Volleyball Warriors’ 4-year plan; Iosefa’s next step
The old chicken/egg adage — you can’t get a job without experience, but you can’t get experience without a job — is applicable for this year’s volleyball Warriors.
In 2012, the Warriors had to replace setter Nejc Zemljak and a dynamic duo of Jonas Umlauft, the nation’s best hitter, and Joshua Walker. Head coach Charlie Wade made the strategic decision to invest in newcomers — “young money,” he called it. That meant giving young players game experience and, in some cases, starting jobs. It also meant that for the Warriors to be good, they might have to be not-so-good for a while.
The tactic appears to have paid off this season. Brook Sedore, who averaged 0.42 kills per set and hit minus.013 as left-side hitter in 2012, is one of the league’s most productive opposites. In 2012, Taylor Averill, who had transferred from UC Irvine, finished the season as a sore-armed opposite. He underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum, reshaped his build, moved to middle, and now is the league’s most accurate hitter. Scott Hartley struggled to find time on the B side in practices. But he also reshaped his body under trainer Daniel Mar Chong (who also worked with Averill), was voted a co-captain in the fall despite being a reserve at the time, and has started the past four matches. Middle Davis Holt also worked into the lineup with improved read-blocking and a stronger right arm.
To be sure, there were risks. The Warriors did not qualify for the playoffs last season and Wade’s initial five-year contract expired the past May. But convinced that the program was trending in the right direction, the AD gave Wade a two-year extension. That security helped the Warriors sign three junior-national players the past fall.
Another adage: You reap what you sow.
The Warriors play Cal State Northridge at 5 p.m. today.
* * * * *
Joey Iosefa’s performance at the NFL scouting combine showed one thing: He’s a fullback.
Iosefa never had breakaway speed. And even if he runs a sub-4.9 at pro day, he still would not fit the prototypical running back model.
Iosefa’s strength has always been his strength. He runs low, he’s tough to tackle. He can block. And he can catch (one drop in two years). Fullbacks block, get the ball in short-yardage situations, and roll to the flats as a receiver.
The odds are longer to making it as a fullback. An NFL team usually carries only one fullback. Sometimes, a tight end will align in the backfield as a fullback or H-back. Of the 25 top fullback prospects last year, only three were selected in the 2014 NFL draft — one in the sixth round, two in the seventh.
Iosefa has overcome a lot of obstacles. He conquered foot and ankle injuries. He became the first member of his family to earn a college degree. This is another test.
By the way, Chris Fuamatu-Ma‘afala was 5-11 and 252 when he was drafted. His fastest 40 was 4.85.
Fooist! I hope Joey gets a shot at the next level…Probably Canada!
ST: Any more recruitment news? Will all coaches be on place by Spring practice? As for VB, I surely hope it turns the corner this year…Another solid recruit class & I think the volleyball team will be formidable.
Bowwar:
We’ll see what happens.
Russell Wilson is 5-11 and a Super Bowl quarterback.
We’ve seen the past two years that Iosefa is a good football player. Is there a place for him at the next level? Don’t have a clue. But he really is athletic. I’ve seen him play basketball, and throw and kick a football.
Bowwar:
They’ll probably add a player.
I think they need at least one more D-lineman.
Joey has no film in run blocking.. So that will make it hard to evaluate … Almost lock to sign FA deal.
or should I say limited film.. Only a hand full of times I recall Joey in back field blocking for DSJ on the pitch.
Good morning everyone!
Good luck to the Volleybow Warriors and Coach Wade!
Go Joey!!!
Been watching Hau’oli, and he is definitely a forward-holomua forward guy. Not as great in his drops, lacks transition in his hips. All things being equal, I still expect him to blow it up on the line of scrimmage.
It is unfortunate that the current version of pro football discounts the value/need of running backs, especially the big but slow fullback types. Believe there was a mistake on Joey’s part to come in so heavy, sacrificing speed (if he has any). With so much need for top offensive linemen, receivers, defensive backs and hybrid linebackers, not many teams are going to use a draft pick on a one dimensional fullback. Patriots this year proved that fullback is basically an unnecessary component to winning.
aloha and good morning !!
Joey a great player !! lots of heart !! he need to fit in to the right type of team to his style of play !! hard nose run it down right at you type of team!! some team like Pittsburgh Steelers he would fit in nice as a 3rd down back!! short yardage
Joey would be good on short down packages as a fullback but I’m not sure how the hell offenses work now a days.
I read with interest the articles on Gib Arnold’s situation; especially the part of termination “without cause” which seems or will be the most significant part of his discussion with UH on amount owed to him.
