Signing Day

What a great and exciting day we have in-store for today! Thanks Stephen for all the recruiting coverage. Much appreciated!

~~~•~~~~•~~Good..Morning..Tsaikos..and..Warrior..Nation!!!~~•~~~~•~~~

GO WARRIORS!!!

Looking forward to hearing more and more about the young men soon to become Warriors, and to hearing less and less about the young men who want to go away.

We’ll soon know the facts …. once the coaches get the fax!

~~•~~~~•~~ ★ ★ ★ Be => W A R R I O R S !!! ★ ★ ★ ~~•~~~~•~~

Rivals is reporting that VJ Fehoko will sign with Utah this morning according to UteZone.com

Game On!

Video is live!

I hope that everything goes well for UH today…and that a surprise goes the Warriors way.

I always wanted streaming video like this to be able to follow NLI day…but now that we finally have it, I have to be offline all day. Even worse, I have to wear a suit all day and will just catch up with the list of recruits at the end of the day.

Lagafuaina “No-showed”?

#18

Maybe he’s running late.

Congratulations Billy Sullivan! Top Gun!

go to http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com and it should on top.

Leo Goeas speaking now.

Have a terrific day erryboddy! Be A Warrior!

HiHo…..

Mahalo for the link D1.

Good morning Tsaikos. Looks like a lot of excitement in the air. Have a great day!!!

good luck to VJ and Utah…..NEXT…….

Good Morning Tsaikos!!

Hoping the best for the UH Warriors on this signing day!

UH recruiting includes the players AND parents. BOTH need to be a fit into the program.

It’s a bit interesting to note that none of the UH mascot’s sons chose to play for the team his father cheers for. Irony, odd, whatever. Would have been nice to have seen a son run over to his dad after a play for a chest bump.

Okay next.

I still believe we’ve gotten great players on the Warrior roster. if they all dedicate themselves in practice and game time as Devon, Blaze and others did, we’ll be a team to be noticed.

Buffoman, problem is that it’s just a gig for him.

#37 Pomai,

rahjah dat, like Pride said…..don’t matter til you strap it up 🙂

i have a feeling that seeing vii on the fb field is a thing of the past. be great to see the uh cheer squad do their thing.

I remember Paula Adbul’s “Rah” show on MTV where they had one of the students dressed up as a UH Warrior. It’ll be cheaper to have a student be a mascot than someone’s gig. It helps to bring a more college atmosphere to the field and I am sure the student will know when it is appropriate to cheer.

Wheres the drama you were talking about stephen? I havent seen a surprise yet.

Welcome new Warriors. Thankyou for choosing to play for the University of Hawaii. I look forward to seeing you on the field at the stadium.

Good morning Tsai-kos!

Happy NLI day! Welcome to the Warrior ohana all those who signed today.

Heard report that Ioane will greyshirt at BSwho. Apparently following his girlfriend there, which is never a great idea.

Hard to judge this early, but I think so far, this would be one of the few (maybe only) class where we did not sign a single player from the Top 10 Hawaii Prospects– compare last year when we got 3 of the top 10. I recognize this is more for show and prestige than results, but still it tells you how tough the competition is for UH.

Not to many in the top ten showing the luv for Hawaii. Mack needs to step up the recruiting tactics next year to keep the top local boys home. 2011 class in deemed pretty weak so UH needs to fend off the new challengers: U-Dub, Notre Dame, Boise, etc.

I know what you mean Old Diver…another cure for that is a cup o’ ignore tonic.

btw…any word on the kicker?

#51 Rochester is a D3 program according to their website. D3’s are non-athletic institutions. Only academic schollies are offered.

#55 Only other Hawaii player I remember on Bosie was David Hughes out of Kamehameha who went on to play for the Seattle Seahawks. I believe they weren’t a D1 program at that time when he played.

Welcome Dorian Rivera thankyou for choosing to play for all of Hawaii.

hold up 702… is that right? 6′ 7″ DL?? Whoa! I gotta see dis.

#60,

Thanks for that tidbit. I hope this isn’t the start to a Boise St. pipeline into Hawaii….We got enough recruiting issues and schools to deal with already.

Anybody know if Coach Peterson actually made a visit to Hawaii?

Darius Bright* WR 6-5 225 Jr San Francisco, CA/City College of San Francisco
Siaki Cravens LB 6-3 240 So. Temecula, CA/Long Beach CC
Desmond Dean DL 6-7 215 Fr. Tyler, TX/John Tyler HS
John Hardy-Tuliau DB 6-1 165 Fr. Temecula, CA/Vista Murrieta HS
Dee Maggitt DB 5-10 175 Fr. Tacoma, WA/Lakes HS
Christian “Bubba” Poueu-Luna WR 6-0 175 Fr. Temecula, CA/Great Oak HS
Allen Sampson WR 5-8 155 Fr. Tampa, FL/Plant HS
London Sapolu* OL 6-1 295 Jr. Costa Mesa, CA/Orange Coast CC
Kevin Spain QB 6-2 205 Fr. Scottsdale, AZ/Paradise Valley HS
T.J. Taimatuia LB 6-3 225 Fr. Hawaiian Gardens, CA/Artesia HS

LOI received as of 8:35 am from UH Website

Desmond Dean on Rivals shown as 6’6″ 40/4.55

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/recruiting/player-Desmond-Dean-104508

I think there was another local boy that went to BSU – Kapono Rawlins Crievello (I can’t remember what his last name is exactly), who then transferred back to UH.

