Warriors land nose tackle
Nose tackle Nikko Taylor of Riverside City College told the Star-Advertiser he has accepted a football scholarship from the Warriors. This is what it means:
> Fills a need: Three guys who played nose last year — Moses Samia, Marcus Malepeai and Calen Friel — graduated the past December. Kory Rasmussen and Penitito Faalologo have taken most of the snaps at nose this spring.
> Big body: Taylor is 6 feet, 300 pounds and capable of benching more than 400 pounds.
> No waiting period: He earns his AA next month, then joins the Warriors this summer. He has two years to play two seasons. However, he received a medical hardship after suffering a knee injury as a freshman at Southeastern Louisiana. He actually has a redshirt year available. But he won’t need it. He’s expected to play right away.
> Old ties: He wants to play for Norm Chow, who was on the BYU coaching staff when his high school defensive coordinator played for the Cougars.
> Nose defense: Yes, he’s that sort of crazy guy who wants to play in the trenches and fight off double teams.
> His story: Star-Advertiser story
Good Morning Hawaii…
…and Hawaii at Heart.
Guud Morning Tsaikos…bootiful day.
Dline looking up. Oline looking up…time for football!
IMUA WARRIORS!
…hoo gotta go in town today…not so cool. only thing might be able to get some good ramen someplace. northside no more any ramen place…tsigh…
seems paradoxical that some players really want to play for Chow, but his won-loss record is dismal and he may NOT see another year
yet, it was Abe E that really recruited “the big fella”
did not his web site say he was 6’2″ tall or was this another JUCO player?
Hello, cruel world!!!!!!!!
yep, with all the diseases, war, hatred – it’s not a wonderful world!
top it off with UH football so bad the last 3 years that it nearly rivals the Von Oppen years. YIKES!!!!!!!
is UH going after another JUCO NG?
4. When a player is being interviewed on the spot, more times than not they say the “right thing.” Doesn’t mean they really want to play for Chow. If Hawaii REALLY WANTED HIM, and he REALLY wanted to play for Chow, he would have been signed a long time ago.
Just look at is as, Hawaii really needs to fill in areas of depth.
And kids really need to find a home to play for next couple years.
Admire a guy that likes to play in in the trenches. Says a lot about a guy.
Wait! this recruit was the back up to Miki Fangatua a JC All American
who played at Baldwin High School. Yet he wasn’t offered by UH and
now will play for Southeastern Louisiana. From what I know, Miki would
have loved to play for UH and be close to his parents, and former Baldwin
classmates Ewaliko and Teva Eldridge.
9. Norm Chow has a history of going for back ups over starters…. Last year, it was Dom Small…. Maybe the 400 pound bench press sold him….
Jeezy spot on! Lol
How many more scholarships are available and what position(s) are a priority ???
Anyone know ….. Mahalo
Good morning everyone!
Welcome to the Warriors, Nikko Taylor!
Welcome to the Warriors, Nikko!!
Such a wonderful recruiting philosophy to sign back ups and not starters. Chow Fun Ball.
I wonder how come NO ONE is talking about the dismal season tickets sales this year, Hmmmmm?
1. I think fans expected and saw it coming after last year.
2. Norm doesn’t believe in promoting program.
I think we’re (media included) just tired of stating the obvious and beating a dead horse…
E Komo Mai Nikko Taylor.
sofaking_blk,
So I heard football season ticket sales are dismal.
season ticket sales are dismal because we have a bad team and they are boring to watch. Also the previous administration did silly things like schedule the home opener (probably the best game on the schedule) on a Thursday at 7 pm. I shake my head and wonder if anyone in the AD’s office knows anything about attending to their customers. I hope the new AD is a little more akamai
ST,
Get one Dean Sabado on Google +
https://plus.google.com/114080413124672601051/posts
He’s from Kauai. Makes you go hmmmmmmm. 😆
Get picture of him too.
it is shameful how UHAD promotes or fails to promote football season ticket sales
who at UH is responsible for this? AD? Coach? SID? whomever it was, IMHO, did a piss ass poor job – like nearly everything else!
did anyone see/hear in the media, radio or tv, the push for season tickets other than BJ’s comments in the paper on how poor renewals are and their plan to “call” certain individuals to renew their tickets
You all worry to much…
The huncho said 60% is ok for first pass on season tickets….
Please don’t question the marketing ‘guru’….
We have a 2 ‘gurus’ on board…
Our record n attendance figures show it dramatically…
Hush you naysayers…
#22 … nope … “mail em out and hope for the best” seems to have been the plan. The MPSF Quarterfinals on 25 April would be a pretty good opportunity to publicize and at least try and get deposits for new football season tickets. Can any of the football coaches sing? Having them sing Hawaii Pono’i might not be a bad idea.
one season…you are spot on today..
