Honest Abe
If Abraham Elimimian joins the UH coaching staff — and signs point that way — then it will be the latest in an odds-defying life for the former Warrior cornerback.
Born in Nigeria and raised in South Central Los Angeles, Elimimian lived by the family code that emphasized faith, education and hard work.
UH’s 2000 recruiting class was widely praised for the number of top local players, including quarterback Timmy Chang. (Chad Owens joined as a walk-on that year.) As the story goes, a cornerback went elsewhere, opening a scholarship. Associate head coach George Lumpkin offered the scholarship to Elimimian.
While his close friend, Kelvin Millhouse, and others received more pub, Elimimian used his self-styled underdog status as motivation. He started 49 of a possible 50 games during his UH career, and was named an All-WAC cornerback after leading the league and finishing 16th nationally in interceptions as a senior in 2004.
After exhausting his pursuit of a pro career — he signed free-agent contracts with the Bears and Chargers — he focused on a coaching career. That meant returning to his alma mater, Crenshaw High, where he coached the defense. From there, he was a GA at SMU and Washington State before joining Simon Fraser, an NCAA Division II school in British Columbia, as defensive coordinator.
Elimimian is smart, loyal, honest, competitive and, most significant, a UH graduate.
morning u all… there..in Hawaii a nEI….
Great News!
Ditto. Great news. Things are certainly looking up.
Holomua Abe!!!–I hope they did the right thing and gave him a decent salary.
Welcome home, Abe Eliminian. Great to have a former UH player and up and coming coach on staff.
Also, a welcome to new assistant Jake Cookus.
Good luck, Abe. It’s a win-win situation for him and UH.
very nice hire.
hopefully Abe will be here for a long time. eventually moving up the staff and bringing over his former teammate Keith Bhonapha.
I do not know if Chow or the new DC recruited Abe back to Hawaii, but it is a point in the right direction of hiring EXPERIENCED coaches – Chow saw the light?
I have more confidence with the new coaches that UH may do well in 2015 and even make it to the Hawaii Bowl – for sure, A-House ohana ill attend!
probably Mason since Abe coached under him as SMU
GOOD MORNING, HAWAII!
#8 A-House Ohana means that they will attend whether they are well or sick.
Abe sure could tackle.
The staff is shaping up to be the best, on paper, that it’s been the past several years. I’ve often wondered why Chow was unable to assemble a quality staff from all those contacts that dotted his long career.
I know my boy Vince Sides, was one of several coaches, who got coach Lumpkin to recruit him..
Welcome home Abe!
Re SteveM’s question about AL’s birdie and moneys going to UHF Athletics,
the donor gave (present day value) $900K a couple of years ago to benefit Wahine softball, basketball and volleyball.
The latest donation of $1.1M would be for all UH Athletics including band and men’s sports be it football or even tennis!
Donor got irritated by some of the so-called UH supporters who won’t give until we either have a 11-0 season, or get rid of certain UH Athletic personnel – janitors? Opined that it was short-sighted.
That makes three coaches on our staff that came through June Jones Coaching Tree– Gouveia, Elimimian, and Tom Mason. June got his first coaching job from Tomey. Together, Tomey, Wagner, and June have produced a lot of coaches that either coached on their staff or played for them or both. Lots of players from Hawaii or from UH for a small program.
Best case scenario is Baileys offense carries over from his recent success and we win 7 games this year averaging 30 a game. Big goals but that would be my best case scenario and Bailey takes over HC when Norm contract expires. Similar to Belotti at Oregon when Chip brought some excitement to that team.
For all I know, Bailey could turn out to be another bust, but the scenario is what I’m hoping for. More 4 wide, maybe even split Unga out at wr or slot in certain packages of we Herr right match ups
#5. With the hiring of Abe and Jake Cookus, plus the hiring of a DL coach,
that will be 5 coaches on the Def/S.T.
That means one of the Off. guys will be/have been let go, as the previous blogs
have noted.
Now, gotta hire one hellava DL coach, and our coaching staff is shaping up.
