2016 vision
I apologize for the delay in posting. I was going to write about last night’s game or why high school pride matters in attendance and … well, after couple drafts, I got nothing. So, here’s a look ahead to 2016:
2016 Seniors:
> Quarterback: Ikaika Woolsey.
> Running backs: Mel Davis, Paul Harris, Steven Lakalaka.
> Slotback: Makoa Camanse-Stevens.
> Wideouts: Isaiah Bernard, Marcus Kemp.
> Offensive linemen: RJ Hollis, Leo Koloamatangi.
> Nose tackles: Remy McClam, Kory Rasmussen.
> Defensive end: Kennedy Tulimasealii.
> Inside linebacker: Jerrol Garcia-Williams.
> Outside linebacker: Makani Kema-Kaleiwahea.
> Cornerbacks: Dejaun Butler, Jamal Mayo, Jalen Rogers.
> Safeties: Vasquez Haynes, Damien Packer.
> Placekicker/punter: Rigo Sanchez.
> Short-snapper: Brodie Nakama
2016 Juniors:
> Running backs: Diocemy Saint Juste, Ryan Tuiasoa.
> Wideouts: Ammon Barker, Keelan Ewaliko, Andrew Ho, Kalei Letoto.
> Tight ends: Davasyia Hagger, Metuisela Unga.
> Offensive linemen: Dejon Allen, Matt Norman, Elijah Tupai, John Wa‘a.
> Nose tackle: Kiko Faalologo.
> Defensive ends: Meffy Koloamatangi, David Manoa.
> Outside linebackers: Jeremy Castro, Russell Williams Jr.
> Inside linebacker: Max Broman.
> Cornerback: Nick Nelson.
> Safeties: Trayvon Henderson, Daniel Lewis.
2016 Sophomores:
> Quarterback: Beau Reilly.
> Fullback: Kaiwi Chung.
> Slotback: Dylan Collie.
> Wideout: Devan Stubblefield.
> Tight end: Dakota Torres.
> Offensive linemen: Luke Clements, Asotui Eli, Eperone Moananu.
> Defensive ends: Zeno Choi, Ka‘aumoana Gifford.
> Outside linebackers: Noah Borden, Rashaan Falemalu, Malachi Mageo, Jahlani Tavai.
> Inside linebakers: Tevarua Eldridge, Tumua Tuinei.
> Safety: Dany Mulanga.
> Long-snapper: Noah Borden.
2016 Freshmen:
> Quarterback: Aaron Zwahlen.
> Slotback: John Ursua.
> Tight end: Brennen Brooks.
> Nose tackle: Samiuela Akoteu.
> Defensive end: Sione Kauhi.
> Offensive linemen: Arona Amosa, J.R. Hensley, Austin Webb.
> Inside linebackers: Dayton Furuta, Dalton Gouveia, Solomon Matautia.
> Outside linebacker: Pumba Williams.
> Cornerbacks: Rojesterman Farris II, Cameron Hayes, Preston Kalai.
> Safeties: Austin Borengasser, Trey Linton.
> Punter: Alex Trifonovitch.
Good morning everyone!
Well, the cupboard is certainly not bare going into the 2016 season!
Here’s to hoping the new HC keeps Naeole on staff.
Not morning but close enough looking at the clouds.
While the talk of the lowest attendance ever at the SJSU game last night is factual, no one notes that 3 days of heavy rain and showers prior to game day…and that the noon hour-by-hour forecast on the Hawaii WeatherNow app showed 100% chance of rain in the afternoon and a 100% chance of “light rain” during game hours.
No umbrellas allowed in Aloha Stadium and the soaking during last week’s Fresno game was hardly encouraging.
I suppose since we were freakishly lucky and it did not rain at the stadium all afternoon makes some forget about factoring in the 100% rain forecast…and the forecast is still 80-100% chance of rain through Tuesday. Lack of stadium attendance cannot be laid entirely on the team. Give the “no umbrella” policy during a stormy week an assist.
I may be crazy, but I’m still believe there is a lot of untapped talent on this team. The right coach and a little bit of sports psychological counseling will do this team some good.