Then I began to wonder, IF Gib is successful in his $1.4 million quest and IF the chancellor and/or President DID NOT SEEK A LEGAL OPINION from UH General Counsel’s office on the choice of “with cause or without cause”, is there ground for civil action against both for failure of their duties to protect UH from having to pay out the $1.4 million and bringing unfavorable, negative opinion to UH? Is there not such a clause in each coach’s contract as a reason for termination “for/with cause”?
Why did the “acting” chancellor and/or President chose “without cause” immediately over waiting for the NCAA to deliver its findings and then decide to fire Gib “with cause or without cause?” Was it on the basis of recommendation from legal counsel?
Is this an opportunity to file an Errors ‘n Omission action against UH Legal Counsel’s Office or Alabama atty or McCoristion or all of the above? Why? Because we, the residents of Hawaii, must foot the bill; not the UH President or “acting” chancellor or legal firms hired by UH.
BTW, today article did not have “acting” before the chancellor’s name? Did the BOR remove the “acting” or did the writer forget to place this designation?
Would this be an unprecedented action to take? Like filing a suit against the Legislature for their blunders or the Federal Government or Congress?
There are thousands of E&O claims that were filed against an attorney/law firm and hundreds of law suits against the Federal Govt in injury cases.
UH has already paid out $125-150K to the Alabama atty and McCoriston’s office. It appears that this current situation will be like the Wonder Blunder wherein we, the State, have to pay more in legal fees than the settlement amount?
Wonder if we can collect the amount paid from whomever is responsible for this mess?
If anything, Joey’s special teams play will help earn him a spot on an NFL roster, it won’t be his running ability. Lets hope his limited LB experience will help.
Who is responsible for creating the “shaka” sign we so often use in HAWAII and on the mainland?
A-House:
Chris Bosh posted a shaka-like sign from hospital bed on Instagram.
Puffy fish? Oh My!
Lippy? “You come see me. 30 years same location.”
Puffer or puffy?
A-House: some theorys.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaka_sign
RE: #12
A-House — I recall former UH President Dobelle talking about the Common Sense rule or the common sense test. An example was naming Rainbow stadium after Les Murakami. Tradition said you have to be deceased first. Everyone knew that it would be named after him, since he built it and the UH baseball program (much like Dave Shoji in wahine volleyball).
So with great influence or authority, his common sense rule allowed Les Murakami to be honored while in retirement.
This Gib Arnold thing is the total opposite. With compassion, Arnold was released “without cause” so his named wouldn’t necessarily be blackened by unknown NCAA allegations. So when the NCAA allegations arrive, there is considerable grounds to fire him WITH cause, but instead of gracefully leaving without prejudice on his UH resume, he turns around and bites the UH in the ass by demanding more money. Should he be paid due to a contract wording glitch? Should he be paid extra at all… this defies the “Common Sense” rule.
I agree with the stand of the Chancellor.
Any scout who’s watched Joey in a Warrior game knows he deserves a shot!
The men’s VBall team is worth the price if admission. And with their youth movement, it looks like they’ll be strong for a couple of years at least.
GO WARRIORS!!!
I believe the “shaka” was an insiders thing/gesture with surfers but Lippy Espinda made it his symbol and of course Lippy was always on the air with his ads and made the shaka “popular” with the general public in Hawaii and eventually spread like wildfire to the Mainland – not to mention to the world (through Visitors to the Islands bring it back home).
And A-House – everything usually goes to the UH legal people. If someone in that office goofs (overlooking something or not pointing out something – sheer negligence), you usually “fire” the guy or sweep it under the rug).
Not sure about later in the season, but at least against Udub and OSU, Joey was in on kickoff returns and was a devastating blocker. He can make his mark there at the very least
STEVEM #19
Common sense and the Law are not necessarily the same.
I think it was Justice Brandeis who once said: This is a Court of Law – not a Court of Justice”. (Cynical, but meaning that the Courts can only rule as to what the law is as passed by the Legislature.
(In short, the Legislature passes the laws, for better or for worse)
tom – your #22:
OK, but IF the Pres or “acting” chancellor DID NOT ask UH Legal Counselor’s Office for an opinion, then what do we have? someone who did not take the time/effort to have legal personnel review and give an opinion which may cause great embarrassment to UH? if this was pertinent to a coach’s decision, is this cause to dismiss with cause? if the UH Pres and/or “acting” chancellor, would the same rule apply?
“fire the guy or sweep it under the rug” – probably true in most instances, but it does great disservice to all who represent UH, support UH, students, Hawaii residents and faculty.