Jeezy–I agree that 7 wins would be an up-hill climb–but still one, that could be attainable. I would like to see how the coaching staff comes together, as they are some really nice individual pieces in place, that blend an appropriate amount of young and old. Moses, Naeole, Ola and now Abe are very serviceable, and represent a real nice nucleus of position coaches.
From a player perspective, I do want see how we fare at wide-out and dbs….if that is solidified, well, 7 wins is a legitimate goal.
Al, because he reached back to his BYU/Utah roots. Having an 8-29 record opens the door wider to one’s view.
Guud Morning Tsaikos…bootiful day.
Welcome Home Abe!
read somewhere Auburn football lost $13.7…huh?
#15 Tempmanoa, I noted the same thing.
Several newly hired coaches have come from JJ.
I wonder if JJ recommended them to Chow.
18. 7 wins is very realistic given our schedule.. Yeah we won’t best Ohio or Wisconsin but other games are very winnable..
No matter how many wins, I don’t want chow being extended. There is 0 structure, identity, and sustainability under his lead so far. Bailey and mason need to be home run hires or we start over from scratch and re build all over..
Really like the staff so far. I do like a bunch of incoming talent for many reasons. Clearly this donor who is disgusted with the thought of withholding donations. Makes no sense so I applaud this…..I for one will look to double my own. Go Warriors!!!$
The signings are nice… but be careful getting too excited.
Most likely 1 year hires with the chance to audition for next HC if they succeed
Elimimian was a terrific player for UH. JJ and his staff had a knack for recruiting good players who were overlooked or lightly regarded by other schools. They built a winning program with these players, something Chow and his staff has been unable to achieve. First thing JJ did when he became the head coach was to rehire Lumpkin and re establish local ties, exact opposite of what Chow did. Finally, after three disastrous seasons, Chow is beginning to do what he should have done from the beginning. Too little, too late?
I can only assume that comment #24 was somewhat geared toward my comment. If the offense can produce 21-28 points per game, it will net a 6 or 7 win year. That will result in the completion of a 5 year agreement. At that point, there will be some sort of succession plan. Winning cures all ills!!! I will continue my optimism till dirt covers my face!!!! Go Warriors
Great to see Abe back on the Warriors’ side. Passion, skill and Manoa roots are a big plus. Let’s hope we can put it all together this year!
GO WARRIORS!!!
aloha everyone and welcome home Abraham Elimimian to the coaching staff !!
Can these new hires recruit? We need recruiters now that we’ve lost Powell.
Its about time.
they need to take a test about recruiting and pass it !! they should be fine or maybe better
I wish some of the bloggers would just appreciate the new hires and stop making remarks about coach Chow saying it’s about time he did this and should have done that sooner. Grow up and support the team and stay with the subject!
Amelas way or the highway
tom #10:
yes Sir! come rain or shine, we will be there!
this would be a great 2015 Christmas present to all of us!!!
So, Tom, are you the million dollar donor?
If so, kudos to you.
If everyone would donate $50 to the program, just think what that would do to a moribund department.
Recruiting?? Here is how I would handle recruiting, I put Ola Goveia out there with both his national championship and superbowl rings, into the living rooms with the recruits and their parents. If they hesitate and pause, I takeʻem out in the yard and then I introduce them to bruddha Chris Naeole–pau, they goin sign after dat.
#34 – $100 donor. I wish I had those 4 extra zeros! Maybe if I go to California and get a lottery ticket!
Amela, your comments above are strongly supported by this writer. You have every right to voice your beliefs. Imua Na Koa Anuenue.
#15: I might be having a senior moment, but can you tell me the connection between Jones and Gouveia?
#17: I’m guessing they’re done hiring coaches unless someone else leaves. Perhaps, the DL responsibilities might fall on Elimimian, Cookus or … Mason? Maybe Stephen can enlighten us?
38. clyde February 18, 2015 at 12:33 pm
While he was here, Jones talked Gouveia into enrolling at UH,
and hired him as a student assistant, for a year or two.
