Warriors hit Vegas
Offensive lineman Ben Clarke and quarterback Max Wittek arrived in Vegas this morning ahead of the Mountain West Conference’s football media days. Head coach Norm Chow is due to arrive this afternoon.
They will represent the Warriors tomorrow in a full schedule of television, print, radio and online interviews.
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Kicker Mauro Bondi, who was primarily a kickoff specialist at Nebraska, announced on Instagram that he decided to transfer to UH.
Last year, 15 of his 34 kickoffs were touchbacks. In 2013, 48 of 77 were touchbacks.
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First!
Represent UoH well in Vegas! Enjoy!, but not too much we have a season to get through.
are both of age to gamble – bet on UH and take the points from Ohio State!!!
Morning Tsaikos!
Watch your mailboxes. Some tix coming out today.
Have a great one.
Go Warriors!
Best of luck to you all in LV. When might the new uniforms be unveiled. And any updates on expected arrivals?
50 yard line seats at the Hawaii-UNLV road game this Nov. 7
Behind our Warrior bench.
Come sit with 300+ Hawaii fans this year; including former players & the families of current players.
Ticket price is $55 (UH office is $60).
tomkitaguchi@yahoo.com or text me at 415-324-0585.
Section 107. See:
https://seatgeek.com/hawaii-warriors-at … m/2538810/
ST: Does that mean Mr Bondi needs to sit out this year to play in 2016?
https://seatgeek.com/hawaii-warriors-at-unlv-rebels-football-tickets/ncaa-football/2015-11-07-3-pm/2538810/
Looks like the kicker graduated and will have one year to play. He’s already been at Nebraska for 4 years so redshirting would end his career. Only did kickoffs, starting kicker last year was a freshman.
I wonder if he’s going on scholie or will be a walk on. If he can help the field position game I’m all for it. Good luck to the Bows in Vegas.
Bondi can play right away.
He said he earned his degree.
http://www.huskers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=205097785 Honor roll athlete.
He had decided to come here a while ago, but the holdup was finding a post-graduate field. I guess he found one.
If a reason was stated I missed it…Why was Wittek selected and not a player who has played in a game as a Warrior?
Thanks ST and turfwar. Big leg reduces potential for big returns…
3-Prong…hehe
Just noticed that July has 2 full moons. Not sure if it’s a precursor for a cause of epic proportions of an unnatural occurrence. Or just another excuse for lunatics.
Any chance the MWC media day will be held in Hawaii?
13. Because this isn’t high school or pop warner. Wittek is the QB chosen to lead this team. Chow better be getting this right though.
2-prong or 3-prong, looks like your avatar has the fingers cut off. Just need the blood. 😆
jeezy33, what does high school or pop warner have to do with this? So your answer was the reason?
I think Ben Clarke, especially since being named to the Lombardi watch list, is a great role model that can sell the Warrior program to prospective recruits. Same for Max Wittek who has high visibility and was named to the Mountain West Conference’s first ream by Phil Steele. Max’s success will only bring wider visibility to the Warrior program.
Media Days first 8 days till training camp. Looks to be a very interesting week or so. Here is to good things happening in the next week!!!
jimmy the lock: don’t be daft. wittek is the starting quarterback for UH and the biggest, most well known name on the UH roster and probably the player who has the most interesting back story (to the national media) in terms of football experiences. he’s also a team captain, i believe. that’s probably why he’s going to the media day instead of a random starting corner or receiver who had very little production last season.
I don’t think they should offer a scholarship to Bondi they should save it for someone else, they have enough kickers on schollies.
xerjester, just like Taylor Graham? I’m sure there are many deserving players who played last year. I’m not talking about random corner’s or those with little production.
Just asking, if it was posted somewhere, the reason for Witteks selection.
Some people get so worked up over manini things. Must be the blue moon month.