I find it hard to swallow if my premise is correct and they swept it under the rug.
However if they did and got the wrong opinion, perhaps this is the reason why UH has advertised the General Counsel vacancy.
“shaka” sign
if you believe the TV documentary of the Story of Laie, there lived a canoe paddler, many centuries ago, who lost his 3 middle fingers – had to paddle with only the thumb and pinky
whenever people on shore waved to him he waved back with his thumb and pinky thus creating the “shaka” sign we use today and people waved back to him with their 3 middle fingers bent inwards
did you know that in parts of South America if you raise your entire arm and wave for someone to come to you, it’s actually an “up yours” symbol? learned that in survival training.
Actually, this version of the origin of the shaka was reported on KITV the other night in feature on Laie:
Polynesian researchers now know that the word “Shaka” is not of Hawaiian origins. The strongest clue to its origin refers to Hamana Kalili of Laie (June 18, 1882 – December 17, 1958), a Hawaiian fisherman from the town of Laie who lost three middle fingers from his right hand during an accident at the old Kahuku Sugar Mill.
Because he could no longer work in the mill, Hamana became a security guard on the sugar train that used to travel between Sunset Beach and Kaaawa.
Apparently, he was always trying to keep kids off of the train; they would jump on and ride from town to town. To communicate that Hamana was not looking and that the way was clear, the kids started signaling each other with their hands, mocking the missing fingers.
OK, back to football (and volleyball) …
It is still my opinion that an employer should have the decency to inform an employee as to the reason that they are being terminated. If they chose to go the “without cause route” for strategic reasons then they deserve to be challenged by that employee, after all it is their job and livelihood that they are losing; and if the employee comes out on top? Oh Well!
Who fired the 1st salvo?
Clyde, interesting story but……………….
My grandfather was an engineer on that train. Too bad I cannot ask him if in fact it’s true. He would of known.
#12 … A-House … Thank you for the heads up on Ferd Lewis’ SA article … “Manoa buyout club” … It would be interesting to know if UH’s Ben Jay and Bley-Vroman read Arnold’s contract before the “termination without cause” decision was made. The contract wording seemed clear. UH leadership’s inability to recognize in advance the problem with the decision to “terminate without cause” is distressing.
Tom–speaking of Supremes–my favorite is, at least by name, is Justice Learned Hand. Having been a professional bachelor for a long time before meeting Mrs. boola, I know a thing or two about the learned hand–wink.
ST: I think Iosefa is perfect for the Arena football league, but that’s basically a “dead-end” for most players nowadays…
UH changed its standard form– the one other coaches have– to provide for liquidated damages based on what Gib had earned– this change suggests that it was an intended change made for Gib’s contract and not an error. Keep in mind that the provision works in UH’s favor if they either terminate him before he reaches the halfway point of his contract, or terminate him on the date the contract term runs– so the contract provision is not totally unreasonable. It says UH should terminate Gib early in the contract, or at the end of the contract, unless Gib has screwed up and is terminated for cause. If UH terminated Gib after one year, Gib gets way less than the damages other coaches would get. UH should have waited for the NCAA charges, then fired Gib for cause and the liquidated damages clause is moot.
I found it troubling in the SA article when it referenced McMackin’s departure as take the $600k or there would be an investigation…Investigation of what??? It always seemed strange why we’d fire a coach after a 6-7 season and opt for a “losing coach” that has us in the pits. What were the reasons they got rid of McMackin?
The funny thing about Mac is when local recruits came on a recruiting trip and met Mac he didnt even know their names. Whats even funnier is he didnt even know alot of his currents players names. I think he had success early when he took over because he inherited alot of players from June Jones Sugar Bowl team. When those players graduated you could see the decline the team was headed for.
#4,
ST,
With no DL Coach……..who’s doing the recruiting for the D-line?
Hmmm…….?
33. Tempmanoa–Most terminations are done after 3 years, at least, to see how the coach does in the win loss column. So why would UH give a coach so much in liquidated damages in his contract in the later years and only a little in the first years ? They didn’t give this to any other coach such as Laura, Nash, Mack or Norm. That’s like saying because you didn’t meet win loss goals, we reward you with all your earnings again from the beginning of the contract to the termination date.
A lot of CSUN players out with food poisoning according to 1420. Wonder what they ate or drank.
