2 February 4, 2010 9:58 am

    noticed that udubdub signed 30 players. with 25 the max, i guess they will grey shirt a few or maybe non qualifiers (harder to qualify at UH). 4 from hawaii, are they “in” or out?


  65. A-House February 4, 2010 9:59 am

    I believe the 2010 class is very good and will be even better in 2 years as they learn technical skills from their position coaches, train, study films, and seek help from upper classmen.

    Excited to see them contribute immediately or within a year or 2. They will be ready to support last seasons recruits.


  66. KEOKI February 4, 2010 10:00 am

    BEST recruiting year from TOP to BOTTOM!!! UH got themselves some great athletes on BOTH sides of the ball!!! Congratulations to the UH staff!!!


  67. postmanke February 4, 2010 10:01 am

    I like recruits to Hold ’em poker – there is no bad hand (recruits) – they all look good! it’s how you play and develop your hand is what counts.. my favorite hand is a pocket 2-5. I know i prob have the weakest hand pre flop but i have raked more pots with that hand than any other.. it’s how you play and develop your hand (recruits)


  68. papajoe2 February 4, 2010 10:03 am

    Garret,
    I don’t understand. If Siaki Cravens played for Utah in 2009 BCS bowl game, will he be eligible for UH in the upcoming season? Can you clarify? What would his remaining eligibility look like at UH?


  69. PapaJohn February 4, 2010 10:11 am

    Free Pizza anyone?


  70. SteveM February 4, 2010 10:22 am

    Good morning everyone!

    Top 10 list? I’m not following that. You never see me comment on that. I only follow the Warriors wearing a University of Hawaii uniform from spring time through bowl game every year.

    Welcome to this year’s recruits! I (and most of the state) will be following your careers here!


  71. madeinhawaii February 4, 2010 10:24 am

    ya know..?
    Where we didn’t get the local top 10, I think we compensated very well with players from elsewhere. AND, as far as I’m concerned, we got the best of the local players who turly had “Hawaii” and it’s fans in their hearts.


  72. postmanke February 4, 2010 10:28 am

    38

    Many recognize, many choose not to, many don’t care.. but it is apparent that the culture and the belief system is in jeopardy and is deteriorating in the Warrior football program at the grass roots level. Aggressive action needs to be taken before Obama gets involved. =)

    You hit it on the head.. if you have no tradition, you will have no culture, the players will not believe in your vision and they will go somewhere else


  73. al February 4, 2010 10:32 am

    papajohn…got anchovies?

    postmanke…old axiom. don’t change what ain’t broken.


  74. Manoa Mist February 4, 2010 10:32 am

    I don’t think you can tell about the strength of a recruiting class until a few years down the line. But it’s smart to get as many tough lineman and linebackers as you can, because that’s where games are won and lost. You get a good offensive line, and Stephen Tsai himself can play running back and look good. And looks like we loaded up on linemen. Though a lot of guys did go away, good luck to ’em but we’ll honor all the kids who want to play for us – Hawaii.


  75. al February 4, 2010 10:35 am

    my turn to cook.
    gotta go shopping.
    decisions?

    have beef shank.
    what to do?

    beef barley veg soup with very little broth?
    old fashion beef stew?
    braised beef shank ala osso bucco with linguine?


  76. madeinhawaii February 4, 2010 10:36 am

    Manoa Mist…

    You were on a roll until…

    “Stephen Tsai himself can play running back and look good.”

    Sure, he might get some yards.. but “look good”?

    erm.. ummnn… Hmmm…

    some things..

    just cannot fix.


  77. al February 4, 2010 10:36 am

    btw, what’s going on with veni manu?


  78. Old Diver February 4, 2010 10:40 am

    I’ve been seeing the ” let’s extend early scholarship offers to all the top local players” by a few posters. “Let’s be like Washington” and start to recruit early. Well if you do that sometimes you end up pulling scholarships like apparently what happened to Marcus Umu. Sarkisian is a shark and recruits are bait. I prefer Coach Mack’s aggressive but humanitarian style of recruiting. And I forgot his common sense approach also.


  79. EH NO MAKE ! February 4, 2010 10:40 am

    Al:

    It’s not what I said, those were / are not my opinions, what I posted and have posted, is that’s what the RECRUITS are saying. That’s what the kids are saying.

    Lunch, no can do lunch. Like I said earlier, I work overnights so maybe breakfast or dinner sometime. Sure. Would love to sometime.

    Traff:

    #35 – Funny. Okay, what I meant to say, is that I’m STILL gonna renew my season tickets.


  80. PapaJohn February 4, 2010 10:40 am

    anything u like. even get bagaoong.


  81. postmanke February 4, 2010 10:41 am

    Fetaiagogo Fonoti – Oh no! hope he comes back!

    Hey, there may be a glimmer of hope to collect unemployment insurance while attending UH.

    “The claimant may indicate that, although attending school, he or she is willing to abandon school or alter his or her school schedule if a suitable job opportunity arises. If the facts establish the claimant is available for full-time work, the school attendance is not a restriction and the claimant would be considered eligible under Section 1253(c).”

    So anybody who is hiring act like you want to hire but don’t hire until after the season!

    I hope he does find a way to return!


  82. postmanke February 4, 2010 10:45 am

    “humanitarian style” ..kid, i know you’re only 16 but this offer is a take it or leave it…


  83. Garret February 4, 2010 10:47 am

    papajoe2,

    Cravens was with Utah during the 2008 football season (which included a BCS bowl in January 2009). I looked up the information for you from my blog:

    Cravens, who said he is 6 feet 3 and 240 pounds, signed with Utah in February 2008. He redshirted last season. After the spring semester, he decided to transfer. He currently is enrolled at Long Beach City College. He will join the Warriors in January, and have three years to play two seasons.


  84. al February 4, 2010 10:47 am

    enm….i am not a breakfast guy. but, dinner or pupus would work.
    name a day or night that is. would be fun discussing some football.


