Sophomore slumps
Sophomore slumps are real. In sports (Robert Griffin III), on the big screen (“Rocky II”) and music (when’s that second Iggy Azalea album being released?).
And so it is with the UH football program:
Fred vonAppen
> 1996: 2-10
> Offseason: Offensive coordinator Guy Benjamin is reassigned and receivers coach Ken Margerum departs.
> 1997: Warriors open with victories over Minnesota and Cal State Northridge, then lose nine of the final 10.
June Jones
> 1999: 9-4
> Offseason: Defensive coordinator Greg McMackin departs for DC job at Texas Tech
> 2000: Warriors open with four consecutive losses, including to I-AA Portland State, and finish 3-9.
> Greg McMackin
> 2008: 7-7
> Offseason: Offensive line coach Alex Gerke leaves for coaching job at Utah State. Then after the 2009 opener, McMackin shuffles the coaching assignments, with Nick Rolovich and Dave Aranda handed the play-calling duties for offense and defense, respectively.
> 2009: After upsetting Washington State at what is now known as CenturyLink Field, the Warriors lost six in a row. Still, they managed to win four consecutive games after that, including a 24-17 victor over Navy that defined Aranda as skilled defensive coordinator. But the Warriors lost the regular-season finale to Wisconsin to finish at 6-7 and miss the Hawaii Bowl.
Norm Chow
> 2012: 3-9
> Offseason: Aaron Price replaces Tommy Lee as offensive coordinator, but then was released on the eve of the 2013 training camp. Chow and graduate assistant Jordan Wynn handle play-calling duties. Chris Naeole is hired as offensive line coach, replacing Keith Uperesa, who is reassigned to academic coordinator.
> 2013: The Warriors beat Army in the finale to finish at 1-11 and avoid the doughnut.
Yes there is past history of a sophomore slump. But I hoping Rolo remembers this and uses this as motivation for next year and beyond. He’s got to take a good look at himself and staff. Changes need to be made for next year!
It’s weird to think that Northridge used to field a football team.
If things don’t change Hawaii could be the next Northridge
Does vonAppen count as a sophomore slump though? Seems like a slump from the get go if you ask me
There was little difference between Chow and Von Appen…In some ways I liked the Von Appen years better, but not by much.
The Colorado State game this year at home was possibly one of the worst performances I’ve seen by a UH team…We had our butts kicked at our home field and the team didn’t seem to care.
I still believe in Rolo, but change is needed and he needs to make them on BOTH sides of the ball. We need a new DC and possibly, a new OC…We were clearly “outcoached” in some games. At least, Lempa made adjustments at halftime…We didn’t see that this year.
I also believe the team needs some leadership and the players need to step-up. I do believe we need to look at our QB situation, as Drew needs to be more productive/accurate and be a leader. Otherwise, we need to see what our other QBs can do…
Coaching matters. It’s no secret that the good coaches win consistently and big and they hire the best assistant coaches too and they do a great job in recruiting also. You knew Chris Peterson was going to bring UW back to prominence. You felt Craig Bohl would resurrect Wyoming again after his success at North Dakota State and winning all those FCS National Titles. Etc. Etc. At the same time some good coaches get fired too. I think McElwain and Butch Jones are good coaches but it’s dog it dog in the SEC and if you don’t get to the top that’s what happens. Here, Rolo has a very inexperienced coaching staff, a young staff, still trying to go against more experienced coaching staffs who has been at their jobs and recruiting a lot longer. Either Rolo has to bite the bullet with this group or get some new coaches who have more experience. I think getting a mix of more experienced coaches would be good to complement the younger ones. In the end, winning matters too and if you don’t win, you get fired. That’s the way it is. So what is Rolo going to do. As he said in the papers this morning “We’re not making them (plays) happens, either.” It comes down to coaching and talent, you need both. Rolo needs to try new things and experiment to see what works and who can do the job. Give some frosh, redshirt frosh, and sophomores a change to see what they can do under fire and see what they do best.
