Shannon Smith remembered

It was 20 years ago today — March 29, 1997 — when UH kicker Shannon Smith died while trying to save the 6-year-old son of former head coach Fred vonAppen from a whirlpool at “Slippery Slide” on Kauai.

This afternoon, Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho and head coach Nick Rolovich will meet with Smith’s family at their home in Kapaa. Rolovich is expected to bring some of Smith’s gear from the UH locker room that was named in his memory on Aug. 29, 1999.


In 1998, Smith posthumously received the NCAA Award of Valor.


COMMENTS

  1. tom March 29, 2017 8:08 am

    GOOD MORNING, HAWAII!

    Sad at Shannon Smith’s loss but glad that he is still remembered.


  2. 3-Prong March 29, 2017 9:09 am

    …prayers for Shannon. Does he still have a locker?


  3. 3-Prong March 29, 2017 9:12 am

    Hey all you “smoke and ash” guys (and gals)out there, Home Depot has two pack Kingsford on sale for $10 starting tomorrow. (Ok back to regular programming) hehe


  4. H-Man March 29, 2017 9:47 am

    Thanks for the tip. With summer coming up, need to restock on charcoal. Nice that Shannon Smith is being remembered.


  5. TakTak March 29, 2017 10:11 am

    Coach Rolo is SOME GOOD Coach!!! He does many things for HIS/OUR UH team!!! You Da Man Coach Rolo!!!!! Wish you a LONG STAY in Hawaii!!!!! Long time res of Maui.


  6. Maddog50 March 29, 2017 12:40 pm

    Best to the family of this departed true Warrior!


  7. steve paschal March 29, 2017 2:22 pm

    ‘ No man hath greater love…….”


  8. Dano March 29, 2017 2:27 pm

    That’s former ‘Hawaii offensive lineman’ and current Kaua’i mayor, Bernard Carvalho. One of coach Tomey’s finest OL’s.


  9. Warrior Dave March 29, 2017 3:20 pm

    Such an act of bravery. I salute you and your Ohana Shannon for sacrificing yourself to help a young boy. Never to be forgotten.


  10. Akamai Okole March 29, 2017 4:21 pm

    Great Afternoon All!

    A sad remembrance for Warrior football…but a reminder that sometimes being a Warrior goes beyond the stripes on the field.

    Aloha Mr. Smith.

    Das it


  11. DaveLetterMan March 29, 2017 4:24 pm

    Howzit Tsaikos!
    Shannon, a true warrior, may he RIP.
    Saw this on twitter:
    https://twitter.com/stephentsai/status/847178910009663488


  12. cappie the dog March 29, 2017 6:52 pm

    I remember ESPN devoted a pretty good amount of minutes to the Shannon Smith story.

    Did the timeline with his photo and the fade-out to commercial.

    Classy job.


  13. Haoaa March 29, 2017 6:58 pm

    I remember this news from, wow, 20 years ago. Time passes so quickly and yet for the Smith family the memories of their beloved one will never fade. It is very good that coach and the mayor will not let the memory of Shannon Smith fade from wider public memory as well. May the continued success of the Warriors be a tribute to their Warrior ohana like Shannon Smith. Much love and aloha to the Smith family in Kauai.


  14. Stephen Tsai March 30, 2017 11:15 am

    New post: http://hawaiiwarriorworld.com/?p=42557


Comments are closed.