If I read correctly, Naole said there are some coaches that have given up. Anyone know who he is referencing? I was thinking Mason simply because of his lethargic facial expressions.
Yes!
I have the beginning of a movement.
Double B.’s 9-year-old son is also rooting for the triple option.
Naeole mentioned that some coaches have already checked out. That is awesome. Not only have they done a mediocre (at best) job of preparing our players for game day, but they are willing to collect a hardly earned paycheck. Quality guys. High character. I hope that future employers know what they are getting into if/when they hire any of these characters.
#5- I was wondering the same thing. I wish Naeole could relieve those coaches of their game day duties. I know that they have received their termination notices, but if they have in fact checked out, demote them and promote the guys who have the character to honor their responsibilities and earn their remaining paycheck.
So much to say but not really. The season which seemed to hold such promise in fall camp end not with a bang, but a whimper.
This is hard on everybody. Love to the Warriors, especially the Seniors. Lots of promising talent mongst the returnees, lots of recruiting to be done and done well.
Again, I pray that Matlin and the “advisory comittee” do the right thing and make the right choice for the new HC.
ends*
#9DPK, As you note I really do hope that they do the right thing and make the right choice. Look what the wrong choice of Chow brought; shameful performance you can pin on the coaching ineptness, a fallout of the fan base and a uncertainty about the future. Hope that Rockne Freitas and Jack Tsui will not have their self serving paws in this new HC selection process and that Matiln will truly be able to call his choice “his and his alone”.
Assistant coaches checking out?
Yup, mentioned that a few weeks back on this blog. Who could blame them: they are salaried employees who can’t be fired without cause (and we have seen how that usually goes for UH) and living in Hawaii (perhaps a last chance to enjoy the island). Their interest in their work ended when Chow was fired.
They will have no problem getting new jobs: assistant coaches get jobs based on personal relationships with other coaches, not based on their team’s records or performance. They spend countless hours with their fellow coaches (far more than anyone will spend with their spouses), so personal relationships are critical.
Most potential employers will give them a lot of credit for enduring the UH AD shortcomings that are well documented in the press.
Love to read your thoughts on the current scout team nd their chances of making the traveling team for 2016.
Based on the info given above and on the field, our greatest need for the upcoming recruiting class imo is QB, o-line, d-line, and place kicker. Heavy on the d-line is needed after the last recruiting class. We need to win in the trenches on both sides of the ball first, then everything else will fall into place.
Wow 11K in attendance last night. We have hit rock bottom.
Nuggets/Warriors game is available on ESPN3 in Spanish.
How do I tie this in with UH sports?
I got it.
Remember when ex-Warriors Benoit Benjamin considered Hawaii, and actually came here on a recruiting trip?
IMHO the most pleasant surprise this season has been the running of Harris, an on two bad wheels! I also think that Collie will be a go to guy in the coming years!!!
What are the immediate needs as far as facilities upgrades at Manoa? An indoor practice facility? New weight room/performance center? Aside from the new locker room, which was the most recent addition, along with the Ching Field building (Wahine Sports). When recruits walk around the athletic complex and look around, it seems old and tired.
New Mexico’s players react to the new Athletic Performance Center completed last year:
http://golobos.com/sports/2015/5/12/GEN_20140101371.aspx
Looking at the roster, there is a lot of legitimate D1 talent so the cupboard is not bare for next year. Most of the seniors and juniors to be have substantial playing experience. Even as coaches often say “we don’t play the games”..”we just got to execute..” but if the schemes or systems are not working for whatever reasons, then tweak the system. For instance, Harris is a speedster. Why not create a mismatch with a linebacker with a play action pass route? One problem, imho, is that UH was too easily defended, too basic plays. Not everyone has an opportunity to play D1 football and the players are playing hard. If they aren’t playing hard, isn’t it obvious because they’re on TV, tape, graded..etc? But if the generals aren’t making the right strategies, the soldiers can only do so much.
If memory serves me right, back in the 80s Michael Alo, a Parade AA RB from So Cal came to UH on a recruiting trip when Dick Tomey was the HC. Alo, reportedly, wanted to sign with UH, but his parents said that he should go to USC, which he did. Injuries cut short his career, I believe. Back then, UH was averaging over 40,000 per game. No PPV.
