Friday’s musings

It’s Friday. Here are some things to consider while near the Keurig machine:

> The Mountain West Conference controls the television rights to the UH-Colorado opener, which now will be played on Thursday, Sept. 3. (By the way, that’s “Ferd” Lewis’ birthday.) ESPN and CBS Sports are entitled to take that game. Their intentions won’t be known until July, when a master schedule is released. If ESPN and CBS Sports pass, then it likely becomes a pay-per-view event. Aloha Stadium or my living-room couch on a Thursday evening? (By the way, the “couch” is a metaphor, although you’re all welcome to visit, just not at the same time.)

> No stories. No buzz. This is what happens when the Pro Bowl is not played in Hawaii. This should be remembered when the NFL enters negotiations with Hawaii on future Pro Bowls.

> The Warriors are close to completing their 2015 recruiting class, which includes transfers (Max Wittek, Makani Kema-Kaleiwahea), missionaries (Gus Lavaka, Aaron Zwahlen, Sione Kauhi, Dylan Collie, John Ursua) and gray shirts. The Warriors are expected to save a scholarship for a punter or kicker. They are deciding among several punter/kicker prospects.

> With David Manoa expected to move back to defense, these are the tight ends entering spring training: Harold Moleni, Tui Unga, Dakota Torres and Josh Long.

COMMENTS

  1. letsgowarriors January 23, 2015 9:01 am

    how many visitors this weekend? if you can release that info


  2. Stephen Tsai January 23, 2015 9:02 am

    I think they’re five visitors.


  3. BigFan January 23, 2015 9:11 am

    Can any names be revealed? I believe Viliamu Auwae visited earlier so does he count as one of the five? Was Desean Holmes here this Thursday or was he scheduled to be here next Thursday?


  4. jeezy33 January 23, 2015 9:14 am

    With 3 visitors from Santa Monica, I’m taking the over on 5. At least I hope.


  5. jeezy33 January 23, 2015 9:15 am

    ST, were Matt Norman and Russell Williams allowed to be counted as 2014 recruiting class since they are mid year recruits?


  6. jeezy33 January 23, 2015 9:18 am

    Not very excited about TE prospects. Really hope we look for a OC that can install more 4 wide sets. Cater to your personnel strengths.


  7. truegreen January 23, 2015 9:31 am

    #2 ST: “there are” vs “they’re (they are)”?


  8. truegreen January 23, 2015 9:32 am

    another common one:
    “should’ve” or “should have” but NEVER “should of”


  9. hitman January 23, 2015 9:33 am

    aloha and morning everyone!!
    any 3 star or higher coming in this weekend?
    wow da basketball team look good last night !! keep up da good work!!


  10. pollypicador January 23, 2015 9:58 am

    I was watching last nights telecast of the UH-UC Davis basketball game and the commentators were talking about former NCAA basketball players making the jump to the NFL. I think I heard there were 7 last year. It stands to reason that some of the more gifted, athletic basketball players can make the transition to the NFL. One player from UH I like is Issac Fleming (he’s exciting to watch). He would make an absolute name for himself as a safety. He’s 6-3, 180, cat quick, ball hawk. He’s all over his defender on the court (it’s impressive to watch…it will be more impressive (I think) if he played football). I mean…that’s what I see. Later I checked his profile on the basketball site and sure enough Fleming was also a two-time first team all state cornerback in high school. Do you think Fleming would have a future in football? If he did have ambitions he would be a great addition to the Warrior football team.


  11. Big Fan January 23, 2015 10:00 am

    Nice catch truegreen. You should have been a journalist, lol.


  12. boolakanaka January 23, 2015 10:10 am

    Damn, check out the size of this poly–see: http://www.oregonlive.com/recruiting/index.ssf/2015/01/darrin_paulo_mammoth_4-star_ol.html#incart_river

    Mark Nua-esque


  13. Mainland January 23, 2015 10:13 am

    The tough thing zbout a steady diet 4 wide receiver sets is that you have less protection for a far less mobile Wittek. I like Moleni and Unga as a 1 to 2 pinch at TE. But I absolutely agree that we need the 4 WR package next year- just not at the expense of eliminatingtbe TE – I think Moleni and Unga could be outstanding


  14. Les January 23, 2015 10:18 am

    The critics mention why we don’t recruit more. We have only so many scholarships to offer in any given year. It’s not easy.


  15. Inyoface January 23, 2015 10:25 am

    We run an offense with tight ends?