  85. Da Punchbowl Kid February 4, 2010 10:48 am

    Free Pizza?! MMMmmmMMM… 😆


  86. al February 4, 2010 10:55 am

    if i am not mistaken siaki cravens has three years to play three years.
    redshirted in 08 at utah
    long beach cc in 09


  87. al February 4, 2010 10:55 am

    dpk…with anchovies, bagaong, harm ha, and vana.


  88. madeinhawaii February 4, 2010 11:00 am

    I think the coaches have really stepped up in the recruiting aspect of the game.these past two seasons and I sense a continued improvement in this area. I say let them do their thing. I don’t recall any recent coaching regime that had done better.


  89. BG February 4, 2010 11:01 am

    WELCOME TO THE NEW WARRIORS!!!

    Best wishes to those going away…represent!

    The core of special teams is fast, tough linebackers and DE’s. Coach Mack seems to have stuffed the pantry! Considering the needs of the team, I really like the results…especially the number of hs seniors.

    The last time we had so many scholarship QB’s was back when Rolo was playing, IIRC. Rolo, Timmy, Jared Flint…help me remember here. LOL


  90. madeinhawaii February 4, 2010 11:03 am

    Breakfast is my healthy meal.. oatmeal with raisins and flaxseed…

    with the occasional toast..
    or pancakes
    topped with fruit and other fillings..

    ok sometimes with eggs and a side of meat..

    but then sometimes I’ll have a bowl of miso soup before breakfast along with whatever is in the fridge from the night before…

    I like to start my day right.


  91. SteveM February 4, 2010 11:06 am

    fuud?

    Kid>/b> — notice that Hungry Lion closed? We better make that Shiro’s run before something else happens! Al can drive… 🙂


  92. jm2375 February 4, 2010 11:08 am

    On another topic – oh cr$p…

    University of Hawai’i head men’s basketball coach Bob Nash announced that guard Dwain Williams has been suspended indefinitely for violating team rules.

    This guy is turning out to be a head case.


  93. Old Diver February 4, 2010 11:08 am

    Now, now Postmanke, It was more like,” we’ve been waiting a year for an answer, and I know you are shopping around for an offer from a Pac-10 school. The offer is still open but we have two other people who are interested and the first one who says yes gets it.” Is that too tough for a senior in high school to understand?


  94. jm2375 February 4, 2010 11:09 am

    Happy Birthday JaM!


  95. madeinhawaii February 4, 2010 11:10 am

    Happy Birthday JAM!


  96. al February 4, 2010 11:13 am

    Happy Birthday JaM!


  97. SteveM February 4, 2010 11:15 am

    That’s right! ….

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY JaM !!!


  98. tunaluvr February 4, 2010 11:19 am

    I like that, “Play where you want to live”. Look at Colt B. His dream is to come back to Hawaii and live. He will always be welcomed back to the islands. Others, will not have as much love as those who gave their sweat and blood for the home team.


  99. al February 4, 2010 11:22 am

    hmmm. i just had some tuna and crackers.
    and i loved it.


  100. BG February 4, 2010 11:22 am

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY JaM

    Wow! All the love this month…birthday AND Valentines’


  101. al February 4, 2010 11:24 am

    voluntary pay cuts.

    risky business for some.
    what if they don’t get extended?
    i guess asking for a raise in the athletic dept is moot point now.


  102. Capitol -ist/WassupDoc February 4, 2010 11:24 am

    Sorry to have been off the blog for awhile – am recovering from another round of eye surgery which hasn’t gone as well this time around. Hopefully, I won’t wind up walking around with a service dog and a white cane for the rest of my life.

    Another personal note: Jazzpurrs The Cat passed away two nights ago. It’s been really difficult for me to deal with the death of two pets within ten days of each other plus struggling with my own medical issues.

    Re this year’s recruiting class: Bear in mind that this is a comment from someone who never understood the intricacies of the game until the major improvements in television coverage over the past decade. Up until then, football was just 22 very large males tossing, running, chasing, grabbing, and falling on top of each other.

    First of all, these are young men who are most likely not going to wind up playing professional football although they could be coaching some day. Therefore, the focus on being able to survive academically is probably even more important than being a top 10 player.

    Second, there are several dozen players – about 75 – who are in line ahead of them. Unless the coaches dump current players to make room for these new guys, then what we’re going to see as to what we’ve gotten is two seasons down the road.

    Off to the doctor’s again. I really feel funny walking around with a magnifying glass in order to read – fortunately, back in the day I learned to touch type. I can still remember Mr. Epstein hitting my hands with a ruler when I snuck a peek at the keyboard on those big old Remington Rand office-style typewriters.

    How DO kids learn to “keyboard” these days? Maybe SteveM knows.


  103. jm2375 February 4, 2010 11:33 am

    Doc – condolences on the loss of your pets and get well soon!


  104. High School February 4, 2010 11:34 am

    bullet-proof vest exist because they protect your vital organs, and although it would suck hardcore to get shot in the crotch, you have a much better chance of surviving than if you were shot in the heart. although it is a friggin good idea.


  105. BigIslandkurt February 4, 2010 11:41 am

    Let us remember that Logo Fonoti is a father to a young child. Preparing to try-out for football at the next level is a tremendous sacrifice for the whole family. If bradduh’s football player chapter is over, more power to him. Be well brother. Be a good father.

    BIK


  106. kapakahi February 4, 2010 11:41 am

    Lots of size & potential in UH’s Class of 2010 recruiting class, but IMHO still disappointing that UH wasn’t able to reel in a high school running back….losing out on Josh Quezada (BYU) and Soma Vainuku (probably USC)…..since Alex Green and Chizzy Dimude will both be seniors in 2010.

    BTW, whatever happened with Jack Sula (Carson HS)?

    Possible walk-on RBs? Shawn Putman-Curry (Radford ’09)? Keoni Napierala-Rose (Waianae ’10)?

    Hopefully greyshirt true frosh Jon Lister in the real deal.