Coach said he would use more of the “less used players” in the last 2 games which is good.
i just hoped he would have done that the entire season giving underclassmen a ‘ on-the-field ‘ experience and become better players on Saturday nites.
maybe, with the above, it could have helped when players went down with injuries; especially the OL
where to start with the recruiting needs for 2018 and beyond? OL? DL? DBs for sure.
Coach Rolo has a pretty good eye for assistants. Look at the assistants he wanted to bring to UH his first year in Zak Hill (EWU) now at Boise State and Ikaika Malloe (USU) now UW’s D-line coach. Alas, money talks, especially in an expensive State like Hawaii. The low assistant’s salary budget will continue to be a problem until it’s addressed. What happened to the $4 million a year the HTA use to give to the NFL for the Pro Bowl? Coming home sounds good to some local coaches (like Malloe or a Chad Kauhaahaa), but not if you have to struggle financially.
Saw that true freshman Brandon Kipper saw action last Saturday. O-line is really hurting.
The problem is not Rolo, it’s financial. I project Warrior football will fade into history in five years for lack of financial assistance from the state. College football today is big business; very big business and the Power 5 conferences, with support from the NCAA, have created a huge chasm that separates them from everyone else. Hawaii, due to its unique location, cannot easily slide to a FCS conference, so will face extinction because it simply is unable to continue to pay for a D1 coaching staff and an on-campus football stadium. An off-campus site is passe. The fan base that attended Aloha Stadium has aged. Many no longer attend for health reasons. At least UH Athletics will continue, as a member of the Big West, so start thinking volleyball, basketball, baseball, softball, water polo, etc. Hey, last night’s basketball game was exciting.
Andrew:
As I reflect in my old age, vonAppen’s big problem is he changed philosophies. (Well, his big-big problem is he pissed off the governor.)
Like anything, people need to stick to a plan. They need to pick a plan, recruit to the plan and, hopefully, the plan works.
VonAppen had three different OCs and offenses in three years.
Now Chow had a nice plan: Get tall receivers, linemen and corners. But then he essentially had four offensive coordinators and three DCs in four years.
Another problem is the league was pretty tough when Tomey, Wagner and vonAppen coached. Then the eight teams bolted the WAC (with a couple others to follow) at the start of the JJ era. When Chow took over, the Warriors moved into the MW. Now Rolo is in a league that includes CSU, San Diego State, Wyoming, etc. But, hey, ya gotta play what the dealers hands you.
I thought Lempa was a huge loss.
It’s nothing against Suiaunoa.
But it’s like that old local group, The Krush. They lost a lead singer, then promoted a group member to lead. Second guy was as good as the first, but they were a better overall group with both guys.
UH was stronger with both Lempa and Suiaunoa.
I seem to sense that of a subliminal message.
I am good at reading between the lines.
and i agree with it.
…nuff said
We’re about even keeled in talent level w/ most of the MWC opponents faced this year. Heck, coaches, observers, & fans earlier thought our talent level was good enough to compete for the MWC Western Division championship this year.
In my view, where we fell short was not player talent (nor injuries nor effort), but in game planning, scheming, & on the field adjustments, both defensively, offensively, & special teams. In short, we got out-coached in a number of games.
One thing that just sticks out as a sore thumb is our Safety play. We had 2 returnees who had talent & experience there. Yet, coverage in the middle is a horror show and still continues to be. Game planning against us is very simple: “Attack the secondary middle.”
In time, I believe Coach Rolo will get the program on track . At present, though, he’ll need to look hard within himself & his staff, & see what “adjustments” need to be made.
But then of course these two never suffered from sophomore slumps….
Dick Tomey:
Hawaii, 5-6 then 6-5
Arizona, 4-4-3 then 7-4
SJSU, 3-8 then 9-4
Bob Wagner
Hawaii, 5-7 then 9-3
As Coach Tomey said, the fault is not with the players. It’s the coaches. Coaches need to do a better job. They are the ones who recruit these players, they are the ones who coach, teach, motivate, inspire, etc. the players. Like in real life, students need mentoring to be successful to get the best out of them. The same in any sport.
