No slowing 83-year-old Mouse
This morning, 83-year-old Mouse Davis joked, “To tell you the truth, I don’t do a hell of a lot. … I’ve been sitting on my hands a lot, and wondering, What do I do with these?”
But Davis’ schedule has been hectic. In the past year, he was commissioner/head coach of a pro football league based in Palm Springs, consultant to Portland State’s football team, and occasional golfer.
The Warrior Beat trapped Mouse for a few thoughts.
On prized pupil June Jones’ decision to pass on pro-football opportunities to serve as Kapolei High’s offensive coordinator this fall:
“He loves Hawaii and he loves football, and this gives him an opportunity to do both. … It’ll be exciting for him. No question he enjoys doing it. That’s a positive thing. (Coaching is) in (his) blood. I know. I only did it for 57, 58 years. I can speak to the possibilities that it gets into your blood.”
On the pro league he helped found:
“They call it Professional Football League. It’s a hell of a name. There are some good players and some very average players. It’s nice to see them get another shot.”
On initially being head coach of two PFL teams at the same time:
“We had other (assistant) coaches who worked in there. (When the teams played each other) I went up in the stands and didn’t say a thing. I rooted for both teatms. You can’t lose. You don’t make any decisions so you can’t (mess) that up. It’s a pretty good thing.”
On supporting UH coach Nick Rolovich:
“I told him the other day, I’m rooting hard for him. I hope that helps him. That’s my help. I’m rooting for him. And he has Brian (Smith, a former UH center and now offensive assistant) out there. Brian’s a great kid, too. They’re easy to root for.”
On giving a Rolodex containing daily inspiration quotes to Rolovich:
“I said, ‘Would you like that?’ He said, ‘Yeah.’ I said, ‘You’ve got it.’ … (Noting this is a leap year), That’ll get him all screwed up. You can give him a quote. Don’t give him any of the other 365 he’s got.”
On Rolovich changing the mood:
“I hope they have success. It’s been so dismal. That’s what it looked like. It looked like a dismal atmosphere. It looked like a dismal whatever … game, a dismal win, a dismal loss. It was dismal. That’s what it looked like to me from afar. … I know they’ve got great kids there. They at least have to be having fun. The game’s supposed to be fun, right?”
I appreciate Mouse saying it like it is. It has been dismal. Time to turn the tide.
legend.
nice to hear from him.
ST,
Should’ve asked Mouse about…….what his thoughts on Rolo’s former boss at Nevada……former HC Chris Ault……Lol!
Btw… what pro opportunities did JJ actually pass up? Are you just assuming that he is passing on some, or were there actual offers?
Coach Jones will help Hernadez tremendously. Kapolei must have had every offensive ever invented. Hernadez changed coordinators every one or two years. He gets lots of good Nanakuli, Waianae, and Cambell boys to GE to him every year. With Jones Kapolei may win a championship.
Mouse touched on something interesting that seems like a focus on the Rolovich era so far… To change the atmosphere from being dismal and dreary to having fun. I remember in that 2010 season, I think the offense tried to have at least one “fun” play in every game. Like a slightly tricky play or something… Even the celebrations seemed like they were having fun… The handshake td celebration was classic with Salas… Reminds me a bit of the mbb team this year… It just looks like they are having fun out there…
“Dismal”……well chosen word.
Can we go from 0 to 60 in one season? two seasons?
Is Rolovich the first UH HC to have a Twitter account? Hope the receivers start catching the ball with their hands, seems like Chow preferred them to “cup” the ball for every pass.
Anyone else see that Vikings/Seahawks game…
Reminds of “Finkel is Einhorn… Einhorn is Finkel…”
Anyone got that?
Kevin-1
I talked to his peeps this morning. They said he had opportunities.
I think a lot of head coaches have Twitter accounts. Even Harsin has one. Chow actually was really good at texting.
Hope people go support the warrior volleyball team today at 5 pm against national runner up from last season Lewis. Should be a great match and it’s a very important one with post season and rpi implications for Hawaii.
Interesting that Mouse noted the atmosphere of UH football as dismal over the past few years…Why couldn’t Ben Jay see that over that time is beyond me…
It’s worth admission to watch Stijn van Tilburg.
Good to hear from/about Mouse Davis again. I had the impression that he was a really colorful guy quietly under the media radar when he was here. ST gave us glimpses, and I vaguely recall Mouse and Glanville really livened up JJ’s party. 🙂
ST #11 … thanks. I think that says a lot about JJ and what he thinks about Hawaii and the athletes here. I hope there will be some type of role for him at UH in some capacity in the future.
RE: #11 & 17
I was surprised to hear that JJ would become a high school coordinator and asked myself, “Why?”. My guess is that he has a an updated and revised passing offense to field test and demonstrate. I believe Tsai-ko Jason speculated that he wanted to develop freshman QB Tuila for 3 years and maybe go as a package to college.