  107. Souljah February 4, 2010 11:42 am

    I don’t know if anyone needs reminding but Michael Hunnicutt needs to commit to UH! #4 ranked kicker for the class of ’10, as well as Tyler Hadden (#11) just committed to New Mexico State…

    http://www.chrissailerkicking.com/top-recruits/2010.html
    http://www.chrissailerkicking.com/top-recruits/2010/1494/PlayerProfile.html


  108. A-House February 4, 2010 11:51 am

    Holly molly Andy, we got Jam; not guava or strawberry, but a Tsaiko JaM and she’s got a Birfday and a Happy one at that!!! – enjoy JaM!


  109. SteveM February 4, 2010 11:55 am

    WassupDoc — get well soon–and completely!

    We have always had a cat, but after the last died a few years ago, we did not get another. Perhaps we are feeling our own mortality… I have the last two months. Maybe we should get another cat. You should too.

    Children get some keyboarding practice at the elementary level. Don’t know if they still have typing classes in the secondary. I have never been a proponent of elem students using their computer lab time for keyboarding. Couldn’t argue that it wasn’t useful in life…but I wonder at all the hand-held devices today and people typing only with their thumbs. But I’m a guy who needs back-lit keys on his laptop in the dark… 🙂


  110. A-House February 4, 2010 12:03 pm

    Keeping fingers crossed that Hunnicut likes and will commit to UH.

    But, if Hunnicut does not commit, where does UH go? Work with what we got or look to 2011 class? Any current player can fill in?


  111. Garret February 4, 2010 12:09 pm

    Al,

    I also thought that Cravens was 3 to play 3, but ST’s article said that he was 3 to play 2.


  112. Garret February 4, 2010 12:12 pm

    It sounds like Elvis Kamana-Matagi was an example of a recruit whose parents wanted him to play for UH but he decided to go away…choosing to grayshirt at Utah State.

    Kamana-Matagi signed a national letter of intent to play at Utah State on Wednesday morning in the school library. Kamana-Matagi is the first NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision scholarship player from the 15-year-old Upcountry school.

    Kamana-Matagi, a 6-foot-2, 285-pounder, verbally committed to play for Utah State on Dec. 19, but got an offer from UH on Monday. He said he wrestled with the final decision for the last two nights before finally deciding to stay with USU over breakfast Wednesday.

    His position coach in Utah will be former Baldwin head coach Chad Kauhaahaa. Former Maui High standout Kamaloni Vainikolo, also a defensive lineman, was his host on a recruiting trip last weekend.

    ”I had offers from all over – UNLV, UH, Utah State,” he said. ”I took my first visit this past week to Utah State and I actually got offered by UH just a couple days ago, they came in with a late offer. I mean, I like UH, I always wanted to go to UH, I love the program, I love Hawaii. But coach Gary Andersen and coach Chad, who recruited me for Utah State, they were with me the whole way from the first time I got offered. I just really like their program.

    ”I went on the visit, I liked it, coach Chad is a local guy, he was with me from day one. I have a good chance of starting and playing.”

    ”The offer from UH kind of made me really nervous because my mom always wanted me to go to UH, both my parents are from Oahu and wanted me to go to UH,” Kamana-Matagi said. ”I have already committed to (Utah State). I could have changed, but I just really liked the program. If UH had offered me earlier, it would have been way more harder than it was now. When they offered, I was really confused.”


  113. Kekoa (iPhone) February 4, 2010 12:13 pm

    Have a *SWEET* Birthday, JaM!


  114. Garret February 4, 2010 12:16 pm

    Now that Utah State has 2 players from Maui and a coach that used to be the head coach at Baldwin, it looks like they will try to get a pipeline of recruits from the neighbor islands. That could be a problem for UH, especially if Utah State ends up with more coaches and players from Maui than UH has.

    Kauhaahaa said it is his goal to have Kamana-Matagi’s signing start a pipeline to Logan. Punahou safety Brian Suite and St. Louis quarterback Jeremy Higgins also signed with the Aggies on Wednesday.

    ”No question, my first objective is to recruit kids from the outer islands and Maui specifically,” Kauhaahaa said. ”Being from Maui, coaching there, I know what the talent is like. Maui will always be first for me and I will work my way to the outer islands from there. I hope I’m giving back to my island by helping kids to get to play, but also a free education.”


  115. Garret February 4, 2010 12:17 pm

    Happy Birthday JaM!


  116. curveball February 4, 2010 12:35 pm

    HAPPY B-DAY JaM……………………………..


  117. Kazz February 4, 2010 12:38 pm

    WOW! Dwain Williams suspended indefinetly due to another violation of team rules.

    A-JOE AND AL,

    CAN YOU TWO SPEAK WITH THIS YOUNG MAN???

    KEKOA,

    CAN YOU BRING DA SLIPPAH ALONG ALSO? 😡


  118. Mrs. A-House February 4, 2010 12:39 pm

    JaM –

    Best wishes for a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY!…and many, many more.


  119. Kazz February 4, 2010 12:39 pm

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAM!! :mrgreen:


  120. Bigwave96744 February 4, 2010 12:41 pm

    Best class ever??
    Huh??
    Better than the 05 team with Davone, washington, Solly, Adam, Blaze, Brash, RJ, Estes, Kia, Pepa, Ieru,Fonoti, Rocky..
    walkons Colt, Kelly, Yoda..

    I give this class a C+


  121. al February 4, 2010 12:45 pm

    dwain williams….that after all this.

    http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20102030351


  122. Bigwave96744 February 4, 2010 12:47 pm

    The 2002 class was stacked, too:
    Satele, Esera, Uperesa, Kaonohi, Lacount, Purcell, Abu Maafala, Patton, Martinez, Funaki, Dickerson

    JC; Weildon, West, Cockerhan, Kalilimoku, Faga, Poumele, Tautofi


  123. al February 4, 2010 12:51 pm

    bigwave….isn’t it too premature to judge?

    afterall back in ’05 we were wondering who these guys were. if we listened to scout.com we had only blaze and pepa as three stars not counting colt who was a walk on. a half dozen never finished or started their careers here.