#4. ST,
UH might as well as look into this JC DT prospect……who supposedly had scholie offers from Utah, Colorado State, UTEP, and South Florida before NLI Day……but now apparently has his AA degree with the necessary qualifying GPA needed to transfer……with 3 to play 2…….
http://jcfootball.scout.com/story/1519703-still-available-dt-leo-fuimaono?s=87
maybe full of BS… cuz they are make excuse early…cuz they know they are going to get wiped our…..he he he
http://www.dailybreeze.com/sports/20140903/junior-college-football-preview-harbors-leo-fuimaono-rolls-with-punches-to-stand-out
UH women’s basket ball has a volley ball player “star”, right?
I wonder if any of the men’s volley ball team would want to
play for UH football, too. Looks to me, like they could do that,
too…
#33
The logic behind that clause in question escapes me. Why would any employer allow it in the contract? Someone should be held accountable for that decision. Like be fired! individual or firm.
Kapakahi, that 400 pound, 6’7″ King-Bulu sounds good, too 🙂
42…men’s volleyball and basketball seasons are at the same time, thus, making your dream an impossible one.
UH volleyball program is too good to only be good once every four years. Charlie has done a medicore job.
Aaron Valdes would probably be an incredible volleyball player, he wouldn’t be ablet o play and backrow, but he would be unstoppable offensively as a middle blocker.
JMHO that Valdes could be…….an awesome red-zone threat on alley-oop fade patterns into the end zone.
Lots of interesting comments regarding the unique language in Gibs contract. In my opinion, if it was a drafting error by outside counsel, UH should have recourse. More so if they got clarification from counsel before determining Gib would be terminated without cause. If it was inside counsel, UH eats it. As A-House pointed out, looks like a depargment head already rolled with the search for new VP.
UH never fires anyone for cause. They feel it’s cheaper to pay them off to go away. Herman Frazier and Dobelle are prime examples. It’s just this time it bite them in the butt due to the drafting language. Hope we find out if it was a drafting error or not.
A contract written as it was, in my opinion, tells me it was not an accident nor an oversight. It cannot be so simple an explanation. Not from professionals. So one can describe it possibly as an act of fraud, bribe, malfeasance, and graft; all synonyms for the word – corruption. Just food for thought.
#19 SteveM,
There was no compassion intended by UH to fire Gib and Akana without cause. What they thought was the buyout amount of $200K for Gib was affordable instead of a long and ugly court fight to prove cause before NCAA allegations were made public. Secondly, it was done to satisfy the impending NCAA letter of allegations. The letting go of Gib and Akana is a self sanction.
Will there be more self sanctions, maybe…
#50, so why is this clause only in Gib’s contract and no other UH coach? Remember, all UH contracts are drafted by UH counsel or counsel hired by UH. No one can blame Gib or his attorneys for this seemingly studid language.
Here is Lendio’s background as UH counsel although she left a few months ago. She seems to have an excellent background so I don’t know why there were so many issues at UH.
“Darolyn Hatsuko Lendio
As university general counsel and vice president for legal affairs, Darolyn Hatsuko Lendio serves as chief legal advisor to the UH Board of Regents and administration. She joined the university system in September 2006, bringing a strong background in civil and commercial litigation, insurance and contract issues and government, municipal and land use law.
A founding partner and 15-year member of Honolulu law firm McCorriston Miller Mukai MacKinnon, she also spent two years as corporation counsel to the City and County of Honolulu, earning the 1996 Outstanding City Administrator award from the American Society of Public Administration, Hawai‘i Chapter.
Lendio was admitted to the Hawai‘i bar in 1984 while serving as extern to Hawai‘i Supreme Court Associate Justice Yoshimi Hayashi and joined Goodsill Anderson Quinn & Stifel. She received an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell in 1999 and was named to the Best Lawyers in America in 2005.
A member of the Judicial Council and Honolulu Charter Commission, Lendio has been active in numerous professional and civic organizations, including the Hawai‘i Filipino Lawyers, Honolulu Board of Water Supply and Honolulu Police Commission.
A Waialua High School alumna, Lendio graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in journalism/political science from the University of Southern California and holds a juris doctor from University of California, Berkeley’s Boalt Hall School of Law.”
#52 Why is this contract different from all other contracts?
If the language as drafted is bad and favors Gil, Gib’s attorney isn’t going to call attention to it!
Middle blocker Zach Radner’s father played briefly for the Bengals and his grandfather for the New York Giants. Radner has the frame to be an o-lineman or d-lineman.
In the JJ days, there was a conditioning coach who, um, “encouraged” players to cross over to football. Volleyball, which has to share 4.5 scholarships, didn’t mind when middle blocker Delano Thomas was being, um, “encouraged” to try out as a goal-line receiver. Basketball, though, was getting a little testy when Ikaika Alama-Francis and Tony Akpan headed to football.
New post: http://hawaiiwarriorworld.com/?p=28244