Photo op

There is no doubting the resiliency of the UH softball supporters.

Told that booster-club funds could not be used to pay for a gently used video camera, the leaders did not pout — OK, they pouted a skosh — but then they asked for donations. Enough poured in to buy a camera that will be used to stream scrimmages, practices and, with everybody’s permission, games not covered by current contracts.

The videos will be helpful in providing greater exposure for the program, assisting in recruiting and allowing friends and family who don’t live in Honolulu to follow the team. I suppose opposing teams can use it for scouting, although with the angle — behind home plate — I’m sure all they’ll learn is Bob Coolen can throw a mean rising fastball.

Here’s the club’s Web site: Na Wahine

* * * * *

Tonight is the Warriors’ third post-season awards luau. There will be awards for the most outstanding player, most inspirational, top scouts, and so forth. For the awards not covered, here are our picks:

> Best Cinderella Story: Because of financial issues, Brendan Urban was prepared to give up football. But then he was summoned, and with only a handful of practices, replaced injured center Kody Afusia early in the season opener.


> Top comeback: Three years ago, Sean Shigematsu was poised to be a dominant offensive tackle. But then he suffered a season-ending injury. That set off a series of ailments. He shifted positions and, at one point, fell off the two-deep chart. But he never complained and this year, relatively healthy, he had a standout season at right tackle.

> Top freshman/offense: Dejon Allen has the talent to play on the offensive or defensive line. When he stopped bouncing between sides, he focused on playing guard. He improved as a video reviewer, and that led to better play on the field. Allen, who did not allow a sack this season, is a near-future star.

> Top freshman/defense: The Warriors restocked the secondary, but it was Nick Nelson who had the early breakthrough. He worked his way into the lineup as a nickel-corner, then became a starting cornerback.


> Most improved/offense: Left wideout Marcus Kemp actually made two big gains — from his freshman year to this season, and from early in 2014 to becoming a go-to threat in November.

> Most improved/defense: When he wasn’t injured in past seasons, Moses Samia had spurts of great play. This season, as the saying goes, he was consistently good. Of all the positions, Samia’s nose-tackle job will be the most difficult to replace.

COMMENTS

  1. 3-Prong December 7, 2014 8:55 am

    Good Morning


  2. Pomai December 7, 2014 9:20 am

    I have been live streaming all the scrimmages and games for the last three years, we have been using a regular webcam so the quality has not been the greatest. So this year I decided with the approval of coach to have the booster club purchase the camcorder that is recommended by the streaming platform that I use. Said camcorder is about 3500 new, but I found a used one with less than 29 hours of use located right here in Honolulu for $790.00 turned in the purchase order an it was denied by the AD who said he could not justify buying a used item.

    So along with a few others I bought the dang thing myself, best move I made. My reason for starting this whole thing is that if I lived on the mainland and my kid was playing for UH I would want to see them play, also if I was a kid from the mainland I would like my family to see me play, well come to find out there are quit a few local people from outer islands who watch their kids play too!! To me it’s a win win kind of thing.


  3. Pomai December 7, 2014 9:22 am

    One other thing our website is in the process of being updated for this season.


  4. Pomai December 7, 2014 9:23 am

    BTW thanks ST!!


  5. tom December 7, 2014 9:30 am

    GOOD MORNING, HAWAII!

    POMAI – you one terrific guy!


  6. Markazulu December 7, 2014 9:37 am

    Oregon vs Florida st
    Alabama vs Ohio state


  7. Stephen Tsai December 7, 2014 9:37 am

    I love the attitude: If they deny it, supply it.


  8. Markazulu December 7, 2014 9:38 am

    I hope next year they expand the playoff system to at least 8 teams. Poor tcu/Baylor both played well this year.


  9. oneseason December 7, 2014 9:45 am

    #2 … If he approved the purchase of a new camera ($3500 vs. $799), then maybe it’s a policy thing or just risk aversion. Any mention of concern about possible impacts to PPV revenue?


  10. 3-Prong December 7, 2014 9:51 am

    Hats off to Pomai!


  11. 4-Prong December 7, 2014 10:10 am

    pomai: i’m skeptical that the AD (or any AD) would’ve approved spending UH funds for a NEW camera for the personal use of fans to record scrimmages, no matter how noble the intentions were. most likely, UH football already has its own video equipment to record their scrimmages and practices for team purposes.