Not sure if Gouveia was with the Chargers at the same time as Jones.
Re: DL coach – my feeling is that one will be hired.
38…Gouveia was the student manager 2003-2004 under HC June jones.
JJ was the interim HC in 1998 with the SD chargers. This was also Gouveia’s last year in the NFL also with the Chargers.
Welcome back to Hawaii, Abraham Elimimian!
#31 Amela
RIGHT ON!
41. Mahalo.
41. al February 18, 2015 at 12:52 pm
JJ was the interim HC in 1998 with the SD chargers. This was also Gouveia’s last year in the NFL also with the Chargers.
Bailey has a great offense– what we need. In the MWC,you need a big play, long ball, long run offense and the better teams have this. To defend these teams, you need a gambling, blitzing (blitzing a lot more than Chow likes) team with deep protection, because otherwise the big play offenses with three or four receivers cannot be defended and defenses need to attack to defend and force turnovers. So I hope Bailey and and Mason can bring this to the team.
#35 Boolakanaka
Gouveia and Naeole double teaming recruits is a great image. Love it.
On paper this looks like it could be a good coaching staff. Hind sight being 20/20 it just shows what Norm’s first coaching staff was like. My opinion is that he just wanted guys he could have total control over. Hopefully this is an “indication” that he is learning that a good HC let’s his assistants do their jobs and hopefully this coaching staff can get the most out of the players. I forgot what publication it was I read but UH’s recruiting class was 127 out of 128 D1 schools; 128 being Alabama -Birmingham which shut down their program.
I’m with you Amela! These are amazing hires especially considering the timing and how much UH can offer. I’m suddenly feeling a lot better about the upcoming season. I’m really looking forward to seeing what Bailey can bring to the offense. Abe would really add a lot. We need alumni on the staff.
I talked to someone that knows someone close to the football program that says Norm has the ability to get great assistants. The reason he hasn’t is that UH can’t afford them. But then again, we should have known that.
amela #31:
I personally like the new hires, but unsure if I can stop making remarks about Chow.
I do support the team in many, many ways as well as the “non-revenue” sports at UH.
Perhaps, I’m beyond growing up as I near the 3/4 century mark and I was told that football was one of 5 words we thrive on on this blog! am I missing what you mean by “stay with the subject”?
It’s nice to have some optimism with a new coaching staff…Sometimes, “coaching-up” can be more effective than having 4 star recruits with poor coaching. I believe we have enough talent and ingredients on the team to be successful, but it will take good coaching to achieve the maximum potential from our players. I just hope Chow allows his assistants to “lead” their areas of responsibility and concentrate on being the HC.
On another note, is there any indication who will be our PK for next year??? Are we still trying to get one?? I’m sure we’ll need a good one if we plan on winning close games…
Spot on A-House….the term ‘my way or the highway’ is just what sum people like to use…that just like to control ..n be autocratic….to have said ‘please’ would have been more palatable…if you allow me to slide a few words in edgewise…
FRED VON APPEN….. my way or highway…. type of person
The new Taxi Driver now….. ditto…. 1 term n out…
Charlie Weiss…..ditto….ditto…..
Some are very good at that….being forceful n autocratic…Vince Lombardi….Bobby Knight….comes to mind….
See folks…takes all types to make things work sum times…n trying to control sumones speech…on blogs is not the way to go…this is 4 FUN…there are rules…there is a moderator…lets try our best to follow the 5 F’s…
Best go have a beer… take ur medication…n be cool like FJ..N OLD YOBO…now those 2 know how to have fun..n I am sure enjoy posting…I know I enjoy their negative posts most of the time…(if u 2 young 4 medication….you can have sum of mine) he he he
Thanks all for the info on the Gouveia/Jones connection. I had forgotten about his student-assistant work here; did not know he was with the Chargers when Jones was there. Got to know Gouveia a little while he was in high school. It was nice following his college and NFL career, and glad that he’s come full circle.
31.