Morning Tsaikos!

…and the No. 1 reason to sign with the Warriors:

You will be featured in the Warrior Beat!

…and maybe star in a Princess Leila video!

OC recruit made the news in OC register after signing up with Hawaii…and commingled with all the USC and UCLA signing news as well so its not bad at all and Hawaii is getting a quality recruit.

http://www.ocregister.com/sports/day-232326-signing-school.html

Happy LOI Day Tsaikos!

Congrats to all the student athletes & a special MAHALO for the ones signing with UH!

pitcher from konawaena… and yes i share that sentiment. welcome to the rainbow warriors dorian!

Today, from across this wonderful country, young men have signed up to be Warriors for life.

Lets thank these men and welcome them to our Warrior Nation!

‘Gmorning gang!

Did we go 0-for with Kahuku this year?

’08: Falemalu and Tachibana (huge pickups)
’09: Tonga and Alo

st…you forgot kody afusia and katina’s name is mispelled.

what about the aussie?

#79

Rivera will be a baseball signee. Huge kid from the Big Island. Most likely a pitcher for UH. He’ll be a project for Konishi. I guess Trap is pushing for local recruits next year to increase attendance. UH has a brutal schedule this year and will be lucky to be at .500 when they start WAC play. Both Oregon schools will be ranked in the Top 20. Long Beach State, Cal State Fullerton, USC, Gonzaga and U San Diego! Suspect hitting with the loss of Catricala and Moorford. Throw in the lack of pitching can only mean a long year! Trap is in trouble this year.

jdog…so far.

not a banner year for d1’s out of laie this year other than the two marquee guys.

more next year.

altho’ i’d invite sauni to the dance.

From RichfromOC’s link:

“Kody Afusia is traveling from Ocean View to an ocean view – the Seahawks’ center has signed a letter of intent with Hawaii, says Dan Albano.”

from vid: On his recruiting trip, Afusia discovers he’s distant cousins with Lefotu. Excited to be playing side by side with family!

Only in Hawaii. =)

I have a feeling we may not go 0-for with Kahuku this year just wait and see…

is Friel grayshirting?

wouldn’t a greyshirt be more advantageous?

btw, any word about the kicker???

In the end, it’s those that choose to be Warriors that matter, but…

When the dust settles from the calming of the Manoa mist,
And the mystical reflections of the rainbow appear…
As the warmth of the rising sun reaches to touch the valley walls…
The nurturing of life secures the future.

Lucky you live Hawaii!
Life is Good!
Live Aloha!

VJ gone so be it. There will be no Governor on the football team but there is one that I really like who will be a senor next year.

its gotta be tyler hadden

whew.
quines is gonna be huge player for us.
in fact, we may have the best linebacking corps of a class ever this year. these guys who signed on today will make history.

a couple of hours more for sierra and the kicker.

don’t forget to add in kody afusia to your list.

and correct david katina’s last name.

is the aussie with us?

al, you ok? did you take your meds today? 😉

I also love the fact that we are getting high school players to develop.

Hello young Warriors where ever you are,
Welcome, welcome to you,
Family and friends are happy you stayed,
Coaches and team mates are waiting for you.

Hello young Warriors be strong and true
Thank you for choosing UH,
Tsaikos and fans are happy for you,
Show the country your deeds.

(tune: Hello Young Lovers)

kona schwenke and jamora are alright but ill put my money on three things…kona prally wont play till his junior or senior year and he would never start at notre dame. maybe on kick off. ill take graham rowley over anybody in this recruiting class. he pobably could of gone anywhere but chose byu. i guess we will just have to see who shines on espn in a few years. and besides i seen alot better talent then them this year. ALOT

Boise St has had Kimo Von Olhoffen who was last with the Jets and is out now, and recently they had Rawlings-Carvalho from Kamehameha that is with us now.

why don’t the uh line coaches go after the 6’5″ offensive linemen so that we can keep up with the bcs teams…just a thought!

Congratulations to the newest Warriors!

rb’s…elisara, lolohea.

derek….the coaches were hiding him from the poachers.

RedZone:

I like that – “Harvard of the Pacific”. made my day!

of, I forgot “to comedians”!

Is Cameron Mercado the kicker we are waiting for?

I read on one of the message boards that he’s no longer at Kahuku and moved back to Florida but is still interested in attending UH.

don’t forget to put Anguay up there as a possible RB for the Warriors. the kid really did some things in a similar offense at Campbell. of course gotta show love to any of my cousins!!!

Bye bye VJ. We hope you enjoy beating the drums in Utah..we don’t want to deal with your antics of choosing between UH and Utah. If you chose UH then fine but you don’t narrow down to 2 choices and then slap UH fans in the face. If you knew it was Utah then you should have said….but to do that to your home fans is a major bachi moment waiting to happen. Good luck!!!

Your dad going be replaced now too. I think it is time to unveil the new mascot…the UH Warrior Tako.

Back from the signing session. Very happy to see so many Sons of Hawaii representing their HS class of 2010.

Props to Mrs. SailorBlue for her volunteer work at the registration table. ST was hard at work grinding out the WB inside photos & scoops! HoweLee and I were overseeing the event staff.