  12. oneseason December 7, 2014 10:19 am

    I think others have mentioned this too … to provide for both near term improvement and continuity for the future:
    Create a contract that brings a person in as an assistant coach for 2 years and head coach for 3 years. Strawman salary 2015-2019: $250K, $300K, $600K, $700K, $800K
    Include a UH contract extension option for 4th and 5th years with fixed salaries levels. If the coach does not accept, UH should be able to end the contract without penalty. For example, if year 3 is a great success, UH should have the option to extend the contract for say 2 years at the 5th year salary level; gross salary increase would be covered by performance bonuses.
    Include a UH buyout option of say $600K for the 4th year, but it drops to $300K if year 3 does not result in bowl eligibility.
    Include a UH buyout option of say $300K for the 5th year, but it drops to zero if year 4 does not result in bowl eligibility. For extended contracts, similar provisions could apply.


  13. Ralph December 7, 2014 10:20 am

    Oneseason, it’s our own booster funds that we wanted to use to pay for the camera, all purchases must be generated with a purchase order submitted by Coolen and approved by Ben Jay, and it was Ben Jay who denied the purchase – why, he mentioned that it was for a used item.

    Does not impact PPV because we do not stream softball on game days that are covered by Oceanic. OC 16 televises only a few home games, this season we have 31 home dates so that leaves a lot of open dates that are not televised.


  14. tom December 7, 2014 10:30 am

    It’s people like Pomai, Ralph, Kevin etc that makes a difference in our athletic programs – better than the critics on the blog that only can moan and groan, threaten non-support of the programs etc.


  15. oneseason December 7, 2014 10:43 am

    Ralph, thank you very much for the explanation. That is a great service you all are providing.


  16. A-House December 7, 2014 11:16 am

    pomai:

    thank you and the rest of your committee for having the “smarts” to purchase the camera and shame on BJ, hopefully he won’t be around much longer, whose “mainland mentality” just does not fit with our life style.

    damn, if you can’t afford a new car start with a used and upgrade as necessary – UH, at this time, is not in the “full of cash” category

    speaking of cash, I again, propose that UH approach the Legislature for $7 million to support Title IX and cover travel subsidies dumped on UH to enter the MWC – we give a lot of credit to the late Patsy Mink and proud of her accomplishments in Congress – why not make this the Patsy Mink ledger item that goes direct to the UHAD for disbursement

    after all, most of the “non-revenue” sports consists of women teams who represent the State of Hawaii

    and, include UH-Hilo as part of the ledger item
    no worries on our contribution to the softball progrm


  17. st. anthony trojan December 7, 2014 11:57 am

    Me thinks sum times… sum people do not realize just how many ‘lurkers’ they are on blogs here in Hawaii…Be they from outer island or far aN wide…lots of them in military I presume…students…family members etc…

    Streaming even for ne n all scrimmages n games is always welcomed for us that are not at ‘home’…

    Short-sightedness by our AD is apparent in his decision to not fund that cam…my gosh…if true n only 39 hours…new to most…although me does not know pomai..can see his blood is green.. n if he willing to take the time in the past to stream these games. It shows where his heart is…I am fairly certain that cuz it is ‘
    used’ …that if had ‘pilikia’ he would get it fixed for free probably… by asking repair m,an to ‘donate his services for the repair…

    Better decision by AD would be…to get sum assurances from pomai..to fix if have a problems within 5 years or so…

    So all the family …friends…boosters…will have more in common with UH sports…n possible donors in the future…NO CRM FROM THEM AT UHAD…

    CRM = customer relations management…which is all to lacking up there.. at both upper campus n lower campus…utterly n completely no care or respect for their fan base..n in trying to acquire more…

    Yes TOM .. me complain… however hope you agree… many…well actually very many on here…you included….have made…what some think are very good n workable suggestions…all for naught…at least the SA gives us the opportunity to do so…GIVEEM POMAI…THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO…


  18. st. anthony trojan December 7, 2014 12:10 pm

    4-PRONG…skepticism..should not be in play for this purchase..agree it is very noble…n if so..why not lend a hand..n reply in kind in my previous post..or for gosh sakes.. find a ‘donor’ for him…

    Look..a very good AD… would take a POSITIVE outlook.. n try to help…I am sure most agree this is good for our ‘fan base’ well all maybe except BJ…
    And another reply from him could be…’I cannot use funds from UH for this purpose Mr. Coolen… but I will try n find a donor for you in 7 days’…etc…. then go n ask sumone…is it not his duty n job description to ‘RAISE FUNDS’ …???


  19. st. anthony trojan December 7, 2014 12:26 pm

    For me is multiple choice for ANY AD…

    1. APPROVE IT…
    2. DENY IT…
    3. GO FIND YOUR OWN FUNDS.
    4. CAN’T APPROVE…BUT I WILL HELP YOU FIND FUNDS…

    YOU TSAIKOS CHOOSE…


  20. RainbowCliff December 7, 2014 12:30 pm

    Pomai, just one word “OUTSTANDING” !

    Mahalo for your continuous leadership and support. Many talkers and complainers on this blog but it takes “doers” to fix the many problems at UH and put up with the sad leadership that both upper and lower campus has in power positions.