  124. papajoe2 February 4, 2010 12:51 pm

    Garret, al,
    i was away for a friends funeral. Mahalo for the info on Cravens. 2 or 3 years is OK. Just glad he has more than 1 year to wreck havoic.


  125. madeinhawaii February 4, 2010 1:02 pm

    Just don’t get a large parrot. Although the handfed birds are extremely affectionate and bright, with their 50-year or longer lifespan, you’d spend endless nights worrying about where it will find itself someday.


  126. Stephen Tsai February 4, 2010 1:03 pm

    RedZone:
    My fault on the omission of Darius Bright comments.
    When I was chasing down coaches yesterday, I missed him on my check-off list.
    I didn’t realize it until late last night.


  127. madeinhawaii February 4, 2010 1:05 pm

    Bigwave…

    Maybe “best” is a relative term.. such as 23 high schoolers and only 3 JCs.. half of which are local kids.. another handful with strong ties to the islands. It’s a good mix and it looks like most, if not all, will be UH qualifiers, too.


  128. madeinhawaii February 4, 2010 1:07 pm

    What’s nice about having half your recruits local is that if we have each local recruit sort of ‘adopt’ just one of the non-local recruits, these guys will settle in really fast and build one heck of a bond by the time they graduate.


  129. d1島 February 4, 2010 1:20 pm

    Happy Birthday JaM!


  130. BigIslandkurt February 4, 2010 1:23 pm

    I love this year’s signing class. Nuff said.

    BIK


  131. d1島 February 4, 2010 1:29 pm

    Voluntary paycuts…..

    Back in the Great War, the young Lt. was tasked with getting the G.I.’s to sign up for the voluntary life insurance policy that the govt. was offering….$10,000 to the family of any man who didn’t survive battle. Not one G.I. took up the offer.

    The old Sgt., upon seeing the discouragement on the face of the young officer, told him he’d try to help.

    He addressed the unit, “$10,000 is a lot of money. Fellas, now the way I see it, the same folks who are offering to pay your family this money are the same ones who are gonna be deciding who is gonna get to climb outta these foxholes once the shooting starts!”
    The Sgt. sold out the allotment of policies.


  132. Bulla February 4, 2010 1:31 pm

    HAPPY BDAY JaM,

    GO WARRIORS……train, train, train,…..no, the song by Aretha….

    Chain, chain, chain, chain, chain, chain
    Chain, chain, chain, chain of fools
    Five long years I thought you were my man
    But I found out I’m just a link in your chain
    You got me where you want me
    I ain’t nothing but your fool
    You treated me mean oh you treated me cruel
    Chain, chain, chain, chain of fools


  133. d1島 February 4, 2010 1:35 pm

    RIP Frank Fasi…somewhere up there a bulldozer is warming up waiting for you!


  134. RedZone February 4, 2010 1:36 pm

    ST it was crazy yesterday. I had information overload of the brain.

    Do you plan to have coach Funaki on your show in the future?


  135. RedZone February 4, 2010 1:37 pm

    No mo Waikiki raids.


  136. d1島 February 4, 2010 1:38 pm

    Coolio!
    Boz Scaggs coming back in March…something to look forward to while waiting for FOOTBALL!


  137. Pomai February 4, 2010 1:39 pm

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAM!!


  138. d1島 February 4, 2010 1:40 pm

    NauPauLunChauWah….


  139. Pomai February 4, 2010 1:40 pm

    For some who haven’t seen this, short bio on new recruits.

    http://nakoa.org/news_recruit2010bio.htm


  140. Stephen Tsai February 4, 2010 2:09 pm

    RedZone:
    I think Funaki would be a great guest. I haven’t seen him since was named GA, though.


  141. tom February 4, 2010 2:10 pm

    Even Bloggers in Overseas sites say:

    great job recruiting!


  142. (Jesse) James February 4, 2010 2:32 pm

    Happy Birthday JaM….and many, many more….


  143. Pride. February 4, 2010 2:53 pm

    Son of a Tokyo Rose
    I was bound to wander far from home
    Stranger to whatever I’d awaken to
    Spun the wheel, took a shot in the dark
    One way ticket and a runaway heart
    A sailor’s dream came true the night I dreamed you

    Whoa, the harbor lights of Venus
    Shining through the breeze
    That brings me back to you my love
    To you my love, to you my love


  144. Ralph February 4, 2010 3:08 pm

    JMxxxx Hoya Saxa I’m surprised you didn’t announce MPI, division 2, winning the boys ILH soccer title, a step ahead of Div 1 Punahou


  145. Ralph February 4, 2010 3:09 pm

    Al you didn’t vote for Frank, auwe, ba humbug you.


  146. lava February 4, 2010 3:21 pm

    Dwain Williams needs counseling to help get himself committed to his priorities. He can’t do it alone. I hope someone steps up and helps this confused young man through a difficult time. If he does not get help, the outcome of where this is headed is predictable.


  147. wafan February 4, 2010 3:27 pm

    Hi!


  148. wafan February 4, 2010 3:29 pm

    Aloha to former mayor Fasi!


  149. wafan February 4, 2010 3:30 pm

    Happy birthday to JaM!!!

    Wow, a lifetime of living and only 38.


  150. wafan February 4, 2010 3:31 pm

    Difficult choices for those who elected to go away. Best of luck to you!


  151. wafan February 4, 2010 3:33 pm

    Welcome to each of the new Warriors!!! Time to get serious and school and training. Start living the life of a Warrior.


  152. RedZone February 4, 2010 3:38 pm

    Warriors out of all the linebackers on the team who will wear this helmet?

    http://www.profootballhof.com/history/2009/11/25/willie-laniers-helmet/


  153. Ralph February 4, 2010 3:53 pm

    Desmond Dean 6’7′ 215
    Ted Hendriks 6’7′ 220 all pro Oakland Raiders, Oakland played a 3-4

    Desmond can contribute right away without having to put on a lot of weight, use a 3-4 against passing and spread team, play Desmond as OLB.