Bumped into Nalani & hubby on the way out. They were there to support the Fehoku family. I think VJ confused one person who came to me and asked me if he was signing with Army because of the jersey he was wearing. That, along with the many hats he had, kinda caused a stir.

Was supposed to help with an independent media crew with links to popular sports dot com services on the mainland, but they had connectivity problems. The scheduled interviews with the key commits had to be canceled.

Congratulations and welcome to all of the new commits! Looking forward to seeing them on the field.

Have a great day, folks!

Esme & whoosh…

al:

appears that the “surprise” for class 2010 will be Desmond Dean.

i thought UH was out of Texas, but perhpas, they can build a new pipe line to Texas via Tyler HS.

my first impression was WR – could use his height and speed – especially within the “red zone” ( no pun intended ).

adding to # 145.

Yeah, NUFF already about VJ.

and NO MORE pictahs.

Instead, post/print pics of the Warrior signees.

and, time for a UH mascot, instead of a hired entertainer.

808boyz is correct. Let’s get a mascot that loves Hawaii, not uses UH to make money. All his boys went to the mainland, maybe he should go to SMU.

Sierra’s signed LOI was received by UH. He’s a true Warrior who held to his word! Welcome to the Ohana!

Off topic, but sad to see Hungry Lion is closed. Can Pride.’s favorite place be next (or did they already close)?

Yup, time to move on from the VJ news. Pack his drums, father, mother, and bro’s and move them out to the Utah cow pastures!

Duffer- Mahalo for the link.

To all our local men whom have chosen to further their playing days and education abroad:

Congratulations! We’re proud of each and every one of you.

Remain humble and carry yourselves well. Never forget your island roots.

Represent your name, your family and Hawai’i with pride and honor.

Explore and experience the world. Study hard! Play harder!

If your paths should ever cross against Hawai’i, no hold back! We expect you all to “bring it” and play with nothing less than your best!

Always know these islands will always be your home.

Disappointed due to Advertiser’s Top 25 listing (Ferd’s list) – none of top 10 local recruits signed with UH. In “my opinion”, Chaz Sevenson should be listed as top College player coming out of Hawaii in this class, great athlete, can be elite DB or WR in College.
Schwenke – ND
Jamora – UW
Epenesa – UCLA
Lagafuaina – UW
Crabbe – CU
Akuna – OSU
Hatchie – UW
Rowley – BYU
Stevenson – UW
Ioane – BSU

Very disappointed that VJ, Vili’s son decided to attend Utah instead of UH, thought one of his son’s would become a Warrior!

Really bad news reported in the ‘Tiser… Hungry Lion suddenly closed last night. Kid — we’re too late to throw the first Tsai-ko midnight cattle call at Hungry Lion… 🙁

The March 2007 Camellia Cattle Call was actually the 2nd call–but it was announced on the blog. The first was at Hungry Lion via phone calls between the Blog Party 1 attendees. No one had my number then… 🙁

Boy, I fixed that. 😆 But that Hungry Lion cattle call was the origin of the “WHAAPAAAAAAAH”! It took me two years to get the story behind that. 😛

Where is the Aussie at. I don’t see him as sending in his LOI.

Great job Coaches now if you got any left over schollies go after Turner or Sloan!

Regarding Boise State, 2 McKinley HS qbs from the late 60s/early 70s, Ron Autele and Owen Sueoka, played when Boise was D2, altho’ Sueoka came back home after his frosh year.

After his Kamehameha days in ’77, David Hughes took his talents to Boise St. Then onto the Seahawks and Steelers.

…you can tell him he lacks pizzazz!

anyone know where did Jiniki Timoteo go?

BleedGreen808,

5th Period….American History?

Timoteo to Weber St.

I would hope If The Warrior’s change mascots it is for the right reasons and not because someone’s son didn’t go to UH. That said having a student become the mascot for free tuition for a semester would be a lot cheaper than paying someone to do it.

D1–

I think he should be out of school by now. It is a wednesday schedule unless things have changed since I graduated ummm don’t know how many years ago.

JDog–

Thanks

#178,

2.

In response to #178

#2 Send Villi on to SMU and dress him in a Pony Costume! Let him romp around the stadium swatting his arse! He’s had better days at Aloha Stadium. One of these days he might pull a hamstring!

The Aussie is grayshirting. Won’t get a scholarship until Spring of 2011.

BTW…is Camelia’s still in business after the Tsaiko/Bulla Bombers “invasion” this past Friday?

Irse–

He still needs to sign and fax his LOI.

Stephen, how many scholarships we get left?
Considering we had some reserved for VJ and Laga, does that open one up for Frank Gaines? We also lost Pelleur.

RE: UH Mascot.

How about having a redshirting or grayshirting football player be the mascot every year?

If they wanna go the student body route…

Get options.

JM,

I apologize. Didn’t realize there was another Fehoko son.

Also, NOTHING yet from admin regarding the stuff at the volleyball games this past weekend. Surprising too because I’ve e-mailed Clapp before and e-mailed Rich Sheriff once before and they responded in a few days time. Never really e-mailed JD before.

I like Stephanie the Warrior. or maybe Leonard Peters.

Vili vote: Opening vote *5* and then my final vote *2*.

(Of course a case of Salonpas would be an appropriate parting gift).