  16. jeezy33 January 23, 2015 10:33 am

    12. It’s always give and take though. Less protection but also less blitzing because defense has to change their package as well. You create a lot more spacing when you open up your offense. Less defenders in the box. If protection is an issue, you can always design 3 step drop throws and slow down the D with draws, screens, reverses, etc. Just need to be creative. One issue with Hawaii is all defenses we faced pretty much said publicly they knew what Hawaii was gonna do. Just a matter of executing. Were not talented enough to win without keeping defenses guessing and coming up with some good counter plays to pressure.


  17. Former UH Athlete January 23, 2015 10:50 am

    Keurig… yuck!

    Please make mine a V-60 pour over with natural processed Ka’u Yellow Caturra by Rusty’s Hawaiian Roasters .


  18. Former UH Athlete January 23, 2015 10:52 am

    If only we under-inflated our footballs… maybe we could have been MWC Champs.

    What a ridiculous side-show going on in the NFL…


  19. gobows January 23, 2015 11:11 am

    3 step drop is useless if your receivers are not taught to look for the ball. hawaii’s passing game sucks. line not good at protecting, qb junk at throwing, receivers dropping too many balls. expect to see the same this year.
    chow should try recruit a few of the arms that trap got next door.


  20. SteveM January 23, 2015 11:12 am

    Good morning everyone!

    So… if the UH-Colorado opener on Thursday is picked up by ESPN or CBS Sports, will they move the game time earlier to accommodate the mainland audiences? This would almost guarantee an empty stadium. How much does UH get in TV money to offset the near zero walkup ticket sales?


  21. seewhy January 23, 2015 11:13 am

    RE: #17
    No kidding… Less WR drops?


  22. seewhy January 23, 2015 11:14 am

    Another Thursday opener? Way to build your crowd UH…


  23. Old Diver January 23, 2015 11:18 am

    Still not clear why the game was moved to Thursday. Is the real reason for the move on a need to know basis? If it is picked up by CBS would the game time move to 4:00pm? The next AD needs to have more candor with the fans. Guess I’m going to have to cut my work day in half to attend the game.


  24. BigFan January 23, 2015 11:51 am

    Why was my comment moderated and never posted? All I said when I referred to #7 truegreen was “nice catch and you should have been a journalist, lol.” Was that offensive?


  25. bowwar January 23, 2015 12:42 pm

    I think that several UH BB players could be excellent tight ends or defensive ends based on their height and mobility. I remember Smalls and Akpan went from BB to football during their careers…

    Did the returning kicker quit and go to Kansas?


  26. PONO January 23, 2015 2:11 pm

    Has Wily officially decommitted or is he just looking around to make sure UH is for him?


  27. Stephen Tsai January 23, 2015 2:59 pm

    There are five visitors.


  28. Stephen Tsai January 23, 2015 3:01 pm

    Williams counts toward 2015.
    There are 24 available scholarships for this class. One of the 2014 transfers counts toward 2015.


  29. Stephen Tsai January 23, 2015 3:04 pm

    Alo-Wily has not de-committed.
    He is visiting UNLV this week. But the guy who is recruiting him there also recently interviewed for another job.


  30. Stephen Tsai January 23, 2015 3:12 pm

    Ryan Weese?
    I think he asked for a scholarship, and was turned down, and so he left.
    Because he was a walk-on who only was in the program for a semester, he would have counted as one of the 24 initials. Apparently, they weren’t impressed enough to use an initial on him.
    He was a nice guy. I’m sure he’ll do well at Kansas.
    If he walks on over there, he gets to play right away. He won’t have to redshirt.


  31. Stephen Tsai January 23, 2015 3:13 pm

    Kickers do come and go. I did a list of competitors to Tyler Hadden through the years, and it was lengthy.


  32. hatakeman January 23, 2015 3:14 pm

    I would guess changing the Colorado game to Thursday, Sept. 3 was prompted by Coach Chow. The 2 or 3 additional practice days will not change the outcome. My take is the objectives should be to leave Columbus with our dignity intact and all players healthy. Scoring 10 points against the national champions would be great.


  33. kapakahi January 23, 2015 3:19 pm

    Can understand why coaches turned him down on his request……since had very limited range.


  34. kapakahi January 23, 2015 3:23 pm

    Only 1 visitor last weekend……now only 5 this weekend.

    Hopefully a lot more than that are being scheduled for next weekend.


  35. hatakeman January 23, 2015 3:29 pm

    So if I include Alo-Wily, I count 22. One for a K/P. That leaves one. Perhaps a cornerback? So far, I don’t see a cornerback in the 2015 class to step up when Mayo and Phillips graduate after this coming season.


  36. kapakahi January 23, 2015 3:31 pm

    ……especially some NT/DT types for next weekend.

    Whether staying with 3-4 or going back to a 4-3 front, JMHO that still need some interior DL types……since only Tulimasealii returning with any significant PT experience.