It’s been said all the time. Life is football. Football is life. It teaches some great lessons, but hopefully you don’t get crippled for life, and but it’s is so brutal. People are just taking a beating and getting hurt so much. That’s why I like basketball the best.
Coach’s are first and foremost teachers. A teacher just by conduct and knowledge command respect. Football experience and knowledge are one thing, personality is something else. Every staff needs a “firebrand.” Not just a yeller and screamer but a tough love artist who knows how to “communicate.” Like the great movie about determination and never never give in-Cool Hand Luke-“What we got here is a failure to communicate”. You learn-much better days ahead-In Coach Rolovich I trust! GoWarriors!!!!
Sophomore slumps are what urban legends are made of. If sophomore slumps were real it would bad news for Rolovich since from the examples used only one out of the four coaches survived beyond four years. Most important at this point is to end the season with momentum going into next season.
I think changes need to be made on Special Teams. Am I the only one that thinks special teams took a huge step backward? Maybe it’s not fair since we lost Rigo, but we seem to have the talent to do a better job on kickoff coverage and returns. I don’t know what the exact stats are, but we can be averaging much more than 15 years on kick off returns, while it seems that our opponents get at least one long return every game. Tough when we have to start our drives behind the 20. Special team play is 1/3 of the game. Changes need to be made there too.
“can’t” be averaging.
You get what you pay for. Rolo is one of the lowest Head Coach in the FBS level. That means the assistants, and coordinators also gets paid low too. So how can you attract better coaches? Basically, you have to find a diamond in the rough, or a couple. We can’t even complete with the likes of the service academies who actually pay pretty well. So, maybe the problem is Dave Matlin who is the Head of the Athletic Department who reports to the Chancellor and/or Presidnet of the univeristy. Just saying.
Being a coach or even an assistant/positional coach is beyond my pay-grade.
It maybe that Dru Brown is the best QB – and he does have the most experience – of course when we do not play any of our other QBs, Brown will by default will have the most experience.
Do we play to win using what we believe are our best players? Or do we use not use our “best” players to see what are the potentials of our second/third/fourth string players, now or for the future realizing that they might be a gamble and at the risk of losing the game?
All of this is beyond my paygrade!
Prior day post 18. Tom … How come our screen plays hardly ever work but our opponents’ seem to work all or most of the time ?
9. Most of the Big West schools don’t have football and schools such as Wichita St. and Gonzaga don’t either.
RE: #10
ST — OK, I get it. Changing offense/schemes is dooming. I have been suggesting that Rolo modify his offense to best utilize the abilities of the players he has left. Yes, it’s on the coach.
I accept that key injuries contribute to losses, but do not accept that the remaining players can’t “step up”. If your 2nd/3rd team can’t step up to run certain offensive plays well, maybe you should adjust your offense…yes, coaching sacrilege maybe, but at this point in the season, what have you got to lose?
I know Rolo has the offensive smarts, although I’m not sure about legacy offenses like the I-formation, wishbone, veer, etc. All I see is that Brown and DSJ has 3-5 backups sitting on the bench who are deemed not ready or quite good enough for the current offense.
One thing common with most of the sophomore slumps is coaching changes which is why everyone who is calling for Rolo to get rid of Legi and Smith are out of their minds,How can you expect to build a foundation and continuity when you keep breaking the foundation before it’s built…
It is odd not seeing all the Cal State’s not having football teams. As popular as football is makes it even more strange. I guess it’s to expensive.
Great Afternoon All!
If Julia Child walks into a kitchen and finds that the prior baker only left flour in the cupboard and cold water running in the sink do you claim that she has no originality in any menu of items she presents for dinner?
14shadowado, Totally agree. I count at least 3 games where coaching cost us the win. (Wyoming, Nevada & UCLA) I’m also stumped that we had 2 potential all MWC safeties and possibly the best safety combo in the MWC prior to the start season that played with-in that horrible scheme which made them look like a joke. I know ST will make the injury excuse for those 2 but it really wouldn’t have matters if they were healthy or not, the defensive scheme really made them look bad, or maybe it was the rookie safety coach who didn’t know what he’s doing. Lewis looked like a chicken with his head cut off last game. Rich Miano should have been given that job as safety coach.