According to rivals, we offered Homer Mauga, he signed with Idaho today. I think we have only scholarship left. Anguay is grey shirting. I have a feeling a few more like Shigematsu will too. If we reserved scholarships for Ioane as well, I think we should have one more. Lets use it wisely and maybe a Anterrrio Sloan might need a place to play

ST:

1 – I have been saying this for a while; has nothing to do with 3 sons all choosing another school!

At times, he seemed to embarrass UH with his antics against visiting teams mascots. Subdued lately – because Jim D. talked to him?

Time for a change and with all due respects to K. Mark, no more marshmellows!!!

I read that Vili makes $300 per football game, which comes out to about $2400 per season. Wouldn’t a student scholarship cost a lot more than that?

For those of you who wants Vili out as being the mascot because of the recent developments, picture this. Would you want Dave Shoji to be fired as being the head coach because from my understanding, all his kids are at Stanford.

I am not defending Vili or the Fehoko family for that matter. Just remaining neutral and yes, I do understand why a lot of the athletes do decide to go away even if they were brought up to be warriors. Let the kids experience the world, let them have their freedom to roam, let them learn to be independent, and most of all, let them see it for themselves that the other side ain’t always greener. I certainly went away for school and not because I never liked Hawaii. It is because I wanted to see the world and boy was it an eye-opening experience. I learned a lot and with the old cliche goes “you never know how much something means to you until it is not there.” Certainly holds true for me.

Where is the live stream to watch the Mack press conference starting now?

We’ll find out, if:
1) Waialua HS players – Rowley and Hatchie can play. They are big, but that doesn’t mean anything. Height and weight is a little overrated.
It’s ability, improvement, technique, quick feet, leverage, and character that determines a down lineman’s performance. Take the example, Jeff Saturday, C, of the Colts. He’s 6’2″, 295 lbs. and said to be “small” for the NFL. He was cut and later resigned by the Colts and today he’s a Pro Bowler and C for Payton Manning. You don’t need to be 6’4″ or 6’6″ to be good. Waialua program wasn’t good and didn’t play against top level competition. Maybe the 2 recruits aren’t tough enough.
2) Taz Stevenson can play. I’m from Mililani and I saw Stevenson play a bunch of times. I wasn’t impressed. He seemed to react to plays on defense a little slow and he didn’t come up and tackle the ball carrier or receivers right away. He looked like sometimes he was disinterested.
As a receiver, he seemed o.k. but he didn’t have blazing speed or shiftiness. The most impressive player from Mililani to me was Zach Quines. I really like him a lot and UH got him.
3) Jamora and Schwenke pan out – I was really high on them until Kahuku got blown out against Kamehameha. That means the Kam OL handled Jamora and Schwenke very well. So what does that tell. Maybe they are overrated.
4) Fehoko can handle the pressure. He was never going to sign w/ HI after the bad things he said about UH and coach Mac. I saw him play a lot and he’s got a good spurt upfield toward the QB, but he overran a lot of plays. He’s a sucker for the draw or delayed hand off. He’s very easy to block. At the end of the day, I don’t think UH missed out on him.
5) Akuna is what he’s advertised. I never say him play, but is he any better than Elisara or Lolohea from him own team. I doubt it. Maybe he had more ink, but if he’s a safety in college opponents receivers might blown past him. He’s too slow to be a safety in college. He might have to be a linebacker at OSU.
6) Epenesa crack the UCLA staring lineup. I didn’t see him play, but I don’t care because UH is not playing UCLA.
7) Ioane can take the place of Kyle Wilson. With a possible change of a new defensive coordinator, things might be different. And I wonder if he can handle the city of Boise. There’s nothing there.

I hope that UH gets the kicker ST is mentioning. If it is Hadden, then the fight is between NMSU (who he was committed to before UH’s late offer) and UH.

Just as i thought. Boise St DC gone. going to Tennesse.

Re uh mascot, said it last year that we should get a student to be our warrior mascot, this has nothing to do with his sons. Why pay for his services, i think a student/fan will love to do it.

Sampson “Turbo” 🙂

Schwifty five!

I see no reason why UH should continue to give Vili a stage to promote himself, and foot the bill on top of it. I’ve said that before today.

He brought fun and excitement, and a lot of us are grateful for Vili and the memories, but UH should go in a new direction. If it turns out to be a mistake, the issue can be reconsidered.

In defense of the UH recruits,

First and foremost, Ferd does not know much. He is a Neanderthal. His list is full of guys who have to make position adjustments at the college level. They are, for the most part, projects, with the notable exception of Epenesa.

By contrast to that group, UH stocked up on a bunch of guys that should are a good fit for their position and should naturally transition into contributors at the college level. If they do not get the opportunity right away, it is only because UH always has so many talented players on its roster.

Good job, Coach Mack.

You can turn off the camera now 😆

ok
HiHo!

OK, good neighbor, nearly 2:43pm HST – any more surprises for us?

Is UH going to have 2 scholarship kickers next year? Unusual?

haha…let it be known to 2011 and beyond or as long as Coach Mack is around, local recruits who decide to go away for college and later wants to come back to play for the home team, that they have no scholarship to come back to. You either walk on and earn the scholarship or go somewhere else. That is the way it should be. Why give up a scholarship for those that wants to be a warrior when you don’t.

I like it! Makes the recruit think twice about leaving and not say “I can always come back and get a scholarship.”

VJ what showmanship,what an actor!! auwe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

To all local “signees” — You are sons of Hawaii … You are blessed and you are loved. Whether staying or going, make us prouder of you than we already are. Good Luck. IMUA!