  37. kapakahi January 23, 2015 3:34 pm

    #34,

    Mayo should till have 2 to play 2.

    BTW……at least 1 of the visitors this weekend is a CB.


  38. Stephen Tsai January 23, 2015 3:37 pm

    I haven’t crunched the numbers, but I think they’re going to sign a CB, DT/NT and maybe another offensive lineman. There are players in place if some don’t make it or choose to go elsewhere.


  39. kapakahi January 23, 2015 3:40 pm

    #36,

    Make that 2 CB prospects visiting this weekend……though 1 also plays nickel or safety too.


  40. Bryson January 23, 2015 4:26 pm

    Stephen didn’t that guy just get that job at UNLV?


  41. BigFan January 23, 2015 4:39 pm

    #39, If we’re talking about Seumalo, yeah he was just hired by Sanchez. It would be kinda strange to be interviewing for another job.


  42. BigFan January 23, 2015 4:42 pm

    Unless ST is talking about a Nevada coach as I read Wiley was visiting both schools.


  43. BigFan January 23, 2015 5:23 pm

    The UNLV situation will be interesting to track this year. You got a highly successful HS coach and I am amazed at the quality of coaches he was able to attract and you’ve got that money from the Fertita (sp) family rolling in. Hawaii has a connection with Vegas so I hope this doesn’t hurt our ability to keep them home.
    Football has always played second fiddle to basketball there so we’ll see.


  44. graham January 23, 2015 5:54 pm

    It does not really matter that he just got there. Coaches leave whenever they feel its beneficil for them and their families. Assitant coach is a tough job, they do not get paid like HC and have move around all the time. Thats why I have a lot of respect for Coach Beamer.


  45. Inyoface January 23, 2015 6:38 pm

    We need to convert a basketball player into a TE.


  46. 3-Prong January 23, 2015 7:16 pm

    Waching the Polynesian Hall Of Fame Dinner on the Hawaii News Now App.


  47. 3-Prong January 23, 2015 7:18 pm

    ….while sippin a cold one to wash down da poke. HAPPY Aloha Friday everyone….oooo Marcus is up!


  48. hatakeman January 23, 2015 8:15 pm

    Here are some interesting numbers from last season. Looking at last seasons’ stats for the last six games starting with San Diego St (not including the UNLV game), our opponents knew how to beat us. Warriors gave up an average of 239 yards-per-game on 46 rushing attempts. Conversely, on rushing offense, Warriors averaged 103 yards per-game on 34 rushing attempts. Warriors got beat on both sides of the ball in rushing. So I ask, did the Warriors effectively recruit to help change the rushing game around, both offensively and defensively, regardless of scheme? I see a big hole in the defensive middle with the departure of Samia, Malepeai and Friel.


  49. champ January 23, 2015 9:36 pm

    It will be another long season unless they beat Colorado. Only then things could turn out ok cause they might have some hidden talent that we may not expect. I doubt it tho.


  50. cullyG January 24, 2015 5:13 am

    Keep an eye UH on rising coach star and UH alum Dino Babers, at Bowling Green He may want to return as HC someday.


  51. Boolakanaka January 24, 2015 7:01 am

    52–while I wish that were the case, Dino is already on the radar of at least 2-3, big 10 schools. His next pay day will be a 7 figure annual contact, and thus not at UH.


  52. al January 24, 2015 7:28 am

    53…this is true. We missed the boat on babers on the last go around. Too many so called expert advisors who know not a thing about today’s game and what it takes to hand over the keys to the right head coach.


  53. Ipu Man January 24, 2015 8:08 am

    Maybe the Pat’s running backs/coaches did it…
    http://www.wsj.com/articles/patriots-always-keep-a-tight-grip-on-the-ball-1422054846


  54. Tempmanoa January 24, 2015 9:20 am

    Need a good walk-on or scholie punter and FG kicker. If not, our offense will not have as many scoring opportunities with the field position and low return yardage that both Harding and Hadden gave us. Our average points per game which is already low, could suffer. Run backs will also be a factor that works against the defense since they give the opposition better field position than Harding and Hadden would.


  55. HiloBilly January 24, 2015 9:34 am

    Eli Boola…when will you be back to visit KSH? We have a great young lady considering the CG Academy in New London, & would be nice for her to meet you & get your thoughts about it.

    February LOI day can’t come soon enough, hopefully we’ll get some solid signings from home & the continents. We’ve got some nice-sized, academically strong outer island kids who’ll be seniors next year who’ve already received interest from other schools; I hope UH is doing its due diligence on these guys.

    Have a nice weekend all!


  56. Stephen Tsai January 24, 2015 9:50 am

    A new post: http://hawaiiwarriorworld.com/?p=27288


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