No winners in player’s suspension

Defensive tackle Ka‘aumoana Gifford is smart, witty and a pretty good football player. His grandfather, who is quite an entertaining gentleman, inducted me into the Zipper Club, and after practices, we show off our zipper-looking scars from cardiac bypass surgeries.

But even smart, witty, pretty good football players with cool grandfathers make mistakes. The thing is Gifford made the same mistake three times. And although his violation of team rules did not involve anything criminal or academic — heck, it didn’t even involve anyone else — it still was another lesson not learned. This time, the school issued a suspension for the season. The Warriors also rescinded Gifford’s football scholarship.


The hope is that Gifford will grow from this and eventually fulfill his potential as a player and student. But for now, the Warriors are without a good player in a position that needs good players, and Gifford is without the sport he loves.


COMMENTS

  1. pakegolf July 18, 2017 11:38 am

    Unfortunate but hope he overcomes and does well in his future.


  2. haka July 18, 2017 11:52 am

    Strike three, even in football, means you’re out. A no doubt, justifiable outcome in a case of poor judgement. Live and learn and maybe he will return, but that’s for another day. Today is about those that Live Aloha, Play Warrior and Represent Pride Rock…the way it should be. Go Warriors!


  3. 808WarriorFan July 18, 2017 12:08 pm

    Unfortunately this has to hurt the depth on the D-Line … getting a college education for free by playing football and that opportunity is squandered … hopefully he’ll be able to afford 1 year of school at his expense then realize what he had … hopefully he’ll also do what it takes to get reinstated to the team …

    LIVE ALOHA / PLAY WARRIOR / DEFEND THE ROCK … GO ‘BOWS … !!!!!


  4. H-Man July 18, 2017 12:57 pm

    Unfortunate he did not learn whatever he did wrong since he did it three times. Oh well, next man up.


  5. A-House July 18, 2017 1:00 pm

    will there be a waiting game to see who gets the scholarship of departed players

    is Zeno Choi qualified? any other walk-on who is deserving?


  6. akuhead2 July 18, 2017 2:24 pm

    Hey ST, the blogs quoted an article you wrote mentioning the KT is not expected to rejoin the team. At some point the blogs also mentioned that he was still working out. Any further details on KT, if he will play again somewhere else or has other plans?


  7. ai-eee-soos July 18, 2017 2:49 pm

    it’s Under Armor.

    FB uni / helmet shown. WHITE helmet ???


  8. Mytake July 18, 2017 2:54 pm

    Its time to relax team rules. If we held school teachers to the same standard we’d have a huge unemployment line


  9. DaveLetterMan July 18, 2017 2:56 pm

    Surprise! It’s Big Baller Brand. Just kidding, it’s UA for all sports thru 2022.
    Check this out:
    https://twitter.com/bhiga12/status/887467127556366336


  10. kapakahi July 18, 2017 4:05 pm

    #8,

    http://www.staradvertiser.com/2017/07/18/sports/uh-suspends-gifford-rescinds-scholarship/?HSA=b5bdc065531afd2a72d0df532c6694aebe8bc08a

    ST’s article states that Rolovich “acknowledged it is the university that imposed the suspension.”…….so guessing that the university student conduct rules were also violated.


  11. H-Man July 18, 2017 4:13 pm

    Maybe going against the grain, but I liked the white helmets. The dark green/black helmets were cool too. Just win.


  12. kalua pig July 18, 2017 4:25 pm

    #freepakalolo.


  13. kahuna July 18, 2017 4:30 pm

    Just because UH displayed the white helmet at the press conference doesn’t mean they will be wearing white helmets. UA does not make helmets so it is NOT Under Armour helmets.

    There were talks a few months ago about UH getting new helmets and had some kind of fundraiser to raise enough money to paint the helmet a different color. Silver was being tossed around but I’m not sure what came of those rumors.


  14. kahuna July 18, 2017 4:32 pm

    Here is the story on Hawaii News Now about the helmet situations:

    http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/35261043/uh-football-going-away-from-white-helmets-next-season


  15. ai-eee-soos July 18, 2017 4:37 pm

    ST’s article in the SA is now “open to the public”, in case you want to read it.


  16. ai-eee-soos July 18, 2017 4:40 pm

    that is,

    ST’s article on Gifford in the SA is now “open to the public”, in case you want to read it.


  17. Ipu Man July 18, 2017 5:20 pm

    Hope he can join another school and make a big impact this season.
    Maybe Ohio State?
    Notre Dame?
    Florida?
    USC?
    How about bottom rungers:
    Illinois…
    or Arizona State…
    or U of Mass 🙂


  18. madeinhawaii July 18, 2017 7:05 pm

    #8, we do have a huge unemployment problem with teachers. Hawaii is desperately trying to recruit 1600 of them as we speak.


  19. Inyoface July 18, 2017 8:51 pm

    We were winning in the white helmets and some want another color. Be careful what you wish for!


  20. DaveLetterMan July 18, 2017 10:00 pm

    ST, any confirmation of this 6’4″ 340 OL?
    https://twitter.com/gregbiggins/status/887515861388374016


  21. Maddog50 July 19, 2017 4:44 am

    K Gifford was a personal favorite of mine, really feel bad what has taken place. Hope for his return-on another note some of the large bodies recently added, do not expect any to have an impact any time soon. I do think there is a possibility that one or more is an upgrade to existing roster excluding incoming group. Maybe one of them might make the depth chart at tkl in a pinch-we will see-


  22. boolakanaka July 19, 2017 6:19 am

    I say both he and KT make the northwest trek and transfer to Linfield. Plenty of local support, find the love and joy of the game, still have a chance to put plenty of film down for scouts, and make one of our posters very very happy.


  23. A-House July 19, 2017 6:39 am

    thought all the 2017 scholarships were given out?

    or, is there an “extra” with 2 scholarship players not playing in 2017?


  24. kev-1 July 19, 2017 6:59 am

    While it may not be easy for 18-23 year-Olds to make the right decision every time, it IS easy to understand that playing football and getting an education under a scholarship is a privilege. We need to stop being so easy on these guys when things like this happen, especially after so many chances. Save the “wish you well” and “we’re sure gonna miss him” comments for down the road.

    Right now his coaches, teammates, and fans should be pissed and let him know how much he is letting them down. Own it.

    Don’t feel bad. He’ll be raking in the cash at the docks in a few years.

    And KT???? If he really wanted to play football, he would have gone to another school by now.


  25. Stephen Tsai July 19, 2017 8:14 am

    New post: http://hawaiiwarriorworld.com/?p=44160


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