Well said coach Mack. If you go away and expect to come back later and play for the Warriors, you’re dreaming! Think about it class of 2011!

I am proud of the job the Warrior coaches did for this recruiting class. DEFENSE! DEFENSE! Welcome to all the new warrior’s !!!
Too many 1st dwns on 3rd dwns last year and it was frustrating. STACK UP ON DEFENSE MACK !!
Stopping a team on 3rd down is just as exciting to me as scoring a touch
on offense.
The recruiting class’s of the last 3 yrs show’s the coaches are working hard to build a solid and winning team. Win some,lose some, but they don’t stop working. Only time will tell but it’s on the field and the final score
during the real season is all that matter’s.
I for one is very excited with today’s commits!!!! THANK YOU COACHES AND BEHIND THE SCENES PEOPLE AND OF COURSE THE COACHES WIFE’S AND FAMILIES FOR YOUR SACRIFICE….

Man I cannot wait to see some of these boys in action. Love defensive players that can hit and get Grazy on the football field. I feel sorry for all the QB,s we face as they will get planted in the turf in more ways then one!

With respect to Ferd’s rankings and the comments regarding them, I tend to agree with lava and others. I did watch most of the recruits play this past season. I even saw two Waialua games this year and saw Hatchie and Crowley play. Although I thought overall Jamora was probably one of the best at defensive end this year, Beau Yap was extremely impressive in the State championships and dominated in back-to back weekends against Leilehua and Kahuku. He out-performed both the two ends from Leilehua as well as Schwenke and Jamora from Kahuku. I think he is going to be a very productive player for us and we are fortunate to have him.

Moses Samia is also a very good athlete and will only get better. I am glad that Coach Cal Lee kept in touch with him and that we were able to sign him. Someone close to the situation told me that there was probably a little too much focus by Coach Aranda on trying to land Jamora and that was part of the reason for the late offers to the DT’s. Nonetheless, I think we will be fine for next year on the interior line with Tuipulotu, Meatoga, Hanohano, the Beast, and others. We are probably going to have to make some adjustments in recruiting strategies next year, but, overall, a pretty decent recruiting class.

With respect to the mascot, let’s get rid of it all together and focus on playing disciplined football, rather than relying on hype. I am getting anxious for another WAC title. We can do it.

to derek. just because u play in d2 doesnt mean u cant play d1. its called loyalty and besides two guys cant win the game. yea waialua was bad but who do you know on the d1 teams play the whole game as linemen. from d line to o line to running back to punter to special teams and tightend tell me who did that. im sure if they stuck to their rightful positions they would ball out the whole game. but when u play for waialua and ur good. u adapt and play everywhere. thats just how it is. u would u know if u went there. but i guess not. and ask anyone who went to the poly camp and other camps, im pretty sure they will tell you if they could compete with the d1 boys. you would be amazed donkey

VJ is all show and no go! Shows up this morning wearing his Under Armour Army high school all-star game jersey. We know you played in the game! Don’t need to make a statement. Be Humble son! When you ride the pine in Utah hope to see you wearing your lava lava drum costume! E TONG E EH!!!!!

Good luck to those who are going away for school.

As a validation of points people have made here about Hawaii fans not remembering those that went away, read Wes Nakama’s blog entry about the recruiting class of 2005. For the group that went away, I remember only about a quarter of them, whereas, the group that went to UH, I remember all of them that made the team.

Sorry Pauoa, but I gotta add my two cents about VJ. Had more than enough of their antics. They like the pretty girl who teases you all night but ends up giving you nothing. Nothing wrong with choosing another team than UH, but don’t throw water in my UH face while doing it.
No need Vili the Warrior anymore either. Pau already. Like 95 percent of other colleges, let’s get a student to be The Warrior.
One question, is this Dean kid from Texas the son of Fred Dean?

Son of Fred Dean who played oline for the Redskins.

what, there’s no 48 hour rule after LOI day? =)

Most schools across the country are talking about the top stars that signed, we’re talking about replacing a mascot immediately during LOI day? Are you kidding me, a mascot? Can a program stomach another ESPN story? It would make for an interesting story if he is replaced… wouldn’t surprise me at all.

These kids, the top tier of the class, see the writing on the wall. hard choices some are making. But talented athletes have a great sense of what is going on around them and can anticipate or feel things better than your average athlete, that’s what makes them special. I believe it is part of their gift. The continuity in the program / system may be in serious jeopardy and the culture and the belief system deterioration in Warrior football at the local level is developing faster than a poached egg on high heat!

Taking just a nibble out of a very strong local recruiting class is a huge wake-up call. And I don’t care who you are, when opposing coaches come into your own home state and poach up your top talent, that has got to feel somewhat embarrassing. Can you imagine a top ten list from Texas and not one of them go to U of Texas? – (they kept 4 out of top 5 ) Something is terribly wrong in Manoa in regards to local recruiting.

We should never dis-credit any of these kids quotes in the paper. If some are saying it would have made a “difference” listen to them. Who cares if they meant it or not. It is the tone in the message is what really matters. It’s troubling. What really shows, is now programs across the country will look at this years acquired recruiting class and lobby for the resources to have a more of an aggressive recruiting presence in Hawaii feeling confident that they can participate in the poaching season. – and the ones that do have a presence will only beef it up..

2010 class looks competitive. Looking forward to spring!

wasn’t there a Fred Dean that played for the niners?