😆
jimmy the lock says “xerjester, just like Taylor Graham? I’m sure there are many deserving players who played last year.”
yes. taylor graham was also the biggest profile player at UH with a solid pedigree and a pretty recognizable name to the national media on a very terrible UH football team. so yes. just like taylor graham. his performance on the field during the season after media day has nothing to do with the media day interviews itself.
please list the deserving players that have more cachet to the national media than max wittek that’s currently on (a very terrible) the UH football team.
media day is about the media and a narrative. you have ben clarke who is an exceptional lineman and on national awards watch lists. then you have the enigmatic 5 star transfer quarterback from USC that had a tumultuous past during the bizarre and unstable lane kiffin era looking for on-field redemption in his last year of college football. onn paper, he’s probably the best quarterback transfer/recruit UH has ever gotten on a norm chow run team that has had extremely TERRIBLE offensive production and quarterback play.
the ceiling on this guy based on potential alone is extremely high. like, colt brennan high. the floor on this guy, well… it’s not like he could be any worse than the rest of the qbs that UH has had during the norm chow years.
just going off of that, i can’t think of a more compelling regional and national media narrative for UH football from any other player.
xerjester, not disagreeing about name recognition and preseason accolades and pedigree. Last year there was Beau Yap and before that Saui Matagiese. Deserving indeed. Just saying there are deserving players that played last year.
No need read too deep.
If what you wrote is the reason that Wittek was selected then that’s fine.
26. My point is that going to Vegas has nothing to do with paying your dues or how many games you have played. Coaches choose the players who are going to lead the team for this upcoming season. Players seem to have chosen Wittek. Whether or not he will lead this team to Chow’s first winning season is a question to be seen. As far as leadership goes, I don’t see any real leaders that returned from last years team. Last years team captain was Joey Iosefa. Remember what happened to him right? Leadership has nothing to do with how many games you have played.
Ah the excitement to the preseason! Even in these dark days of the Norm Chow era I can’t help but have a sliver of optimism. Bought Hawaii Bowl tickets today. Would not even think of going if UH was not in the game. So I guess UH being in the Hawaii Bowl is where I have placed my preseason bet. Would I be surprised if I was wrong and wind up sitting there alone with my four seats on Dec 24? No not really. But I think we have a chance. I got great seats (well they are great if the home team is playing….if it is anyone else I would rather be at home). So we shall see. Still think the opener with Colorado is a “must win.” If we lose that one and head out to play the big boys….it will not be good….it will not be good.
I think who goes to MWC Media Days is who can present themselves and their team the best.
Good verbal skills = good press = more tickets sold.
Yes – team leadership, team history, player respect, coach respect and a good background story is important, but you gotta sell it – that’s why it’s called Media Days.
Well is the coaches pick… n we all have to remember…who the players pick has no or does it carry ne weight with coach…
Just remember a few short years ago… he picked a captain over the players choice…
Its his choice… same as who his coaches are..he will have to live n die with it…so far many of his choices.. in very many things…have not worked out..
But we are always “chasing championships”….
RUN…RUN…PASS…PUNT…
Hope it changes this year… in spite of him…we will still win 7…
Ben Clark looks like a giant compared to Wittek.
Mctruck….yes he is a giant…just hope him n the rest of his “warriors” can protect
Wittek…there will be others even bigger then him… chasing his QB all over the field…be a long season…just hope he is not to fragile… cuz surely there will be sum sacks..
Vegas!
Planning to attend the UH-UNLV game this year?
email me for inclusion on the Tsai-ko away game party and logistics planner:
http://stevem.altervista.org/away15.html
Well, since media days starts tomorrow, here’s my preseason rankings. Feel free to disagree. 🙂
Mountain Division:
1. Boise State
2. Utah State
3. Colorado State
4. Wyoming
5. Air Force
6. New Mexico
West Division
1. San Diego State
2. Nevada
3. Fresno State
4. San Jose State
5. Hawaii
6. UNLV
Oh, switch UH and SJSU.