Hawaii chooses to play sub-.500 ball by scheduling unwinnable games.
Norm Chow is doing a SLIGHTLY better job than people realize.
Too bad New Mexico State bowed out last season. Playing at Rice was tough.
Yeah! How come Fei Jei and Old Yobo didn’t chime in on Amela’s post?
She caught them napping?
Amela………………….. You Go Girl ! (;-0)
I still have elimimian’s #37 green jersey to wear this season.
HE HE HE…. yes ur right…Mr. Beans… me thinks they are sleep to much…FJ…n OY…maybe have to make deductions their pay envelope huh…he he he
Your name is sort of remind me of Manju….here in Manila have only one Japanese bakery that makes Manju… n one other that makes it …but calls it Mr. Beans…cuz is the same…just they decorate it with chocolate….with a smiley face n call it…..Mr.Beans…. quite delicious…5aste as good as the ones made in Kona…. by Kona Bakery…
Hope me not get reprimanded for talking food…he he he
No post from FJ…wala-wala…
was Jake Cookus fired from Montana?
Re-Bird watch
The best deciphering of birdie chirp is when you solve whats being said.
Al, Tom wrote clues of an impending donation to UH Atheletics.
JB?
If yes. This is very charitable from one’s heart, deserving of all acknowledgement…because it benefits the kids and may inspire others to follow his lead.
WOW…. did not realize Justin Bieber was so closely associated with the UHAD there down in the quarry….must be one of BJ’s silent supporters for the program
he rustled up….
These coaches, new and returning, will have their work cut out for them. Hopefully on Offense as new OC Don Bailey put it, finding schemes to match the personnel.
Here’s how the MWC fared out of 128 D1 teams by 247 Sports by by CBSSports. UAB was ranked at 128 as they dropped their program…Boise State at 56, surprisingly San Jose State at 57, San Diego State at 66, Fresno State at 83,Utah State at 100, Wyoming at 104, UNLV at 109, Nevada at 116, Colorado State at 118, UH at 121, and Air Force at 124.
It’s going to take a lot of good coaching for us to have a successful season.
http://247sports.com/Season/2015-Football/CompositeTeamRankings
Nah, it was the old mamasan from Airrang who donated her life savings….
I like all four of the recent hires they are either an upgrade or at least on the same level as the previous coaches who left…If Coach Chow had aassembled a staff like this in the beginning I feel we might have won a few more games
# 60
San Jose offense high rank surprising?
I was at the SJS game and I was impressed by their offense. They moved the ball up and down the field. Just didn’t score. Our defense came up with a few plays at critical times to thwart them. But the outcome could have been very different. The energy from the UH fans there made the difference. It gave our boys energy and determination. It was worth the money and time to make the trip to see the big smiles on the players faces after the game. Harding and Pu’u Robinson faces were lit up while posing for some fans requesting pics after the game. Heart warming.
Does anyone know when we should expect the full schedule with game dates for this coming season to be published?
San Jose DB coach is recognized in Sports Illustrated as one of the top recruiters in the college football. Said to have brought in 18-22 players in this recruiting class alone. Sheesh. SI also pointed out he probably won’t be there long.
Don’t tell the UH football players who defeated Michigan State
that this team doesn’t have a chance to beat Wisconsin and Ohio State.
That’s what the enemy in any combat situation wants you to believe.
Ask Chad Owens.
No Fear!
Go Bow Warriors!
another Marcus – to – Philly article …
http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/report-eagles-will-do-whatever-it-takes-to-land-marcus-mariota/ar-BBhIQ33
Great Evening All!
Catching my bret from the Duke in ova UNC. Wattagame!
GO BASEBOWS!
Wow! Wea Hofstra got their unis? Amar Sporting Goods? 😆
😉
Even Pops stay talking about dem now.
#64 “BEANS” … I was there as well. Know what you mean as SJSU “owned” us between the 20’s … Luckily those 20 yds to the goal line we were able to win.
The “bummer” these days is that they don’t sell beer anymore at Spartan Stadium.