But …really not practical to place a shower in center court …
to have one of our ‘gutus’ sing….he he he he
A company can spend millions promoting and advertising a product but not everyone going buy buy ’em if they’re not interested.
2 guru’s = guruguru = グルグル = Going round and round
No wonder some get dizzy.
Buying season tickets is making a commitment to support the team, not sure marketing/mass media can instill/create “commitment”. I think it would be more successful to appeal to alumni and former athletes with a direct mail operation.
#22, it’s difficult to promote a losing cause, Chow. If Ben Jay had the foresight and guts (which we all know now he totally lacked) and had gotten rid of Chow prior to last season, UH wouldn’t be in such a deep hole and would be looking at increased season tickets of over 6000 at least to what they’re going to end up with for this year. Chow has been responsible for 12,000 season tickets lost and news of these marginal player recruits are not going to help things any. No speed, no athleticism, one of the worst Div.1 QBs from last year still in the running for starter (got to be kidding, right?). When the most exciting and productive player on the team was a punter and you haven’t recruited anyone coming close to that level of excitement, you’re in big trouble. Why is Chow still the head coach? Based on current player roster and the upcoming season schedule, is there anyone in their right mind who think things will be dramatically improved? And don’t tell me 5 wins will be great improvement – it wasn’t good enough for past coaches with many more wins, why does Chow get a pass? I’m not a Chow hater, far from it, we’ve bought our season tickets, as we’ve done for years, but I’m a realist and the way I see it, only way for UH football to improve is by letting Chow go.
#28, commitment goes both ways. Keeping Chow means UH isn’t committed to excellence.
Everyone is pretty much wasting their time bashing Chow as the coach. The decision has been made (a while ago) and he is the coach for at least another season. Might as well use that energy and redirect it to supporting the team because he is the coach whether we like it or not. Even if you don’t like him, at least look past that and support the team.
#30 – Agree commitment goes both ways. My point is advertising is unlikely to increase season ticket sales.
A-house: yep, with all the diseases, war, hatred – it’s not a wonderful world!
top it off with UH football so bad the last 3 years that it nearly rivals the Von Oppen years. YIKES!!!!!!!
Yes A-house a lot of sad things going on in our world and it is a shame that mankind still has not learned from their mistakes over the centuries. I wouldn’t put UH football in that category because despite the losing record and fan discontent, you have to continue to support our home team no matter what because these are young student/athletes are trying their best No need to be stressed out over our team or coaches. It is what it is and in time all things will be renewed. I cannot stress whether we win or lose, these are young men not pros but young student/athletes. These coaches for the love of the game continue to give of themselves for the sake of our student/athletes and want them to succeed. I can be frustrated for them as all of you can but the most frustrated are the coaches and players.
#31, Chow doesn’t HAVE to be the coach for this year. Abysmal recruiting season is over, get fresh blood to built for the future NOW. Can we really afford to lose another 4000 season ticket holders like we will for this year and thousands more likely for next year if Chow stays. Does that make any sense?
There’s hope. If the Golden State Warriors can do it, so can the University of Hawaii Warriors.
31.
Unfortunately we on his blog do not make such decisions so it’s obviously out of our control. Constantly bashing him is pointless when doing so is not going to change anything. It really just makes people look bitter and silly. What’s done is done just move forward and support the program.
31. I’m willing to save my frustrations until start of the season. Until then, I’ll enjoy Men’s Volleyball, and turn off the TV when baseball team plays.
37.
Fair enough, others should do the same. Charlie really has turned that program around.
I meant #34 on post #36
Bashing, complaining, venting, that’s the American way. Lucky we can. You could lose your head in other countries.
Speaking about lose your head, GOT is back! Daenerys Targaryen 😉 😮
Very excited about the prospects of the upcoming season. All these qbs to choose from., a wide open OC, a gambling DC….. Cheee! Let’s Go Bows!
#36, change happens when enough people raise there voice in anger. Ones who remain silent are part of the problem, not solution. Because I SUPPORT the program, I raise my voice in anger. Do you really support the program or the loser?
I’m looking forward to the football season. I have no illusions about how bad we have been over these last years. I don’t hate or love coach Chow but simple math says he has not been able to do his job adequately. I thought last year was the year he either had to win or be replaced. In many other places he would have already been replaced. But he’s still here and I am still here. But it’s still fun to go to the games, tailgate and enjoy the atmosphere. Having become very modest in my expectations about the team with the current HC in place I find myself more annoyed that they even screw up the tailgating by scheduling games on Thursday evenings.
42.