  154. Slugger February 4, 2010 3:57 pm

    Happy Birthday, JaM!!!

    Off to make gau…laters….Esme & whoosh…..


  155. wafan February 4, 2010 3:59 pm

    Slugger . . .

    Please send some gau!!!

    Yum . . .


  156. Kekoa (iPhone) February 4, 2010 4:01 pm

    Kazz ~

    Sometimes a gentle ‘nudge’ is required.

    I do have the appropriate slippah ready to apply the reminder that he has a team to help out of a jam.

    I’d hate to apply the more serious disciplinary action and deliver my patent pending *Wall-to-Wall*counseling. The end result is the more
    painful application of the *Balls-to-da-
    Wall*
    technique.


  157. HoweLee February 4, 2010 4:11 pm

    Happy Birthday, JaM!!!! I hope that it is a good day for you.


  158. d1島 February 4, 2010 4:18 pm

    Slugger,

    Gau—-ly! Mmmmm….


  159. Manoa Mist February 4, 2010 4:46 pm

    #143 Pride
    Good ole Boz Skaggs. Harbor Lights. Know his stuff very well. Add Boz Skaggs, Stephen Bishop and James Taylor with the old guitar on a mellow Hawaiian night and the ladies be reeling. Memories of back in the day.


  160. WarriorMojo February 4, 2010 4:51 pm

    If Dwain Williams was missing basketball games and practices for three weeks, I kinda doubt he was going to class.


  161. WarriorMojo February 4, 2010 4:59 pm

    ST, re Darius Bright. At last night’s Na Koa LOI Review, Rolo said that he was excited by Darius Bright and was glad he was in school already. He also said that Darius might be the answer to “some of the red zone problems that we’ve been having.” Guess Darius is gonna be used on some fades and jump balls.


  162. madeinhawaii February 4, 2010 5:08 pm

    Rest in Peace.. Frank Fasi…

    I remember he used to frequent that cafe on Alakea.. what was it called back in the day? Was it Rudy’s?


  163. al February 4, 2010 5:15 pm

    harbor lights…nice song.

    gau…ummm good.

    frank fasi….no. he took queen’s surf away.


  164. al February 4, 2010 5:17 pm

    warriormojo…yeah darius bright is a long, tall fellow. he must be at least a foot and a half taller than ralph..


  165. Maverick February 4, 2010 5:23 pm

    Fasi had Brass
    He was Brazen
    He stood for what he felt was right.
    He was a Warrior in his own right.

    “Sometimes is better to do right, than be right”
    – Papa Leahey.

    You gotta be either on the right side of road, or left side.
    (Right side American standards)
    If your wagglin’ in the middle, your gonna get hit.


  166. RedZone February 4, 2010 5:31 pm

    Bright will light.
    Bright will light.
    Bright will light up the stadium on saturday night.

    Alright!!!!!!


  167. Stephen Tsai February 4, 2010 5:31 pm

    Re: Pay cuts.
    UH is pretty understanding.
    Sure, some assistant coaches make more than professors. But assistants don’t have the job security.
    There’s a head coach with four kids who makes about $45,000. UH doesn’t expect him to take a pay cut.


  168. wafan February 4, 2010 5:36 pm

    Are the administrators also taking a 5% voluntary pay cut, too? Or have they already done so?


  169. Stephen Tsai February 4, 2010 5:52 pm

    Donovan already took a 7 percent pay cut.
    I think HGEA members took 5 percent cuts in the form of furloughs.


  170. mole February 4, 2010 6:02 pm

    Fetaiagogo “John” Fonoti – played in Samoa Bowl 04, Hawaii’s defensive line in this SBowl consisted of :
    – Tyson AluAlu, St.Louis/Cal, projected 2nd round pick in upcoming NFL draft at DT.
    – Daniel Te’o-Nesheim, HPA/UW, all-time sack record holder at UW, projected NFL 2nd day draft pick at DE.
    – Rocky Savai’igaea, Aiea/UH
    – Fetaiagogo “John” Fonoti, Farrington/UH

    Really felt Fonoti was the most athletically gifted, with tremendous upside! What happened, where is the “development” of such a physically talented athlete. Work ethic? Injuries? Desire? Coachability? who’s responsible? John, system, coaches? I really believed he would be drafted after his senior year, he is probably more athletic than David Veikune a 2nd round draft pick out UH last year, maybe John will get a burning desire to “commit” himself to prepare for the NFL, I for one really hope he does!


  171. wafan February 4, 2010 6:04 pm

    I sure hope all of the administrators on the upper and lower campus’ volunteered to a cut. It would be a show of good faith as a leader.


  172. madeinhawaii February 4, 2010 6:12 pm

    I’m sure Fonoti has his reasons and I certainly am in no position to speculate. I just want to wish him the best in whatever he decides to do.

    Good luck Fetaiagogo Fonoti! Enjoyed watching you play!


  173. A-House February 4, 2010 6:31 pm

    Fearless Frank Fasi:

    Never voted for the man, didn’t care for the man, but he was creative and effective for the City & County of Honolulu – RIP, Mr. Mayor for you have done well for Honolulu!


  174. mole February 4, 2010 6:38 pm

    Madeinhi – go ahead and speculate and wish him good luck!


  175. A-House February 4, 2010 6:39 pm

    mole:

    by your post, I will presume that you are not a current resident of Hawaii as “John” Fonoti’s progress was not hindered by any coach or system.

    I agree that he is very talented and surprised as anyone else to hear that he will not pursue a career at the next level especially after last year’s success as a “rush end”.

    Perhaps, he will have a change of heart and start training for UH’s pro-day.

    Also, agree with MIH in wishing him the best of all future endeavor(s).


  176. Pauoa Boy February 4, 2010 6:40 pm

    Welcome to Warrior Nation to all the boys who went sign to play for us! I know we got some bangers and with most of the boys having 4 full years to play, its going to be exciting. I garrans you, get couple future NFL guys in this group, how much you wanna bet?