Yup, the guys returning looks like a good base to build from. Lots of players with significant game experience. But when it comes to Beau Reilly, I just feel like aw-shucks, he never got to play a down of D1 football…yet. So, for lack of any game experience, I consider him equivalent to that of a freshman. QB again looks like it may be a position of concern for next season, but maybe Zwahlen may come out and light up the scoreboard. And I hope they get rid of this year’s home uniform. Burn them. Only bad memories.
Whoever the next coach is, he’s going to need to take a hard look at who’s deserving of having their scholarship renewed. The effort by the majority of the roster (except for a few very noticible standouts) has been embarrassing.
There are some good pieces to build on, but based on what I’ve seen the past few weeks, I’d be all in favor of the next coach gutting the roster and do a complete rebuild. The only problem with that is I don’t think UH can afford a full rebuilding year. For the quickest turnaround, long term consequences be damned, there will need to be a heavy JC recruiting class for 2016.
Yes ST I imagine it is hard to write anything much about UH football these days. It’s hard to be the football beat writer, hard to be a UH player or coach and hard to be a fan. We have truly sunk to depths that seemed unimaginable in 2007. But here we are. Complexity theory suggests that all living systems have an intelligence about them. That they reorganize in intelligent and adaptive ways. But, this reorganization occurs at the “edge of chaos.” That is, when things seem to be on the edge of falling apart completely. I hope the complexity theorists are correct and our current experience with falling apart is a precursor to a more intelligent and adaptive coming together. It feels like it can’t get worse which suggests it will only get better. Here’s hoping!
I know their are fans for June Jones and some not but considering the state of UH football, June Jones provides a chance to bring our fans back. We are at an extremely low point economically with our declining fan base. This is very disturbing and this cannot continue. I doubt seriously there is a head coach that can manuver through the political and UH system land mines as well as Coach Jones. Another critical factor is understanding the cultural nuisances of Hawaii and the love for the state. Can he bring his offensive system back to Hawaii and make it work, I say yes. He is refreshed and ready to tweek his offense. I believe he will recruit better and bring his marketing mind to promote UH Football. I think our AD should consider announcing his choice before our last game instead of waiting until December.
aloha everyone !! no problem ST !! its been a long year for all of us . more so for you !!Tom Mason Defensive Coordinator is burnt out so E Z to see !! he needs a break !!
Don Bailey Offensive Coordinator has been a miss fit all season !! and you can see on tv when they show them in the press box he not into it !! should remove him a let ex coach chow came back and play call his last game to ride off in to the sunset !!
Any good local high school linemen prospects interested in staying home to play for the home team?
Seems like heard this before near the end of the VonApp years. Then we got JJ. I hope that history will repeat itself. Doesn’t have to be JJ. Some coaches just have “IT”. Find him Matlin!
There were reports of coach JJ in the house last night. Coach Riley Wallace was there walking around, looking terrific. I bet Coach Wallace will also be at tonights’ BB games.
RE: #24
oldtimer808 — I confirmed this with my season ticket seats partner at the stadium yesterday: (1) we will continue our partnership and renew our season tickets next year. (2) if June Jones is the head coach, I will try to get seats closer to mid-field again, even though it’ll cost another $150 or so. (3) If not JJ, we will stay where we are.
We remember the days of yellow section 50 yard line and not needing binoculars most of the time to watch the QB and receiver routes since you know the ball will be flying to someone downfield. The successful shovel pass was a receiver running downfield with the ball too. No need binoculars to watch all this between the 35’s.
We have become heavily dependent on our binoculars to watch the running plays over the last 4 years…like in days of Dick Tomey. It would be nice to need the binoculars only in goal line situations again.
Michael Alo is a name from the past!!! Was all everything at Banning, where he teamed with Danny Andrews, and they were the HS national champs. He played with JK (john kamana) and my boy Gaylord Kuamoo, who started at tackle, at SC….
Your reference to high school pride and attendance is something ro look at. I think a lot of high schools don’t have the attendance like in the old days. In the 70’s it was unusual not to go to the football game. Also isn’t the empty sections connected to corporate sponsors? Moving the band and students back to the Ewa-Makai sidelines would be a start.