You also have guys like A. Barker, Ewaliko, Dru Brown and Collie playing in game breaking positions but no game breaking skills. Just average to below average players in key positions. Ewaliko should been playing defense anyway.
At least we lead the nation in one stat with a chance to set the all time season record – the most 3 and out.
I don’t think what’s been budgeted for coaches’ salaries will allow us to make any kind of serious staff changes. It’s a sad state of affairs when Dave Aranda’s DC salary is equal to the combined salaries of our entire staff Rolo included. Pressure should be put on Matlin to find the money to pay the MWC average for coordinators until this happens what meaningful staff changes can be made? It’s almost better to stand pat and let the coaches grow into their jobs.
hypothetical question of the day……
Do you think Chow would still be here if he had retained Rolo as OC, Aranda as DC and Miano as Associate HC ?
We gotta go back to the pure run n shoot offense again. It’s the only way we’ll win.
No
Notm did Aranda a big favor by letting him move on ( to better things ).
How were MIano’s defenses, like his defensive backs ? I remember some porous defenses.
Meanwhile…
UH UTAH State
56 14 Akamai Okole
21 56 Derek
14 12 Ipu Man
You gotta have heart.
Imua. Spirit.
Go for broke.
I imagine the coaches thought tiny
Chad Owens a tad too small to play.
Give’em the ball and watch him go.
Same with other undersize players.
Play them. Give them a chance.
No fear.
In my own experience, high school coach
thought I was too small and would get
hurt. So when no one else was left after
many injuries and only time for one play,
he put me in…and I ran the ball back on
a punt for 75 yards and nearly made the
winning touch down.
Then, in another game, I must have carried
the entire defensive backfield on my back
in a scrum for nearly seven yards—the radio
announce said I looked like a fire hydrant
out there (amongst bigger players). The reason
I could do that because my summer job was
delivering 100 pound sacks of potatoes on my
back. Coaches don’t know heart of their bench.
Put me in Coach…
Haha!
Fred Von Appen had a freshmen, sophomore and junior slump. If UH kept him after that 0-12 season, he would have had a senior slump as well.
Yes, the college football landscape is changing. If UH cannot keep pace with being competitive and is constantly losing money as an athletic program, will the people of Hawaii be okay without a college football team?
Without football, I think the other athletic programs can survive. It certainly might come to that point one day. But, as of today, there are still many who want to keep football. If it comes to that point, I think the school and the state will exhaust every possible option before they make the decision. At this point, I think there is still interest in keeping college football in Hawaii.
Although, you never know. I thought Island Air would make it through the tough times. After 4.5 years of losses, they called it quits. I used Island Air all the time because of their service of having your bags ready for pick up as soon as you leave the airplane. Now, we have only one inter island airline in Hawaii.
I think other college football programs will fall before UH even considers dropping football.
That 1997 team had a pretty good defence and should have had a much better record that season. Bad coaching wasted the talent the team had that season.
Rolo should reach out to Lee brothers for asst. coach spots. Just a thought.
Not sure this year wasn’t just one of those things. We had an effective offense early but lack of chemistry between Dru and senior receivers was apparent. That hurt when Ursua went down to injury. Secondly, injuries have hurt … ever since the Wyoming game we have been physically beat particularly on the o-line. Our defense showed up at time and has performed better in last two games … unfortunately the offense went flat after the lightning delay. We got rolled in the 8-10 minutes once game restarted in the remaining portion of the second quarter. Just look at stats for that time period … Fresno churned out about 135 yards and UH was a big fat zero. You can call it a lack of focus, but I think we just lack the constructive intensity we had last season. Just look at the energy
Hollis brought to us by standing up and defending the team. That was positive leadership. We need guys on the team who deliver that type of personal energy that inspires the guys when emotions go flat.
The Lee brothers serve Hawaii best by staying at St. Louis and developing the college stars of tomorrow. They did it before and they are doing it again.
Boise State doing well with 2 QB’s, just sayin’.