To which “Fred Dean” does Desmond Dean think he’s related?

BG808—

U know what i wish VJ good luck and health in his endeavors at UH but i think he was yanking UH’s chain. If you are going to do that then take Texas Tech hat and Utah hat and then decide. He wasn’t coming to UH…he just wanted to get the attention. So all i’m saying is aloha oi and have fun freezing in utah. Welcome to the new players and let’s bring back that old hard hitting D that we had in the Navy game.

You go away for college…have fun. Just because you go away to college doesn’t mean the NFL. Look at all the NFL Warriors. VJ we will see you back in Hawaii in 5 years beating those same drums my bradda.

….the Head Scratch moment

Fred Dean is 55….

his grandson, Desmond is 17/18?

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

djmitcho,

Howzit!

Did BLM commit before or after they announced the red field!

you gotta luv the size of our o-line recruits.
The Lbs looking good too.

isn’t Friel greyshirting due to injury? got to wait to 2011

Whoo-hoo!!!

Brand new, shiny, freshly minted Warriors!!! No doubt they even have that new Warrior Attitude.

Work hard and as one, get ready for September!

give the turner burner a chance!

VJ Fehoko’s little show was such a joke. I watched the Advertiser video when he slipped on the Utah cap. There was no reaction from the crowd and I can’t believe he came to the event wearing that Army All-American jersey hahahahaa. Quinnes and Sierra are better anyways.

Garret – just read your 217. Both feel we got poached. lol hmm must have gone to the same school 🙂

Who is that recruit on the right in the last photo? Is he the one from St. Mattress JC?

Hope you feel better LizKauai!

POLL: Do you want a new Warrior mascot?

Vote here: http://www.sportshawaii.com/sh/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=35043&start=0

I like this guy for our new Warrior mascot.

What part of Vili’s act is “owned” by Vili?

I mean can we get someone else in there to do the same thing? Younger.. better shape.. AND who know when NOT to make at ton of noise and WHEN to get the crowd into it.

MIH I don’t think any of it. You can’t own a costume or a drum, what else is there?

#278 al, i do concur…….please coach mack, give turner the burner a scholarship!!!!!!! please!!!!!! give him a chance, you won’t regret it!!!!!

Regarding # 291

Another cheap shot at the coaches and our recruits. This is one of our best recruiting class ever. The trend in the quality of our recruits is up, get used to it.

Did UH sign Tarra Gabriel fieldgoal kicker from Kamehameha?

300

sportsbow,

I’d vote for a Warrior mascot like that…is that Leonard Peters? Mm-hmm.

I don’t hold Vili’s sons’ choices against him. Good luck to the kids. I do think it’s time to move toward a university student mascot. Don’t know if other universities pay their mascots, but I think paying a ‘professional’ is not appropriate for a university, especially with budget constraints. AND Vili used to tick me off, making noise during our play-calling. Sheesh…you’d think he would know better. Das my three cents…

Kekoa,

Did your nephew sign with a college football team?

Mahalos al…

Frikkin Sula, what a waste… oh well I think John Lister gonna be a beast of a running back for us, cannot wait to see what he can do. Alex Green was decent but he gotta run with lower shoulder pads IMO.

Nice shirt, Kekoa 😉

Thanks Coach Mack and Co. for the hard work on the 2010 recruits. I look forward to an even better 2011 class.

Eh No Make

I am not slamming you.

I am slamming parents in Hawaii who, when given the choice, don’t choose Us First. In 2010, I am choosing Hawaii first. Period. End of story. It is us against the rest of the word. Not choosing a Fliipino. Or choosing a Caucasian. Or chooseing a whatever. Its about us sticking together. And when we’ve got the chance to get a great local player, or maybe a great mind player, to help the home team’s mental health, and we’re arguing if its alright for them to go to, say Baylor, you gotta be kidding me. becuase if I was a kid like Soraes, and people were saying i should be Mayor, I’m thinking to myself, what the heck am I going to be doing in Utah/

so to Vili and the wife, I say, good luck to your son in Utah. For you at UH football, Vili, I am not interested at all anymore.

if Jim Dnovan puts yhou on the field this year, look for seat CC row 3 seats 1 and 2. i won’t be cheering.

mrs. lthuhf….
it was our pleasure to serve and honor fred.

ok. i think that’s enough vj, vili blasting already.

me, i like focus on our very good recruit class.
very interesting bunch.
some can contribute right away.
others need for beef up.
i want to know come september, did we find the holy grail?
who’s this new kicker? (when he signs) got leg?
who will we pick up from the walk on list of candidates?

we may be looking at the best collection of linebackers we have ever had.

off topic…

only in hawaii….http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20100203/BREAKING01/100203064/Kailua+H.S.+to+hold+plate+lunch+fundraiser

I have a question for the few who question or are even trashing our recruits and coaches. Which Mid-Major football team got commits from every player they were after? Which BCS team got every in-state player they were after? Are we to believe every top Florida or Texas football player went to an in-state school? I want to see data to back up your complaining.

To add to my post. Is this what you call “sticking together.”

well a new mascot would be welcomed especially the young guy thats posted on one of those forums.

He’s garans to bring out Stephanie Lum again

Al

U r funny! LOL.

I vill think about it. Okay?