I don’t expect much recruiting until we have a new coach but by then what will be left for us to recruit?
RE: #32
z — True. Another reason why JJ seems to be the best option. If you are a recruit and JJ, the man whose players have rewritten NCAA record books and formed a steady stream into NFL tryouts, comes knocking on your door, what do you say (even if you have verbally committed elsewhere)?
After watching UH “play” something that was billed as college football on Saturday night, one must wonder if any of those named above want to be back next year. It sure smells like coaches and players would rather be doing something other than dressing up and parading around for 11,000 rain-soaked spectators. “Fans” are on the edges of their seats in anticipation of the “White Porcelain Bowl” with La. Monroe (1-10) next week. I hope they got the memo…no tackling.
The only reason JJ should be hired is to sell some tickets. Listening to fan phones and the AM 1420 callers…. There are enough delusional fans that would re-purchase their season tickets under the belief JJ will reproduce 1999 and 2007 again.
This time around seems so much harder to get things turned around. 2016 will be 6 seasons removed from a winning record, in other words nobody on the roster will have winning experience to draw from. All they know is losing (even painstakingly close) and it’s very hard to turn around a losing mentality that’s been down for a long period of time.
Phycologists and motivational speakers get paid a lot of money to improve morale and productivity in the business world, maybe it’s worth bringing in a few big name motivational guys (Tony Robbins, Andy Andrews, or similar) to infuse some new ways of thinking next season.
I believe Matlin is aware of the next dead period for recruiting and I believe he wants to name a coach going into the dead period to assemble the rest of staff during the dead period. That way UH doesn’t burn recruiting time trying to assemble the staff.
someone was talking about players transferring at the end of the season because they’re probably unhappy with their situation. if UH switches to a triple option, you will probably see A LOT of players transferring (especially qbs like beau riley and zwahlen) and possibly players decommitting as well.
Would it be wrong for June Jones to be talking to Hawaii’s top prospects, even though they are committed elsewhere, to say “if I’m UH head coach next year would you play for me?”?
36. But it takes a long time to assemble a staff here.
Giving Beau some game time experience at least ups the QB competition in the spring, since Woolsey will be the only guy with experience. Oh well, can’t wait to see who the next HC will be.
JJ, Babers or Aranda should be the only top prospects UH is considering, unless Chip Kelly applied.
I agree that UH should let the players who do NOT have the “will” to play for UH go
question is how will they fill in the spaces? what impact does the 25 “new” scholarships per year hinder/help UH?
Amanda should be looking into all of this NOW!!!!!!!!!!!! NCAA is famous for “dragging” their feet and it may be well into 2016 when they respond.
What is it with bashing June Jones. He lives in Hawaii, not like Chow. He goes to Samoa on football and medical missions. He came to bail Hawaii out from 4 straight losing seasons. He will work for less money than Babers, Aranda, and Jasper. The key is to get Miano to coach with him. All the Miano lovers will buy in. Jones said he left to make the public aware of UH’s problems.
Good points nanakuli!
Guarantee season tocket sales will jump with a June Jones Hana Ho’u. Guarantee.
Dave Aranda is a 3-4 DC, and has been very successful at it addition to coaching the LBs at Wisconsin. He currently earns what Chow did at $550,000.
#22 & 36. As Matlin is eyeing mid-Dec. to decide on a HC, don’t bank on JC help next year. JC signing is in mid-Dec. too, so only 2nd tier likely left, or those still seeking to qualify late.
It’s Thanksgiving. Needs to run a 2-minute drill soon, & hitch his wagon to a star. This entire athletic program is now on life-support. We need cpr.
If the salaried adults involved with this team don’t have the heart to continue working with the student-athletes in their charge, I hope they are excused from those interactions. Surely they can put in hours helping with archiving materials, shredding obsolete files, and doing other work within the athletic department until their employment periods end.
I “get” that many people involved with the team are frustrated. But the coaching and support staff accepted the responsibility of working with and mentoring the students in the program. DO IT or step aside. DON’T make the situation worse by showing any disdain for the student-athletes.