I don’t know if the college will be UH or not and I wish Rolo the best (I might even try for better season ticket seat locations that I promised to get if JJ was hired). Having met AD Matlin once, I think he is a smart man with a long term Plan B.
Looking back at JJ and Timmy Chang, imagine if JJ was Chang’s coach for 3 years before UH. Chang had some growing pain issues that JJ had to deal with… and without them, his maybe his NCAA passing record might be unbroken today. Maybe. Nevertheless, I’m curious to see how this scenario plays out…
Steve M. – I was wondering the same thing about JJ. In any case, it’s good that he continues to work with Hawai’i kids in any capacity.
Mouse and JJ – couple of guys who love Hawai’i football. Happy to see that they’re around, staying involved and being supportive. First time I ever heard of Mouse Davis was when he brought a high school team to Hawai’i to play Punahou at the old stadium. Where have the years gone?
Dismal is a good word. It was frustrating for sure. I felt sorry for the players, but the mood has definitely changed. It just feels good. Now for some recruits.
According to 24/7 sports with CBS Sports:
Top Hawaii Recruits:
1. OG Michael Eletise, Kaiser (Arizona)
2. RB Vavae Malepeai, Mililani (Oregon)
3. OC Sean Auwae, Kapolei (Vanderbilt)
4. OLB Jordan Loveni Iosefa, Punahou (USC)
5. WR Drew Kobayashi, St. Louis (Cal)
6. CB Luca Vartic, Konawaena (Washington St. (warm), Hawaii, UNLV and UCLA)
7. QB McKenzie Milton, Mililani (Hawaii)
8. OG Nate Herbig, St. Louis (Cal, Vanderbilt, Washington (three warm), Stanford, ASU, Oregon St., Washington St. (Cool), Hawaii with 3 other schools, not even cool)
9. WR Kalakaua Timoteo, Mililani (Hawaii)
10. OG Andru Tovi, Mililani (Utah St.)
11. OLB Jeremiah Pritchard. Farrington (Colorado, Hawaii, UNLV and Cal (all cool))
12. OLB Hirkley Latu, Kahuku (Utah St., BYU, Oregon St. (all warm), Utah, Washington, and Hawaii is not on the list)
13. P Jet Toner, Punahou (Stanford)
14. RB Wayne Taulapapa, Punahou (BYU)
15. OLD Tainoa Foster, Kamehameha (Fresno St., Hawaii, Utah St., Washington St (all cool))
16. DT Alema Kapoi, Kamehameha (Air Force, Army, Navy (Hawaii not on list))
#6, 8, 12, 15 and 16 are undecided. If we can recruit 2 or 3 of them. Also, #10 and #14, Utah St and BYU, we should try to convince them to stay!! Anyway, we need some good mainland players too but it will be good to see more top Hawaii guys staying. May be some Kahuku guys may come to UH.
go Rolo!! keep recruiting!!
Chow = Very DISMAL, DOUR.
Rolo = HOPE!
Orioles? As in Baltimore Orioles? Did you know Paul Blair, Mike Cuellar and Mark Belanger died?
I think he meant ariolas. As in Vana.
Is that a Vana White from Jeopardy ?
How about Tommie Agee, Donn Clendenon, Don Cardwell, and Tug McGraw from the 1969 Miracle Mets, who played the Baltimore Orioles in the 1969 World Series?
Larry “Katosh” Price still has two wins over Mouse Davis when UH played Portland State in 75 & 76. That was including a Viking team that had UH transfers in June Jones, Mel de Laura, Benny Bethune, and Dexter Morrison. Mouse’s 77 team also gave Dick Tomey’s squad a game.
Yes the Baltimore Orioles are my team, through the good and the bad. I still find it hard to believe that the 69 Mets won that series. Ron Swoboda making those catches, seriously.
My younger self was totally freaked out when the Padres traded Terry Kennedy to Baltimore for Strom Davis.
Kennedy was my favorite player.
Made the All-Star team as an Oriole.
Great job in recruiting WR Kalakaua Timoteo. Our receiving corp needs a lot of help. Wondering if he ran track? His 40 at the Nike Combine 4.83. Did well in getting to the Nike Opening in Oakland. But would have been nice to see him compete against the east coast elite to include the Florida and Southern players who are a whole different breed. At 6’1, good hands, and big body. He might do well too as a tight end too. Route running, overall speed, and agility will get better with time and practice. But a great prospect for Hawaii and a local boy. If he has competed in camps, combines, and played multiple sports in school. That is what it takes to be a good all around solid athlete. Now, time to learn the game. Best of luck Kalakaua.
30.
Kalakaua Timoteo is about 6′ 3″, 200lbs now. I’m pretty sure he won’t play tight end because that’s the whole reason why he didn’t go to USC. But you said it, glad he is choosing to stay home. Go Bows!!
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