I still find it very interesting that during the six days I spent in Portland in August, I saw zero rain. I had umbrella in hand and everything, checked the news every night … 😛

I met Vili once, seemed like a nice enough guy. But some of the things he does to get the crowd riled at the wrong time irks me. A lot of the fans at the stadium seem to like him, though. If he would just learn when to get the crowd riled and when to get the crowd to calm down, that would be awesome.

last yr prior to the season, i felt that the oline would do a good job and they did. looking at this class and what we have on the present roster, my feeling is that the de and dt are going to be major wreckers. this yr’s team will be what Pride said, “with an attitude”.

whitey,

Yep, the storms this winter seem to really provide some “Oomph” to the trip up and make for some interesting flight plans coming back!

d1, i stay one step ahead and figguh the headwinds going make the trip home a most miserable one, so i doing fool em and come home via annodah route. no tell mutha nature.

al, if you goin be on maui tomorrow or fri, i stay in pdx.

are all the scholarships used up? every year they are guys all over the country that get over looked because they late bloomed and didn’t blossom until their senior year and cant get a scholarship due to mostly early recruiting in college sports. There is so much talent out there that gets over looked… Coach Tuioti touched on this yesterday. Schools like UH who recruit and get commitments late would benefit greatly. Usually the people that would have tabs on these guys are the sports reporters esp the ones that cover HS, college sports across the country. The ST’s, Wes Nakama’s. I’m sure they get the occasional email “help, I need to find my kid a school” It would be great if there was a service where reporters, coaches can broadcast these over looked players on a site so recruiting coaches can take a look at them. I am sure there’s lots of parents and coaches across the country asking for help and recruiters looking for help finding these guys..

Here is a nice photo of Leonard Peters and the rest of the USA team. I think that the Rugby magazine writer needs to check his facts though…

And we’d also like to see Leonard Peters get the ball a little bit more. Caravelli has made good on his promise to put “Junior” in the forwards. Clearly Peters, a quick study and a smart player, has done enough to earn time there. We’d just like to see the former University of Hawaii linebacker get a head of steam and push away a few hapless defenders.

And if you saved some scholarships till after LOI day then you risk losing players you want. There is no right or wrong way to do things.

342

Yep, that would be a risk you would have to manage.. maybe more for a JC player that is ready to go.

I wonder what UH’s top ten list looked like. I bet it would look different from Ferd’s list. UH is recruiting by need, not by some arbitrary list.

Oops…too many words…sportsbow’s suggestion…(strike the “was”)

Night again…

According to coachtiffskicker (Tyler Hadden’s coach or father?) on WSN, Michael Hunnicutt is the Kicker Hawaii is looking at.

My take on the Vili issue is that firing him now, right after his son chose to go somewhere else, would make UH look small and petty. Whether or not people like him as UH’s mascot, the timing of the decision could not be worse for UH as it is now.

I am a Governor for life but I sure am liking Kapolei and Kamehameha. They have given us some really good recruits with a lot of character.

I like leonard Peters but I mainly want UH to get a younger mascot.

Mahalo to all our new recruits! Excuse us now while we ignore you the next few years. Feel free to pop up anytime to contribute however.

Interesting that the LBs seem to outweigh the DLs.

Rivals doesn’t seem to have Hunnicutt among their ranked kickers. Scout.com has him rated as the #17 kicker recruit.

well, it seems that “eh no make”, tsai, and myself all agree about the hat trick is just an act of no class.

that’s scary.
perhaps the three of us should discuss over lunch.

it makes sense that a prospect would want to visit before inking.
it is like, do you go on a blind date to the prom?
or do you buy the pair of shoes before trying it on?

so, we bring a guy in but we don’t offer until the other guy who we haven’t seen decides first. the writing is on the wall.

leave this alone. we all get it already no sense spell it out.

Michael Hunnicutt is #4 at the Chris Sailor Kicking camp

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

Offensive Line in 2013 will look decent with these recent additions(projected weights):

Kody Afusia 6-3 305
David Lefotu 6-4 315
Frank Loyd 6-3 295
Sean Shigematsu 6-5 285
Chauncey Makainai 6-4 320
Jordan Loeffler 6-5 310

Coaches are definitely trying to get bigger. By the way these are all still young pups.

Good morning Tsaikos everywshere.

Bleed

howzit. i understande what you’re saying. Like ST said in 337, nice man, nice kids. He can come sit by me as we cheer on UH, together.
It just doesn’t look, feel, sound right that our mascot’s sons, who could play for UH, don’t play for UH.

I know all young guys who grow up on the rock wanna get off da rock.
i was one of those guys. but i never had a chance to play UH. never had football my high school. different time, different era.

but i’m not UH mascot. granted, Vili is great at what he does. and he is the most visible mascot in America.. but tats my opinion, because i see him, he is in my face, in my dreams.

ahd UH is in my face, in my dreams. I agree with this principle: we gotta change the face of UH so that more of those we think are the best wanna stay home.

Thats why I like Ryan. And Beau. No doubt in my mind, their fathers had a lot to do with their becoming Warriors. Thats what I’m saying.

or Vili and his boys, good luck to them. i no like him be our mascot anymore. when i look at him from now on, i’m thinking to myhself.

FAKE. .

bleed

i was reading the HA and the young men’s statements about where they’re going and what they think about it, their statements.
good luck to all of them.

and the best of luck and wishes to those that choose to be a Warrior.

good morning Wafan and Pomai.