No old futs please. Jones is an old fut.
Someone 40s – 50s. Energetic. Can do attitude. Alum desirable. Not necessary. Winning record as HC.
Jones time has come and gone. Time to look toward the future. Miano ok. Cal Lee better, even though Cal a little old now.
gt, #47~No like work, fire their ass WITH CAUSE.
SMH
No old farts…but Cal Lee is ok
Winning record as HC…but you want Miano or Cal
Give it to June Jones and allow him the time to put his staff together and recruit. We’re not in a position to wait and restock with leftovers.
We need some good JC guys to come in and play immediately.
No offense but Cal Lee is older than JJ. Its all good tho. They wont be suiting up. Dont worry, they still got energy. Dont think Cal Lee would leave STL tho.
JJ would be able to utilize Collie and Stubblefield and make them stars like Bess and Grice-Mullin. Maximize their potential.
If JJ is the head coach, he might ask Miano to join his staff (probably as db coach and Walk-On coordinator again). Miano might accept without a bruised ego–after all, it was JJ that gave him his first college coaching experience. Same with Cal Lee, but my guess is that he has given up any hopes of becoming UH head coach in the future.
Considering JJ’s past coaches, he probably has a list of retired ex-NFL coaches who might want a sunset stint in Hawaii and their planes would landing as soon as the position advertisement period ends. Old futs indeed…
My expectations of JJ would be the Hawaii Bowl or heartbreakingly close in the first year. Any other coach failing to do that in the first year will have me contemplating taking my piggybank to PPV heaven in 2017. Hey, I got a doctor’s note… but I’ll pay to watch live the “Over the Hill Gang” ride again. 🙂
UH Wins convincingly this week saturday
UH 56 Da odda guys 14
Georgia Southern was 9-3 in their first season as a FBS school.
This year, they’re currently 7-3.
Almost knocked off Georgia.
The triple option works.
I have a hard time believing Aranda is a legitimate candidate.
Some of the agents who work for the prospective coaches will automatically apply whenever there is an opening, so the name will be everywhere, but once Aranda and his agent find out he’s going to be paid no better than equal to his current assistant job, the interest goes way down.
More responsibility for less pay and the job is at an university with severe dysfunction in its leadership is not an attractive opening if you are an assistant at a top flight program at a Power 5 conference.
39. The December dead period is about a month long, so it should be enough time to try assemble the new staff, or at least get enough pieces in place to they can hit the recruiting hard when the dead period expires mid-January.
Stephen, I saw Dave Matlin showing a Visitor with his family around the arena right before the wahine’s basketball game. He was built like a linebacker and his family was really looking like tourist. Was he here for the an interview or a view of his future job?.
It will become a little more difficult to transition from JC to Div1 due to the increase of the required GPA from 2.0 to 2.5. Look for that pool of available a to diminish by a decent percentage. The right guy depending on the coaches he brings in will have a significant impact and also promises to play to the right transfers. Two of the more significant recruits that did not make were Jordan Agasiva and Gus Lavaka. Believe they would have had an impact along with a couple of D line guys who did not make it. Don’t think it will take a great deal to get competitive-winning is another story but the deck is being shuffled with some of the latest performance at top tier MW schools. For the most part conferences like this moves in cycles-we have seen the bottom-now time for an upswing-
Here is a hypothetical. Of the somewhat known candidates, who could have taken this team with this staff and made us competitive. All the talent the same all the coaches the same except for the Head Coach. For me it is only one guy June-
Whenever there is a women and men’s basketball doubleheader, and it can’t be a coincidence, I hear a lot more critical remarks about the play on the court. I can tell these people never watched a Na Wahine game in their lives.
Regular patrons know what the female players can’t do, and don’t hold it against them.
The past is the past, quit trying to live in it. JJ is not the answer, many of the players do NOT want him, and then were in a same boat again next year. The players need someone too believe in, not a gimmick type offense that last a year or two. Find someone to build a program that will last, and some staff to keep the good local talent home and not go to the mainland.
Yes it’s a tall order, I see no other way…
New post: http://hawaiiwarriorworld.com/?p=34483