I wholeheartedly agree with No. 16 Derek comment above – “Former Hawaii football coach Dick Tomey said, the problem is not the players, its the coaches.” He is dammed right!! We have talent, size and Athleticism on this year’s Warrior football team roster, but I can’t say that to Coach Rolovich and his current staff – they all suck!.
After two years, David Matlin (UHAD) cannot fire Rolovich, so I hope Rolo get rid of his “entire staff.”
In addition scrap his playbook of plays. Develop a wide open offense next year.
I believe Dru Brown should be benched in favor of whoever is Quarterback on the Warrior team roster. Their not going to a bowl game, heading for a losing season. With this last two games, bring in the subs and prepare for next year.
Personally I would rather Matlin look for Rolo replacement as well as a new staff for 2018. But that is “FAT CHANCE” that would happen.
The main concern with our defense was obvious prior to the season was our lack in numbers of big DT to rotate. DC had to create pressure with LBs and safety which left DB on an island. Some of the concern on offense is injured OL and WR.
INYOFACE IS RIGHT. As I have said before, UH cannot beat up other teams right now! They gotta finesse em. Maybe we don’t have the right receivers but what do you have to lose. Bobby Curran said it right “with an empty set you gotta get rid of the ball quickly”. Poor Brown cant read his progressions fast enough. If our backups do not give us “the best chance to win” then why did we recreuit them? Gee whiz!
hire the lee brothers ,they have shown how good they are time and time again.
I BELIEVE , SHOULD BE THE MODEL NICK SHOULD PUT BRIAN SMITH ON OLINE COACH AND HAVE RON LEE OC AND CALL LEE DC.JUST MY THOUGHTS.
if UH DL cannot penetrate into the opponents back field, can you expect a trio or more of LBs will be more effective? me tinks not
this strategy gives the QB tons of time to find an open receiver which is not difficult against UH
DBs who may not have the speed and/or coverage ability
have to agree with last sentence in post #48 —- what did the recruiters see in the DBs or any other player to offer scholarships?
if UH is having financial difficulty, why not reduce the number of players on trips to save $$$ — only 11 can play at one time — some may respond that this will be a motivation let down — maybe so, but it can also stimulate some to become better to make the “travel squad” — 40% or more may never see playing time on trips — some may say that the “league” limit is 65 players — does the “league” mandate every team take 65 players? or, leaves it up to the school?
Board of Regents and many other high muck-a-mucker organizations — is the primary qualification for consideration that an applicant be a high muck-a-mucker some where to be an effective regent?
from what I have seen and heard it appears so by decisions by the UH Board of Regents — where is the “foresight” on how to move the UH forward academically and athletically? does a short term or mid-term or long term document exist? are they willing to share for public comment(s)? are they afraid that common folk have more insight and make them look bad?
or, is it like the US Congress who meets in secret sessions to develop a plan to do whatever?
is there any anticipation by football coaches that the 3 St Louis commits will sign on 12/20/2017? or, will there be 4 including the 5′ 11″ 150# WR? slot or WR?
how about the Australian line man?
anyone know reason Freddie Holy (sp) was unused in 2017? injuries? was he not mentioned as a super duper RB when he signed? believe this is his RS-frosh season.
was it the coaching staff silent goal for DSJ to have another 1,000 yards rushing to make him the only UH RB to have consecutive 1,000 yard season?
it will be a tough game at Utah State — a win would make a pre-thanksgiving gift to all UH fans.
I have been more critical of the play calling this year than in all others. The “I’m going to run it until they stop us” mantra is OK, but you have to know when you have been stopped. If the defense is keying on DSJ and you’re still going to run, give him a blocker or two who might carry the ball and confuse the defense…especially when you have solid running backs and mobile QB sitting on the bench. Just sayin…
I support Rolo. I think he is mentally agile in play calling but just has to use his bench more…and maybe borrow some old dusty playbooks. 🙂
BYU – UH rivalry not the same as before 2000
be surprised attendance exceeds 20,000 on 11/25/2017 — see U darre!!!