I’m wearing my Mana Silva supaman T shirt today, in honor of the
home team’s local son.

looking at the recruiting class, just by the vibes, looks like we get chances. I say, GOOOODDDD JOBBB COACHES!!!!!

KEEEP UPP THE WINNING VIBE!

hooo we had a buss up day yesterday. the recruiters coulda done better, image wise, if they’d had help last year, from guys like me, if I’d have been ragging on those that went away. not because it will affect one way or the other of those that went away, but because it might cause those that are thinking of going away next year, to start thinking about what that will mean to them. the positives, and the negatives.

#365 WarriorMojo:

Not so fast lone star – I have ALWAYS felt that way, for a long time now…However, I still believe the UH coaching staff could have done a much better job recruiting Hawaii kids. MUCH better.
Again, it’s nothing against the kids they did land, because like I’ve posted before, I never fault or talk negative about the kids themselves.

For what it’s worth, and I wish I could have the ears of the coaching staff, but much of the local talent, MUCH, and I have heard it with my own ears straight from many of their mouths, the kids tell me the following is true:

– 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

I guess kids these days want that kind of attention, I don’t know, but that’s what many of them are saying. Not my words, I’m just delivereing the message.
I do though, believe it takes 2 maybe 3 years to really judge the merit of a recruiting class.

Aloha Kakahiaka!

Re 337 – remember that a boy has TWO parents and can be influenced by BOTH of them… not to mention being INDEPENDENT.

I remember that age and wanting to be as far away from my parents as possible. Hey- I came to Hawaii!

Have a GREAT DAY!!!

IIRC, Dave Shoji is an esteemed WVB coach.

The akamai kids know the difference between being shown “love” and “shibai”.

I agree with most of you on these subjects.

Dave Shoji, the best coach UH has ever had hands down. He paid for his kids to go to a very expensive private school, and he probably expects them to get a very high quality education. Does it mean UH is not a high quality school? No, but Stanford is in a different league. If my kid got a scholarship offer from Stanford, as much as I love UH and enjoyed UH, I am going to push my kids to Stanford. There are only a few schools that I would consider this way: MIT, UC-Berkeley, Stanford, or Ivy league schools.

I remember when I first posted on these boards, I said that I don’t like the press coverage of the kids that leave the island. I don’t care if they leave the island for another school or not, I would just rather have all the press on the kids that goes to UH. I like the homegrown reports because they don’t have entire articles devoted to one person.

As for Vili and his sons, it doesn’t bother me at all. I don’t know what VJ was thinking, but maybe he was leaning towards UH then woke up and decided he wanted to leave. It happens. I agree with others that it seems weird to go to Utah, but maybe he just wanted to be on a team that had a good years the past few years.

I think the UH coaches did a great job. It has to be hard to recruit in Hawaii because a lot of people feel the pull to leave. A lot of kids just want to see what is outside of the islands. Most people have never been outside of the Hawaiian islands. When I was 18, I visited Japan when I was 10 and California when I was 12. Besides that I never left the island. If I could have afforded college outside the islands, I would have gone. I would still love UH, but sometimes you just got to leave.

I am not sure how everybody on this board knows what UH is doing to get recruits. How early UH has contacted prospects or how often? Maybe you had a son that UH wanted and they contacted him late, that’s one person doesn’t mean they were late to every recruit does it? Maybe they didn’t follow up on a nephew of yours, does it mean they didn’t follow up on all the other recruits?

To BleedGreen808,

In regards to blaming family for the kids leaving, we as fans can do that. If you listened to Coach Mack’s comments he said that 2 kids in this class wanted to come to UH, BUT their family convinced them to leave. One might be vj, cause his brother was telling him to go to utah.

Secondly, in regards to Shoji…It really sucks that his 2 sons left, and I think we should hold him accountable for them not going to UH. UH is ranked 6th in the nation! But men’s vb is completely different…they don’t get full-ride scholarships, and we are talking about Stanford as an academic institution. The reason we should still give Shoji some rubs is because his sons would have went to UH for FREE cause he is an employee. Imagine how good UH would’ve been with 2 more non-scholarship players of that caliber.

Read the article in the Honolulu Advertiser about Ioane choosing Boise State over Notre Dame and Washington. Sure was puzzling! TV station interviewed him yesterday and he sure didn’t look ecstatic about his selection! Probably realized what a mistake he had just made. Big mistake! Odds of Ioane playing at the next level (NFL) are small. A Notre Dame degree goes a long way. Ask Jason Ching, Punahou stud of the 90’s, didn’t play much at Notre Dame but making mucho bucks in the business world today. Boise State, only thing Idaho is known for is the Spud farms and Mark Fuhrman’s (O.J. Trial) current residence. Seriously, Boise has nothing to offer other then football. Been to Idaho and there’s nothing in that state. Pocatello, Moscow, Bosie, it’s all the same.

Bad choice! Good luck to Ioane and hope you see the field when you return to Aloha Stadium! I may not know much, but one thing is for sure, Turbo is going to blow by you! You and your Bronco’s ain’t catching this dude!!!

I was scanning something else about this on another blog. Interesting. Your position on it is diametrically contradicted to what I read before. I am still pondering over the different points of view, but I’m inclined heavily toward yours. And regardless, that’s what is so great about modern-day democracy and the marketplace of thoughts online.

Such a nicely done blog. My Cousin had spoke of this webpage and I can honestly say it will turn into a daily visit for me! Thanks for the nicely done read.