  177. Pauoa Boy February 4, 2010 6:52 pm

    Happy Birthday Aunty JaM


  178. […] […]


  179. J-Dog February 4, 2010 7:19 pm

    LB Kaimi Sarkissian to UH??

    http://www.dailybreeze.com/ci_14331102


  180. Da Punchbowl Kid February 4, 2010 7:27 pm

    Fonoti has to do what he has to do. I respect that. Best of luck to him, I hope he can make it to the next level some day, some how.

    Fasi was a one of a kind. I wish he had a chance to serve as Governor. He had the vision and the passion to lead our state. Look at who we got instead… RIP, your honor, you have my vote.


  181. Garret February 4, 2010 7:38 pm

    Looks like Notre Dame is determined to create a recruiting pipeline in Hawaii. They have already identified the players they want for 2011…if want to go after a bunch of players each year in Hawaii, that could really change the recruiting landscape in Hawaii.

    Recruiting Hawaii in this recruiting cycle wasn’t first-year Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly’s idea.

    That he eventually ended up doing so and plucking Kahuku High defensive end standout Kona Schwenke at the 11th hour (and at the greatest position of need, no less) shows how Kelly can think on his feet and isn’t afraid to listen to the voices around him.

    “I think it was more about Roby (Toma) and Manti Te’o, that connection, more than anything else,” Kelly acknowledged.

    Toma, Te’o and now Schwenke, who incidentally got off the plane in shorts for his Jan. 29 recruiting visit to South Bend, are the start of what could now turn into a lasting relationship with the nation’s 50th state.

    Toma was a solid backup wide receiver during his freshman season with the Irish in 2009. Te’o is ND’s most celebrated defensive recruit of the post-Lou Holtz Era (1997-present) and easily lived up to expectations as a freshman linebacker in ’09.

    “Hawaii is untapped territory, and per capita is the best state in the country for football talent. The people in Hawaii are exceptionally polite, big-hearted people that will give you 100 percent all the time. They’re perfect Notre Dame people. Why not hit Hawaii more?”

    Kelly doesn’t have to ask himself that question again. With ND having extracted the top player in the state for two seasons in a row, assistant coach Mike Denbrock’s West Coast recruiting territory just expanded.

    “I think that Mike Denbrock is the kind of guy who can keep that pipeline going and open it wide over the next three years,” Lemming said.


  182. Garret February 4, 2010 7:39 pm

    Looking ahead to the 2011 class:

    So who’s the No. 1 player in Hawaii in next year’s recruiting crop?

    Lemming points to Paulay Asiata, a 6-5, 290-pound offensive guard/tackle from Word of Life Academy in Honolulu.

    In the same tier is quarterback Marcus Mariota, a 6-3, 175-pounder who runs the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds. He attends Catholic high school St. Louis in Honolulu. Also, at ND’s position of need, there’s 6-4, 240-pound defensive end Koa Ka’ai from Kamehameha High School in Honolulu.

    The other elite juniors per Lemming are 6-1, 190-pound safety Peni Vea from Kealakehe High School in Kailua-Kona and Tavita Tonga, a 6-3, 300-pound guard from Schwenke’s high school – Kahuku.

    While in Hawaii this winter, Lemming also stumbled across another impressive defensive end – 6-6, 220-pound Canton Kaumatule – who as it turns out is an eighth-grader at Kapolei Middle School in Aliamanu.

    “He could be the next Manti Te’o,” Lemming said.


  183. Old Warrior February 4, 2010 7:43 pm

    Mayor Fasi was a decent man who ran against the political machine which tried to destroy him and his ideas.


  184. Garret February 4, 2010 7:47 pm

    13-year-old QB committed to USC.

    Thursday evening Kiffin received a verbal commitment from 13-year old wunderkind quarterback David Sills of Bear, Del.

    Too young?

    Not according to his personal coach Steve Clarkson, who has mentored some of the game’s best quarterbacks including current USC starter Matt Barkley.

    “His skill set is off the chart,” Clarkson said. “I’ve never seen anyone at his age do what he’s been able to do.”

    “He’s already six feet as a 13-year old,” Clarkson said. “And he’s breaking down NFL footage.”

    Clarkson said the scholarship offer emerged after he called Kiffin to discuss a quarterback recruit for next year’s class.

    Clarkson said Kiffin asked him his opinion of the recruit and Clarkson said, “You might call me crazy, but you’ve known me a long time, right? And when I said if there was going to be a LeBron James of football it’d be Jimmy Clausen that turned out to be a pretty good prediction.

    “And when I said Matt Barkley had the potential to be as good as Jimmy, he ended up winning Gatorade Player of the Year as a junior and starting at USC as a freshman, right?

    “Well, I’ve got a kid now who is better than all of them and he’s in Delaware. You gotta take a look at him.”

    Clarkson then directed Kiffin to a video of Sills that is making the rounds on YouTube.

    Kiffin watched it and called him back immediately.

    “He was like, ‘This kid is incredible. How old is he again?’

    “I was like, ‘That’s the problem, he’s 13.’ “


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  186. BigWave96744 February 4, 2010 9:18 pm

    Al,
    Stephen asked what we thought of the draft..
    You mentioned it’s too early for me to judge?
    Isn’t that what everyone else is doing by saying may be the best class?
    Shouldn’t you have told others it’s too early for them to annoit these guys? Same, thing, no?

    I’m basing my observations on what the guys in ’02 and ’05 did prior to HS… Blaze was a 3 time All State…. Estes and may of the Cali guys were 1st or 2nd team guys in their region. The guys I listed fit the bill. They may not have been the best “CAMP” guys, but they were “Play Makers” in HS. Remember Eric Schaefer? Dude had one of the Highest SPARQ ratings in the state of Arkansas but when he came to Manoa…??????

    I’m not going by Rivals or Scout stars, I’m going by what the guys did on the field in HS. That’s all….

    We have a lot of “Potentially” talented guys but how many of these guys do you think can actually play in the next 2 years?