#17 “ai-eee-soos” … unfortunately the “odd man out” is QB Coach Jordan Wynn. He’s cleaned out his office and has headed back home to San Diego
808WF
Yeah I missed the beers too although I topped off with the bottomless cup at the Pre game rally. Another thing that was strange is that I believe my 45 yd, 15 or 16 row tickets were $15. or was that the price of the SDSU tickets?
#73, the sad fact is that Wynn should never have been put in that position to begin with. The fiasco with Price and paying that guy $200k to leave forced Chow to swallow hard and put in someone without having to pay more money. Someone else here mentioned that Chow can get good assistants if not for the low pay. That ranks as one the weakest excuses as JJ and even Mac had good assistants (probably way better as a group than anything Chow has been able to assemble). The new hires seems to be good ones, but let’s not forget that he released every one of the good assistants from the previous regime.
Though I’m not happy wit the record we had the last 3yrs, I don’t think u can question chows work ethic. Pushing 70 or so n still in doing 12 hr days. I think his philosophy takes time to build n at least he sticks to it determined. Ya maybe he isn’t a HC n better at jus coordinator, but the effort is there. His structure is there, n everything seems to b falling better into place. Can’t put everything on him. Our facilities r not up to par, no money, far from 95% or more from the kids families, etc. Big diff from the 80s,90s, n now on recruiting. Seriously 10-20yrs ago Hawaii kids weren’t recruited to texas tech, Baylor, etc. Now they r. As for the staff, well not his fault can’t pay big money. I don’t think too many would turn down double to stay here even if we were winning. JJ wouldn’t succeed here if he came back. Diff times. Everyone pretty much sees a run n shoot version offense. So let’s jus hope for the best. He doing the best he can. We see if his best shows more next yr. If not, then we pushum for change.
Best Wishes and Healing Prayers to Jeremy Ioane and Family.
# 73. mahalo.
73. 808WarriorFan February 18, 2015 at 7:38 pm
#17 “ai-eee-soos” … unfortunately the “odd man out” is QB Coach Jordan Wynn. He’s cleaned out his office and has headed back home to San Diego
0-3 Hofsta, bottom 6, bows on the corners one out.
Make that 2 outs.
Top 7
#32, the subject IS UH football, right? It is about all the assistant’s who’ve packed their bags and left and their replacements and how this impacts UH football. Well, all this impact is Chow’s doing, no denying that and if you’re a real supporter, you would realize that UH football right now is all about Chow and what should be done about it.
Eh D1, they just quoted you on the game!!
Eh you guys, no make fun…look like buff & blue to me…hehe
Welcome back, Abe!!
RE: Akamai Okole #70
I think so. Looks like makule league jeresys.
Top8 still 0-3
Bottom 8 GO BOWS! 2 down 1 run scores man on 3rd.
Wild pitch 3-2
Full count
Top9
Nice catch Aliviado! 1 down. Now 2 down.
Wow nice catch again. Home Team is Up. Ok Rally Cap time!
Lead off single. Pinch runner.
Bunt error. 1st and 2nd no outs
Bunt single bases loaded….Cheee!
bottom 9th full base no outs !!
0-2
One down on 3 curve balls
strike out
Weeks pinch hitter
I believe that most blogger would like to see the football team succeed this coming year and also believe that there is a real chance that they will. So how about the nay slayers hold off until about the 6th game before making a judgement. Give em chance to see if there is improvement. If there is no appreciative improvement then weigh in again. But until then……………let’s sound like we got their backs. What do you think?
Double up. Dang it
ground ball duble play 3 out UH lose 3-2
Trap is P’d. Bases loaded no outs but cannot produce. Ouch.
Weeks pinch hitter 0-4 against the Ducks. Best one to put in there?
yup we all like see uh do good !! but for 2 1/2 year s hawaii style of play was to slow to keep and get the fans in the seats !! at the end of last year there was some hope !! once chow showed that he can smile and enjoy da game that he loves !! kind started to change the team for the better !! so let hope all this new coach can help out and make that you want to be there !!