I thought there should have been a coaching change but once upper campus made the decision that he would remain the coach I recognized that it was then out of my control and that complaining about it more was not going to change anything, so I decided that my energy and focus would be better served supporting the team and coaching staff the way it is now and hope for the best.
What is, is.
Quit bashing
Woosley is our starter and Chow Is Our HC this Year. What are your predictions?:::
Andrew – #44 – Thank you!! You hit the nail on the head!
Got my MVB quarterfinals tickets today (I’m a season ticket holder). Apparently, they’re going fast. Hoping for a sell-out.
GO WARRIORS!
GO WAHINE!
Rail is, we still bash ’em. No diff.
How… many times must you beat?
I think we should bash the UH administration for all of our problems. As things crumble there is no one around to take care of things like football. The administration stepped in and changed the football coach selection and committee recomendation. The athletic director has been floundering and is a lame duck– not in any position to find a new coach especially when we had to find a new athletic director and a new basketball coach.
Who is Beau Yap?
#45 – tom –
Well said Judge. Nuff already.
Welcome to the Warriors Nikko!
Yes, let’s fire Chow!
If we fire Chow, we are automatically going to have a winning season and go to a bowl game, right?
No?
OK, if not the first year under the new coach, then maybe the next…
If not the second year, we will get concerned but give him one more year or else.
If no winning season the 3rd year, we will call for his firing again.
Bottom line is that there will probably be a few more years of disappointment.
Then we start the cycle again until we find a miracle worker head coach and staff.
People called for McMackin’s firing because we didn’t go to a bowl game for two years.
So McMackin leaves and the new coach didn’t work miracles…fire him and start the cycle again!
But I think the football program is building and the pieces are falling into place. Playing Ohio State and Wisconsin for $$$ probably won’t help the record this year, but if we can muster 6 wins (still no bowl game), then things are looking up. So maybe I won’t persist in saying “fire Chow” this year.
#46, if what you say holds, my prediction is for another disastrous season. Woolsey, starter? That will prove Chow couldn’t recruit anyone of any worth.
#44, BJ made that hideous decision of backing Chow from day one. Upper admin. made the decision to replace Apple and BJ so there is enough evidence that upper admin. will listen to replacing Chow if there’s enough voices calling for it. Now is the time to raise our voices, not suffer in silence.
46. nothing personal. I’m not Beau Reilly’s friend. Still who is Beau Yap?
Trying to find both a football coach and a basketball coach would have been too much to do at one time. If you feel Chow should have been replaced and you want to blame someone, blame Gib for screwing up.
And again, kids, don’t do drugs.
bouncingb. The fire Chow now boat has long sailed away. I think it’s due back sometime between October and December. No use in crying about it now.
Coach Chow was on the Animals Show a few minutes ago. Good interview. He mentioned they only have seven healthy O-Linemen, so it looks like no spring game. Players that stand out at this time were Penitito Faalologo (NT) and Dany Mulanga (S) on defense; Dylan Collie (Slot) and Marcus Kemp (WR) on offense. The interview will be replayed around 5:30 pm. One area where everyone (newscasters and broadcasters) have been silent, IMO, is running back. ST, any update/tidbit you have on the RB position? Chow also mentioned both coordinators will be in the booth during games (their call). He said Bailey will call the offensive plays. Chow will listen on the headsets and chime in if he wants to comment/override. Oh yeah, he said there is no date or deadline when they will announce the starting QB. It sounded like it was even between Wittek and Woolsey right now.
Anything less than 6’3″-6’5″ on defense and I worry about the player(s) getting run over by a semi-truck; I recall seeing our smaller guys getting bounced all over the place past couple years by bigger superior OL players. Still willing to go with them 6’0-6’1″ guys??? scratching my head?
Anyways, thanks to these smaller guys for showing great hearts and desire; can’t take that away from them.
Only single seats left in the Lower Bowl…
Kennedy Tuimaseali’i. What him? NT
just the blog……….?
H-Man, #61: Thank you for posting the interview. To me, things are looking up with Don Bailey calling the offensive plays. NC needs to focus on managing the game and let his coordinators do their jobs. We’ll see what kind of a difference having an OC who is at the top of their game will make.
Aaron Donald is 6’0″. For those who don’t know, he is the St Louis Rams DT who won rookie of the year this past season.
67. Always the exception crowd..
Duster, thanks for feedback. Appreciate it. Sorry, I must have misheard the Animals. There was no rebroadcast of the NC interview. Regarding Kennedy, IMO, he is too small to play NT. He said in his interview about a week ago that his weight is down to 265. Plus, he said he prefers playing with space where there is room to roam/run. The other NT is Kory Rasmussen. Having Nikko Taylor allows for flexibility, allowing the DC to move players around for different sets. I think its all good. I am one of those who always remain optimistic during spring and fall. Last season I predicted a 7-win season and I’ll keep that number for this season. I just hope the team plays well every game, regardless of whom they play.