    Again this is not a knock on the athlete… Just a response to Stephen’s question. If everyone said Ohhhh, Ahhhh….. Give them and “A”, then you are selling the program short….

    Gotta do a better Job in keeping the top talent at home…


  187. BigWave96744 February 4, 2010 9:18 pm

    ooops, sorry.. Not draft…. LOI Day 🙂


  188. al February 4, 2010 9:30 pm

    bigwave…okay then.
    you win.
    pick up your marbles.

    we do agree upon doing a better job at keeping the top talent at home.


  189. protector February 4, 2010 9:43 pm

    Old Warrior & other Frank Fasi fans,

    I know many will see me as tugging on Superman’s cape, but we’ll just have to agree to disagree. I did not see him as a good or decent man. He was a bit of a demagogue who had a penchant for taking credit for other people’s accomplishments but he did was great at PR & did have the “gift of gab”-I’ll grant you that. He was also petty, arrogant, vindictive and practiced rampant favoritism & cronyism. If you think I criticize him because I have a diffeent political persuasion, that’s misguided. I believed some of that drivel so back in high school I tried to become a campaign volunteer when he came to our school. The problem was that as he was shaking my hand and speaking to me, e never once looked me straight in the eye because he was too busy ‘checking out’ and flirting with my pretty classmates. He was sleazy; I retracted my offer to volunteer. That’s enough of a rant for now


  190. Garret February 4, 2010 9:56 pm

    Looks like kicker Tyler Hadden signed with the Warriors.

    “After a verbal to NMSU, Hawaii coaches took the offer off the table from TX kicker, and then called TYLER HADDEN and offered him. After meeting with his family and considering all options, Tyler is following his heart to HAWAII.

    As mentioned earlier, I am a relative, and we were all around the table with him tonight as he signed his letter of intent, and faxed to it the special teams coach.

    It is official. Tyler Hadden is the newest member of the Warriors!”


  191. huh? February 4, 2010 10:08 pm

    i see. new recruit. seems like tsai moves at the speed of smell in making this announcement.

    tks to garret for informing us


  192. huh? February 4, 2010 10:12 pm

    I was huh? first.
    Get your own name.


  193. bighilofan2 February 4, 2010 10:12 pm

    Good evening Tsaikos everywhere.

    Happy Birthday JaM. Hope your day was GREAT!


  194. huh?? February 4, 2010 10:15 pm

    ok new name huh? happy?


  195. patele2004 February 4, 2010 10:16 pm

    what happened to charles tuaau from leilehua? Was it grades? He accepted a uh scholarship. I dont understand. that guy was a man among boys


  196. huh? February 4, 2010 10:19 pm

    yeah


  197. addahknowjoe February 4, 2010 10:19 pm

    Aaaaaaahhhh.. Happy Birthday JaM!


  198. al February 4, 2010 10:22 pm

    tuaau will be attending arizona western w/pep fonokalafi.
    both did not accept uh scholies.


  199. huh: February 4, 2010 10:33 pm

    Now I’m confused.


  200. huh: February 4, 2010 10:35 pm

    Who’s the holy grail? Isn’t Jason Elam the holy grail?


  201. madeinhawaii February 4, 2010 10:36 pm

    That’ll make 8 players from Hawaii on Arizona Western’s roster. 6 will be sophmores next year. They were ranked 7th last season and won the Western States Championship. Wonder if any of the 6 sophmores next season will find their way back to UH in spring or autumn of 2011?


  202. madeinhawaii February 4, 2010 10:37 pm

    All right We got a kicker!

    Welcome aboard Tyler Hadden !


  203. Ralph February 4, 2010 10:42 pm

    Tuaau and Fonokalafi will be joining Hawaii residents:
    Luke Spencer Kapolei OL, Benson Maafala Mililani OL, Chad Lopati Kapolei DE, Fautua Lefiti Castle DT, Isiah Iuta Farrington LB, Victor Faavae Kapolei DT and Tyler Brown Damien OL. Also there is Jesse Williams Aussie.


  204. Bigwave96744 February 4, 2010 10:44 pm

    Al I’ll keep the Cat Eyes and give you the bomboochas.

    Btw the kicker uh was recruiting went to Arkansas?
    I guess former Warrior Kicker Britton Forrester didn’t cut it as he was there backup last year… OH and coached by ST coach John L Smith


  205. al February 4, 2010 10:49 pm

    bigwave…may i have the peewees?


  206. LizKauai [iMac] m/ February 4, 2010 10:51 pm

    Hiya!
    Just got back from a long day and night at work.

    Hauoli Lahanau, JaM!

    RIP Mayor Fasi.

    Pride. -I got the chance to have dinner with your Kauai classmate and his lovely wife. Lots of fun!

    Nitey nite and SWEET WARRROR DREAMS!


  207. al February 4, 2010 10:55 pm

    the holy grail…the most coveted recruit ever.

    the one that we would never turn away should we find him again.
    the one who could single handedly bring back the glory.
    he, the next coming of colt brennan.


  208. al February 4, 2010 10:58 pm

    lizk…vote for colt brennan in the best college qb of the decade.

    http://bleacherreport.com/articles/339830-the-top-10-greatest-college-football-quarterbacks-of-the-modern-era

    and at the same bleacher reports hawaii having an A- for this year’s recruit class.

    pssst. bigwave dog check it out.


  209. al February 4, 2010 11:03 pm

    whitey

    while you were playing in pdx i was running about in maui yesterday. scrambled up country and back.

    btw, i just found out that pdx’s claim to fame is having the most strip clubs per capita in the u.s. is that what your research entails for this escapade?


  210. Ralph February 4, 2010 11:13 pm

    is Whitey pole dancing in the pdx?


  211. SteveM February 4, 2010 11:14 pm

    I remember Frank Fasi as a visionary/businessman among bureaucrats. But he got things done and knew how to handle businessmen. I recall the H-Power plant he pushed on everyone. Big environmentalist stir. Today, people are lamenting that we only have one.