I hope for at least 7 wins for the Rainbow Warriors with wins against Nevada and Colorado, plus 5 likely wins. Since coach Chow has not beaten a MWC team with more than 2 conference wins f0r that season, I think beating one MWC that ends the 2015 season with a winning (or tie) conference record would be a pretty good measure of program success.
Team (2014 Win-Loss): Location – 2015 Prediction
San Diego State (5W-3L): Home – Loss
Fresno State (5W-3L): Home – Loss
Nevada (4W-4L): Away – Win?
San Jose State (2W-6L): Home – Win
UNLV (1W-7L): Away – Win
Boise State (7W-1L): Away – Loss
Air Force (5W-3L): Home – Loss
New Mexico (2W-6L): Away – Win
Colorado 2W-10L (6th of 6 in PAC12-South): Home – Win?
Ohio State 11W-1L (1st of 7 in Big 10-East): Away – Loss
UC Davis 2W-9L (13th of 13 in Big Sky Div 1-AA): Home – Win
Wisconsin 10W-2L (1st of 7 in Big 10-West): Away – Loss
Louisiana-Monroe 4W-8L (7th of 11 in Sun Belt): Home – Win
Like ur work ethic…one season…he he he make my predictions easier…
Me ONLY SEE 3 LOSSES….n maybe an upset win over OSU or the badgers…
Boise state is winnable…if they are working on all cylinders…
Me know they can win 9…me think after spring ball…we will see very major improvements in all aspects of the game…that is my hope ne way…
PIPE DREAM…..WISHFUL THINKING…POSITIVE THINKING…
OR PUPULE…
Me thinks the positive vibes from the new hires…will not only rub off on the players…but will accept n buy in….sumthing me thinks was so very sorely lacking his prior years….N WITH A NEW AD IN PLACE…. n no negative vibes coming out of his office once a month…like the past year….we will see attitudes change…finally 4 the better…ME will not say at end of season…chow should go… just hope he will gracefully retire….
very well said st. anthony trojan let him go out with a hopeful bang !! and go out a winner and enjoy life and join us and comment on ST football boggs !! lol
Feeling a little better that Norman Okimoto is now on AD selection committee.
http://www.hawaii.edu/news/article.php?aId=7025
hitman… u have ne idea…what we should christain him with….i mean what name should he use on here…surely al…will have a good suggestion… n you to…he he he
for me he should be…3-n-out…he he he
me should offer a prize for best name… but FJ N OY no CAN ENTER…HE HE HE
Im not a norm chow fan, but I like the hires. I think he can take UH to a bowl game.
st. anthony trojan how :winsomesoon or staddypunt , lastear lol but 3-n-out is good one !! lmao
well really not good to make fun the man… but not malicious…. more of a ‘roast’ type
and in good jest…it is good at times to have sum levity….to serious n get heart attack…he he he…well me head for bed now…tc you all..hope all have a good nite…
so true !! more just to past the time away to next season !! we all what to see UH and chow do good and then chow ride off into the sunset !! end enjoy the game called life !!
In addition to his alma mater Crenshaw HS, hopefully Abe can also build recruiting ties with the more successful HS programs (Dorsey HS, Carson HS, Narbonne HS, etc.) from South Central and the South Bay……as well as Long Beach.
If coach Chow leads UH to a bowl game this year, I would want the entire staff to be retained for the last year of his existing contract. And if they “shock the world” once of twice during the two years, then consider an extension. While a bowl game this year would, IMO, just bring the program back to where it was before Mack was fired, I wouldn’t want to risk another 3-4 years of “building” a program unless a “sure thing” head coach could be hired.
Kapakahi–Back in the day, we had a large footprint in LA–with at least a dozen or so players, every year coming out of the LA basin. Carl Kennybrew,Daryl Ursery, Anthony Edgar, ML Johnson, Vernon Gearring, Vince Sides… are just a few of the LA boys….
New post: http://hawaiiwarriorworld.com/?p=28025