    Let always your heart lead doing the right thing and your intentions be noble. You will never go wrong as I with the many positive posters applaud your sincere efforts.

    Happy Holidays !


  21. papajoe2 December 7, 2014 12:31 pm

    S0 today is the 8th day that the football season is pau. No word either way on the coach. I hope they don’t follow previous coaches and fire him at the banquet. Maybe the attitude is Chow and UH have a contract so we will honor it.


  22. Da Punchbowl Kid December 7, 2014 12:36 pm

    Mahalo Pomai! Way to go! And a big mahalo to all of the RWSB booster club for the excellent support they give to Coach Coolen, his staff and the Rainbow Wahine soft ball players.


  23. Willie December 7, 2014 12:54 pm

    ST, enjoyed your MM article this morning. Lot of interesting family history. I like his accuracy, mobility and spunk.


  24. Boya_jr December 7, 2014 1:22 pm

    Great job Pomai! Thank you. For a athletic program located thousands of miles from the Mainland, we need more coverage, even if it costs $700 for a camera and volunteers provide the labor. Why not.


  25. Boya_jr December 7, 2014 1:24 pm

    Please televise or stream next year’s Spring Game. Tie it into marketing for season tickets.


  26. UHfan808 December 7, 2014 1:29 pm

    Gooooood afternoon, Tsai-kos!


  27. UHfan808 December 7, 2014 1:42 pm

    Pomai, Ralph, and even Kevin,

    I know for a fact that you all get frustrated but don’t give up!

    Keep trying and maybe eventually Bj will see!

    Terrific job that you all for the good of the softball team. Thank you tremendously for your never give up attitude!

    Thank you, ST, for posting this story today!

    See many of you at Warrior luau banquet tonite!


  28. UHfan808 December 7, 2014 1:43 pm

    Whoops – (Terrific job that you all DO for the good of the softball team. Thank you tremendously for your never give up attitude!)


  29. st. anthony trojan December 7, 2014 1:49 pm

    POMAI… me not to bright on many things.. but me ask..when you stream..can you tell how many are watching.. not people but computers ?


  30. Pomai December 7, 2014 2:14 pm

    st.anthony trojan and any others that are interested. The platform that I use to stream is a free program, when I first started it was limited to only 50 viewers and if you wanted more you had to go to the next level which was a paid one. But two years ago they did away with the 50 viewer limit and now it is unlimited.

    Yes we can tell how many viewers we have watching(computers not people) we averaged 72 viewers last season and before that we maxed out the 50. For certain games we have had as high as 178 but that happened only once.

    We also tell all opposing teams that we are livestreaming and give them the URL so they can have their families watch also.

    My next improvement to the streaming will be a new laptop(mine is 6years old) but that’s another story. LOL


  31. st. anthony trojan December 7, 2014 2:33 pm

    thanks pomai.. for that info..ask BJ.. MAYBE AS HIS ‘GOING AWAY’ PRESENT HE WILL BUY YOU ONE HE HE HE…

    Just curious…. does the UHAD web site ‘advertise’ for you.. that softball is being streamed…???

    And not quite understand why oc-16 would object if you streamed local games they are selling there…can you block local IP addresses… so if some wanted to watch in Germany ..they can watch all home games ? THANKS…

    BACK TO BAILING WATER..HE HE HE


  32. Don Weir December 7, 2014 4:30 pm

    Mahalo Pomai!
    I can share your frustration on the invoicing process.

    My answer towards the end of my work with UH was to solicit funds as a private individual and just go out and buy what was needed.

    Tsaikos,
    Do you remember the exercise bike saga???


  33. papajoe2 December 7, 2014 4:34 pm

    Yikes! Hawaii Bowl ranked 38th of 38 bowl games on Yahoo Sports. That’s dead last. I wonder how long will the Hawaii Bowl last without our Rainbow Warriors?


  34. ai-eee-soos December 7, 2014 5:06 pm

    re: Hawaii Bowl.

    Who is the sponsor – In think Sheraton pau sponsoring.


  35. d1shima December 7, 2014 5:43 pm

    Great Evening All!

    Nicely done Pomai, Ralph, Kevin, et al.


  36. d1shima December 7, 2014 6:28 pm

    Any video from Da Luau? 😈


  37. HawaiiMongoose December 7, 2014 6:55 pm

    It’s tempting to think that poor ticket sales due to UH’s non-participation won’t put the Hawaii Bowl in jeopardy because ESPN owns it and puts it on mainly to draw a Christmas Eve TV audience rather than paying live fans. However it’s very sobering to me that this year, for the first time ever, ESPN will be sponsoring a second bowl game on Christmas Eve. This one will be in the Bahamas and, like the Hawaii Bowl, will appeal to chilly Mainland audiences with images of sunshine and beaches and palm trees. Moreover ESPN didn’t do the Hawaii Bowl a favor by arranging the least attractive matchup of all 38 bowl games. It sure looks to me like ESPN is setting up the the Bahamas Bowl to get better ratings so it can justify pulling the plug on the Hawaii Bowl.