    RIP Frank Fasi.


  212. Pride. February 4, 2010 11:24 pm

    # al:
    February 4th, 2010 at 10:55 pm

    the holy grail…the most coveted recruit ever.

    the one that we would never turn away should we find him again.
    the one who could single handedly bring back the glory.
    he, the next coming of colt brennan.

    No such thing Al. Football is too much of a team game.

    I’ll tell you what though, the entire team this year will be faster because of the presence of Allen Sampson on the field.


  213. al February 4, 2010 11:28 pm

    the kicker…(the long story short)

    so we talk to mercado of kahuku. some say he was offered a scholie. the kid dilly dallies and doesn’t commit to the home team right away, so it is reported anyway.

    meanwhile, they start looking around. bring an arkansas kicker for a trip. they tell mercado he and this new guy will compete as walk ons and the winner gets the scholie.

    mercado vacates his northshore “home” and goes back to fla. without telling anyone nor leaving a phone number.

    the home team moves on and are ready to offer the arkie boy. meanwhile the rumor was true that he was just tripping the free hawaii vacation with mom. he goes back home and commits to arkansas.

    the home team woos a california kicker rated #11 by some kicking camp. they tell him we have a scholie that may be available after nli day because someone will not take the scholie.

    meanwhile the #4 kicker gets word to the home team that he too is looking for a college education. the home team then tells the #11 guys to wait because now they have this other kid (the #4 kicker) who is gonna trip this weekend and we like him better.

    so, #11 losing some of the love makes a verbal commitment to cross town wac rival nmsu. the home team gets wind of this and then calls the cali kid offering him an immediate offer. tells em that if he takes it by the end of the day he can have the scholie. (what?)

    the kid has a pow wow with mom and dad then takes the offer, allegedly signs and faxes the loi.

    we have our kicker.
    hooray.

    but, what happened to #4 kicker?

    stay tuned.


  214. BleedGreen808 February 4, 2010 11:29 pm

    bighilofan2–

    Point taken…btw, may I come sit with you? haha.

    Does this mean I am not as bigofafan as you are if I don’t dream of Vili. I mean, I would rather dream of good looking wahines.

    Souljah–

    Point taken

    Kekoa—

    Sounds like a very responsible and mature young man. Good luck to him and may he come out of it to be a better man.

    Now onto the newly minted warriors, keep your head straight because you represent the aina and the whole state of hawaii. Make us proud!

    Here’s to the team in green. Go Warriors!


  215. al February 4, 2010 11:32 pm

    pride. of course it is a team sport.
    but one unreal, unbelievably talented qb can make the most impact on a team than any one position.

    i don’t think we achieve what we did during 06 and 07 with another qb of average abilities.


  216. Pride. February 4, 2010 11:40 pm

    LizKauai [iMac] m/:
    February 4th, 2010 at 10:51 pm

    Pride. -I got the chance to have dinner with your Kauai classmate and his lovely wife. Lots of fun!

    Oh, that’s great Liz. Which classmate? Arden? Bernard? Calvin? Dean? Ezra? Francis? Gavin? Hartwell? Ignatio? Jesse? Kaipo? Llewelyn? Mason? Nestor? Octavius? Preston? Quentin? Randall? Simeon? Todd? Ui? Victor? Winten? Xavier? Yuri? or Zanuck?

    Can’t be, none of them have lovely wives. Hmmm, who could it be?


  217. Pride. February 4, 2010 11:43 pm

    Huh?? I thought that was #4 that signed and faxed the LOI?


  218. Slugger February 4, 2010 11:47 pm

    Congrats to our new kicker, Tyler!


  219. Ralph February 4, 2010 11:51 pm

    I’m glad Charlie was able to change the lineup during the match and he at least tried to find a line up that played together. Passing woes and serve receive were problems tonight. Too many serve errors, like 4 in a row, killed momentum. Tomorrow they regroup and hoping for better results. At least this season, they are capable of making the conference playoffs and a possibillity of qualifying for the NCAA tournament.


  220. al February 4, 2010 11:54 pm

    well, if that guy on the board that garret got the quote from is correct and true then the guy we got is #11.

    yes, i know it is confusing, mind boggling, and almost absurd. perhaps it is par the course these days.


  221. Ralph February 4, 2010 11:57 pm

    maybe someone mixed up #4 and #11 names, everyone got confused, but the fax was sent thinking they were getting #4. Both last names begin with H, right?


  222. Ralph February 5, 2010 12:00 am

    no mvb report from Kazz or Rob, sad night!


  223. al February 5, 2010 12:02 am

    funny ralph.
    but, yah all three k’s had surnames that began with h.

    new post went up and then in hiding???


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  227. EngellTycle February 21, 2010 10:29 pm

    Can you believe this story from Denver?

    I just saw this story and had to share it with all of you.

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    (CNN) — Three police cars pulled into Christina FourHorn’s front yard one afternoon while working from home just before she was supposed to pick up her daughter at school. The officers had a warrant for her arrest.

    “What do you mean robbery?” FourHorn remembers asking the officers. Her only brushes with the law had been a few speeding tickets.

    She was locked up in a Colorado jail. They took her clothes and other belongings and handed her an oversize black-and-white striped uniform. She protested for five days, telling jailers the arrest was a mistake. Finally, her husband borrowed enough money to bail her out.

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  231. KamaainaUH March 3, 2010 8:06 am

    I love the Warrior Football and the people of the Islands since I first step foot on Oahu in 1992. Married a beautiful wahine. I go on Rivals national College Football boards and defend the proud Warriors with everything I got-even though I’m the only UH fan on a national level. I really like Mac, don’t get me wrong, but to pay him a HC of $1.2 million and the only HC experience he’s had is at Oregon Tech, a D3 school?. I’m sure Junes happy for Greg but why is Greg getting paid $500K more than June Jones did after 9 seasons? Greg should not be one of the 3 highest HC salaries in the WAC. Ackey at Idaho makes like $350K, Dooley while at LT made $400K?


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