JFYI:
not that it says anything, but those who feel that I “bash” too much, give me a break to spout off
and, BTW, I renewed by 7 season tickets the day I received my renewal notice.
for those who are happy that NC said he would let Bailey call the plays -that’s great, but he inserted that he will continue to listen and reserves the right to change the call at any time – now, it begs the question, how many times in a game will he use his “right” to change plays???
just watching the play calling from the 2nd qtr on – it will be obvious, IMHO, who is really calling the plays – just like 2014 – good 1st qtr then totally conservative thereafter
while I am happy with the new coaches on board, I do hope that they can transmit all their knowledge to the players and make UH a better team!!!
http://www.idahostatesman.com/2015/02/04/3628451/idaho-state-loads-up-on-defense.html
Nikko Taylor signed with Idaho State on NLI day.
1. So my question how was the player available for the Warriors?
2. 2 sites, including the school’s athletic site (the other rivals), list the player as a DE in the 270’s weight rage. Yet he comes to the Warriors as a NT and at 300 lbs.
3. I am confused.
#51 &57
Obviously you aren’t a UH fan. If you don’t know that Beau Yap played for UH as defensive end all these years you haven’t been watching the game. He was a senior last year. Obviously some guys who post on this blog are ??????
I can’t wait for November 14 going to be a great day to see my Warriors Take on Fresno State (My Daughters team)
That game will show how far we progressed as a football team.
In men’s volleyball, the tie-breakers go like this:
1) Head to head.
2) Sets percentage.
3) Record against the next highest-ranked opponent.
I disagree with the second tie-breaker. I think a team winning in five is as more significant than winning in three. This tie-breaker than encourages teams to pour it on.
Anyway, UC Irvine has the tie-breaker over UH.
Re: Running back.
Hey, people tell me the best running back is Jason Muraoka. He runs low, tough, doesn’t fumble and can block. (He was Scott Harding’s personal protector on punts last year.)
I think the recruits will make it interesting. Right now, the back with the reps has been Diocemy Saint Juste. He looks like he added some good weight.
I’m really impressed with the defensive secondary. Yeah, yeah, I know that doesn’t mean much in spring. But the corners are playing tough defense. I also like that Jerrel Jackson is playing corner. Big, fast, attitude.
Mulanga was sorta hurt last week, but he’s back. Trayvon Henderson is having a good spring. So, is, Marrell Jackson. I think Daniel Lewis is the No. 3 safety.
MPSF seeds, UH needs only to play the best.
Devil Rays’ middle reliever Kirby Yates was put in a meaningful situation today against the Blue Jays and probably prevented himself from being sent down to AAA.
I watched it on MLB.com.
Since there is a Padres and Dodgers network(which I don’t have access too because i have crappy Hawaiian Tel cable) in the Hawaii market, why do they have to block out the games on the Internet?
I like the HT DVR, but I like San Diego more.
Re-#71
The newly hired OC is from Idaho State. Did he play a part in getting NT to come to Hawaii, seeing that NT formerly signed with Idaho State (?).
What question looms is how is it that NT not be penalized for jumping to another school once he initially signed with Idaho State? Released? Or is the NLI void because player didn’t meet admission requirements? Or is there erroneous information floating around? Or is it have to do with something to dealing with FBS rules and FCS rules? The only information I read, regarding binding NLI, is that only the player can initiate talks with other schools and that no coaches from Hawaii could approach NT. Still confused. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.
#54, SteveM
No one is saying that things will automatically turn around if we hire a new HC but you have to start somewhere, doing nothing is NOT an option. Sometimes all the fans need is hope and right now we feel like we have none. I remember people were saying “give Chow 3 years to turn things around” well it’s been 3 years and things have gotten worse. And now those same people want to move the goal post back, “not so fast my friend” If people don’t voice their frustration then nothing will change. It’s obvious that the UHAD doesn’t care about the Football program. In their minds they think they’re saving money buy keeping Chow around for another year when in fact they’re bleeding money, dismal season ticket sales is a clear sign of that. How can ANYONE tell fans to stay silent and just accept what’s going on right now. They have a right to voice their frustration just as people have a right to just stay silent.
Great Morning All!
Make sure you put ‘nuf stamps!
Welcome to the Man in the Middle…Mr. Taylor. Mahalo for being a Warrior!
Reminder: One personality per reader.
I don’t get paid to write a blog, I don’t get paid to sort through multiple-personality disorders.
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