  38. Nanakuli December 7, 2014 7:31 pm

    HawaiiMongoose is correct. This will be the last Hawaii Bowl and the Bahamas Bowl game will be the new Christmas eve tradition. There will be 4,000 people to watch Rice vs Fresno St.


  39. al December 7, 2014 7:39 pm

    pomai, Kevin, ralphie, et al.
    So where do I send my $100?
    And I challenge anyone to match my contribution.


  40. ai-eee-soos December 7, 2014 8:00 pm

    Rice to face Fresno State in Hawaii Bowl.

    posted at noon, SA news.


  41. Pomai December 7, 2014 8:25 pm

    To give a donation outright to the booster club just go here.”

    https://giving.uhfoundation.org/give/giving-gift.aspx?allocation=12095304&site=AKA


  42. hatakeman December 7, 2014 8:46 pm

    ST, nice recap of outstanding players that fought to be the best. Congrats to Sean Shigematsu, Moses Samia, Marcus Kemp and Nick Nelson. I also would like to add Marcus Malepeai to the list. He really developed himself into a good defensive tackle. But on to recruiting. The last game was played on Nov 29 and the assistant coaches are on the recruiting trail. The last commit was on Sep 3 (Ben Northup). It’s worrisome that there hasn’t been another new commit for 2015 in over 3 months. Any news?


  43. al December 7, 2014 8:50 pm

    Thanks pomaiomai.
    It is done.


  44. al December 7, 2014 8:52 pm

    Oops. Sorry pomai. This auto spell keeps doing this pomaiomai?


  45. hatakeman December 7, 2014 9:07 pm

    Nanakuli/HawaiiMongoose, I hate to be negative, but 4,000 might be optimistic. And yes, without Hawaii in the Hawaii Bowl, I too speculate it will soon disappear along with the Hula Bowl. But that won’t be because of the Bahamas Bowl. It looks like ESPN is adding the Bahamas Bowl to draw the midwest/east coast audience. Central Michigan and Western Kentucky play in the Bahamas Bowl. Without Hawaii in the Hawaii Bowl, there’s little fan interest. I think a lot of people on the mainland follow Hawaii football, but these past 3 years have put a dagger Hawaii’s appeal.


  46. champ December 7, 2014 9:32 pm

    If I was B Jay I would buy the dang cam!! I mean $700+? Is that all!!


  47. champ December 7, 2014 9:41 pm

    I agree. Without Hawaii the dang bowl is history. What happened to chasing the champioships quote I heard 3 yrs ago? Perhaps they might have a bottom ten bowl. This way Hawaii can be in a bowl and Ben Jay should be able to find sponsors right? Heh Heh!


  48. kapakahi December 8, 2014 3:29 am

    https://twitter.com/RobDeMelloKHON/status/541871814960357377
    https://twitter.com/SamSpanglerKHON/status/541879118996860928

    Like the very early local verbal commits from the Mililani QB-WR connection for Class of 2016……but not liking the silence with the Class of 2015 recruiting…….both locally…..and elsewhere (American Samoa, Australia, mainland)……..especially some DL commits…….since losing Yap, Samia, Malepeai, Friel & Uti.


  49. A-House December 8, 2014 7:19 am

    pomai:

    your #41 – does this mean that it does NOT go through UH Foundation and directly into booster fund?


  50. Na Alii Pride December 8, 2014 7:41 am

    BJ was on the BC show this morning. He was non-committal when asked about Coach Chow’s future. Is there still hope that a change will be made? Wasn’t sure how to read into his comments.


  51. Don Weir December 8, 2014 7:46 am

    A-House,
    All funds donated to Booster Clubs goes through UH Foundation.
    Your $100 automatically becomes $96.50 into the account as UH Foundation gets 3.5%of all donations as a ‘handling’ charge.


  52. tom December 8, 2014 7:54 am

    AL #39 “And I challenge anyone to match my contribution.”

    You’re on – but this might mean I can’t treat you to a hamburger lunch!

    AND GOOD MORNING, HAWAII!


  53. A-house December 8, 2014 8:01 am

    thank you Don for your input – guess UH Foundation will get its fingers in all donations – just imagine how much they will “receive” fro Shidler’s millions!!!

    al: you are on – our donation will go in January 2015


  54. Stephen Tsai December 8, 2014 8:10 am

    New post: http://hawaiiwarriorworld.com/?p=26514


Comments are closed.