Okay, Thanks Shoko. Here are my predictions (slightly biased):
Mountain:
1) Boise St
2) Colorado St
3) Air Force
4) Utah St
5) Wyoming
6) New Mexico
West:
1) Hawaii (OK, you can laugh)
2) Fresno St
3) San Diego St
4) San Jose St
5) Nevada
6) UNLV
“amela” =s Amelia?
thought she left the house a long time ago?
now, this is the start of seeing some heavy duty posts!!!
Hopefully season ticket sales were boosted by the MWC’s recognition of Wittek. The sales numbers generally come out in early to mid-August as I recall.
I wonder if a winning team would translate to a drastic uptick in attendance. I’m sure it would get more “fans” to the game but how long? Jones had winning seasons but did not post attendance numbers like Tomey. We used to sell out the Pro Bowl but have had difficulty doing so in the past few ttimes we had it.
Maybe football to the next generation is not what it is to the past generation.
Maybe the actual pool of those interested in football in general has shrunk and that apathy simply translates in attendance and participation throughout.
You may be hitting the nail on the head. There are more entertainment avenues nowadays and the younger generation maybe aren’t interested in attending or watching sports.
When I see UH volleyball and basketball games on TV most of the fans are older.
Same with the blog, there are hardly, if any, teens or 20-somethings posting.
Disposable $$$’s are used mainly for social entertainment with the young ones.
Winning will tell…hopefully it lights a fire in the UH students.
Ummm, it’s been reported that between Ben Clarke and D. Allen that they only gave up one sack last season. Hard to believe .
Any stats on QB hurries? Scrambles?
Back home for a quick visit with Momo and Mrs. Momo. My wife and kids are having a great time back in Oahu and my girls will get to see Maui for the first time before we go back to the mainland. Just thought I should say “hi” to everybody.
Have a safe trip back…4 you n family…me was born on maui…but probably not recognize it much ne more…
Enjoy ur visit back home..
Great Afternoon All!
Wow! A look in from Garret…long time no read!
Glad you still around. Was wondering everytime I see one of those rockets explode! 😯 😎 😆
Tickets!
Got my season tickets!
The suspense begins…
heheheh
Maddog50,
8 days til camp. Nice.
Anyone got the practice schedule? Did the Blog Host already post it?
The players really like Wittek. So, he’s a captain.
Don Bailey had a lot to say at the Downtown Athletic Club today. He says the offense will be different from the past, we will pass more, make it hard for defenses, and he is the guy who will run the offense– seccond very clear public statement he has made to that effect. Confident and positve guy. I got this from two friends who emailed me because I was on the mainland. Here is a nice brief summary from a blogger who posts on the Warrior Sports Network Ohana site:
http://seaneyman.blogspot.com/2015/07/david-matlin-don-bailey-at-downtown.html
Hey, Garret, nice to hear from you again.
I could be wrong, but I don’t think that practices are open to the public during training camp.
Chow has said Bailey has the autonomy to run the offense.
With all the duties of being a head coach, Chow has been looking for a play-caller for some time. He thought Price would be the answer, but there were problems, and Price was fired.
Jordan Wynn is a bright guy but he’s young, and so play-calling was a collaborative effort.
Because of the injuries and Kirkwood’s departure, the Warriors didn’t have as many passing options last season. If they did, they would have opened it up more. They have more receivers this year, thus, they’ll open it up. But they’ll also run. In this day, every team needs a running attack.
Arrrrrghhhh!!!
Heard Bailey on the radio today. We will see a no huddle offense but quicker. I like that he likes our oline. He knows the importance of having a good oline. One of his priorities at his last stop was to build a good oline. He also likes em big.
Welcome back Garret. Now where is Gigi?
I thought Rigo Sanchez would do the kickoffs ?
ST# 56
I disagree that we didn’t have many passing options last year. We had the receivers however the inefficiency of the play calling and the lack of consistent accuracy of the QB precluded us to show it except in spurts. The talent was there. The TE position was woefully underutilized. Hopefully this year that position will become the go to position, as it should have been last year. Instead of calling plays requiring the QB to hold the ball too long waiting for the longer patterns to develop resulting in throws under duress, we should of tried more short, quick, patterns to the TE to loosen up the defense. Move the chains and extend time of possession to get a rhythm going and give the QB some confidence. Then spread it around. We all know that sometimes you have run to setup the pass and other times pass to setup the run. I think that without Joey this year we are going to see the ball in the air a lot more. Optimistic that Bailey will successfully make it happen with more deceptive patterns. I was at the Colorado game last year and in my opinion, with better play calling we would have won that one. I will be there to see if we are any smarter this year. Win baby!
Hello, Garret and Family!!!
Nice to have you all back home. Enjoy Maui. Last time family visited was in the early 90’s. Airport was so old we had to walk from the plane to the terminal.
Any chance of a quick cattle call?
I am very pleased to see Coach Chow hiring a complete set of experienced coaches. It seems to me that using graduate assistant type guys for play calling, QB, and WR coaching likely puts players at a disadvantage.
If you have solid and consistent QB play, then you have a lot of passing options. Bummers…was really looking forward to watching practice next week.
Maui boy n former trojan..on the move… closer to Hawaii… welcome to the Angels Shane Victorino…
young people don’t seem to want to go to UH games because UH is a commuter school and the marketing for its sports sucks. it also doesn’t help that for the most part, the major UH sports are either terrible or play terrible competition and are boring to watch. why spend 2 hours stuck in traffic and x amount of dollars on parking, tickets, and overpriced low quality concessions and watch UH football play the run and punt offense when you can just go first friday downtown and have drinks at The Manifest and dance to good music?
so it’s a marketing issue, both of the school itself and of its athletics.
I think that UH, like GEICO, should have many marketing strategies.
The basic message seems to be: Come out and support the team.
I think that works for a certain older segment. But I think they should promote whatever fun attending a game offers. After all, attending a game is much more than, well, actually watching the game.
I’ve gone to several major league games, and I haven’t sat through an entire one yet. It’s fun to just walk around, eat, walk around, shop, then eat some more.
If I were marketing UH, I wouldn’t be opposed to promoting the different beers that are sold.
One of the best ideas is AT&T Stadium’s party pass. It’s basically a standing-room-only ticket. If you’re not standing in the first couple rows, you won’t see the game. Well, not live. You can watch it on the all the many big screens, including the one that hovers the field. What the areas do, essentially, is create sports bars. So you’re in the stadium, getting the feel of attending a game, but you’re still watching TV monitors. I think the Cowboys sell about 20,000 of those.
Again, that should be one marketing angle: Come to the game (even if you don’t want to watch the game). When they started cracking down on UH students partying in the parking lot, that’s when student attendance dropped.
This board is already heating up. Enjoyed write-up on Matlin/Bailey. Got my. Rooms for OSU and WI gonna meet up with Mike Biscotti in Columbus-gettin ready for upcoming camp and this Sat 80 guys will play golf and donate to Na Koa as my annual event takes place. Will raffle off over 80 items of Warrior stuff hats tees golf shirts hoodies etc. Iam am excited about the coming days and year!! Go Warriors!!!!
A chance meeting this morning on East Coast standing in Starbucks line next to a guy with a Boise State T Tshirt. I made a comment and he noticed my aloha shirt and we had coffee talking football and who he knew in Hawaii. He was curious as to why we passed up the former Boise State and ASU head coach for Chow and he heard the same rumors we all heard that it had to do with off-field issues at ASU. But he had very good things to say about Bailey, our DC. He comes from a quality program at Idaho State with a good staff that could coach anywhere if they wanted to leave the outdoor life in Idaho. He worries about Boise this year because expectations are high and the quality of teams at the level Boise has been at– specifically Baylor, TCU, Utah, and BYU– is also up or climbing this year.
New post: http://hawaiiwarriorworld.com/?p=32202