A-House — I agree, the UH-BYU rivalry is mostly gone. Our generation remembers the days that the stadium was full and everyone was close to fist fights at the tailgates. But when the game was over, everyone was ohana again.
I wonder if a bowl game was available to Hawaii had they not lost to Pacific the week after BYU turned back the Rainbows 13-3?
That 1981 team gets overlooked.
Did Pacific, Cal-State Fullerton, and Long Beach State field Division I-A football teams?
I can’t recall.
Stephen,
Bobby Curran tells of a story when on his show, vonAppen invited callers to offer suggestions on how to improve his team. Talk about not sticking to a plan.
One player I recall was Leon Burns, a big, bruising RB from Long Beach State back in the 70s. Think he played a couple of years in the NFL, was a 1st round draft pick. Sadly, he died too young. LB State, Pacific, and Cal State Fullerton were regulars on UH’s schedule in the 70s and 80s. Pete Carroll got his coaching start at UOP under Chester Caddas after his playing days were over.
http://www.longbeachstate.com/trads/hof/burns-leon.html
I truly hope that UH doesn’t go the way of LB State, UOP, & Cal State Fullerton, but all indications are pointing that way here due a lack of support and interest among the politicians, UH Administrators, and the local public. Old rusty stadium, athletic facilities from the 80s, low coaches salaries, COA stipend that is a joke, the list goes on. I guess there will be a showcase or display with photos, videos, and memorabilia of UH Football in the Sheriff Center put together someday that people and kids can view in the future.
Holy cow, Old School Dave.
I was just satirizing our attorney general.
You’re right.
It’s not out of the realm of possibility.
These are different times than before at UH. You see the rise in rents,housing prices and costs, cost of living, etc .and the rise in the homeless in Hawaii and elsewhere. Hard to return to the attendance in the past.
Unless we get another benefactor to UH football, it will be difficult to fund the program at a high level.
The demise of the LBSU, CSF, and UOP football programs made scheduling non-conference games that much harder. Those teams were willing to travel here and we regularly had 1 or 2 of them as home games every year. Now we have to travel to Massachusetts for non-conference games.
I’ve been a lurker on this site for a while now, at least ten years. I go to the games with a group that has been season ticket holders for thirteen years now (most are gen Xers and two are millennials) . I’ve read of the dissatisfaction for every coach (Head coaches and some position coaches or coordinators) here on this site. There used to be so many more posters back then (around ten years ago) but interest has waned understandably( it will come back just as the attendance will). I just wanted to say that Rolo is the right man for this job. It’s kind of hard to express why but you can tell he has a special affection for the people here, you can see it. He is just in his second year as head coach, so of course he does have a lot of things to learn as we can see. AND remember he is still stuck with Chows players to run his offense ( and defense). He tries so hard to please everyone with his appointments (ex. Suianoa and Yoro etc,) He is like the nice Haole boy that is serious about your daughter and tries so hard to impress you, (not impress but placate maybe) to make you happier and more comfortable but it actually makes things worse. He worries when things go bad because he wants to please so desperately. It’s all because he WANTS to be our FAMILY, you can see that. Watching the Fresno game I seen him placate to the in-laws. I saw Stubblefield get into the game, I saw the “June jones run and shoot” , I saw Timoteo in on non running plays, I saw Tuiasoa in on more plays (though not necessarily touches) and I saw Ewaliko targeted in crucial situations. All of that is nice but in actuality running St. Juste is just as effective as all of that placating (right now). After Ursua and Unga’s injuries Drew Brown’s options are only Collie, then an uncomfortable crapshoot. So sad. But that is only going to be temporary. Timoteo has the fire ( you can see it), Kumoku Noa has something (I can’t explain it but he gets open) you can see it, Greely#87 has something too. Brown maybe doesn’t have THAT something (he did as a JC qb) but he was great when Ursua was a target (he will be a target again next year) and has a full offseason to learn (develop trust in ) the “run and shoot” route tree. I can’t wait for that. Right now his two best offensive players are St Juste and Allen (a good run blocker) so 30 running plays make (made because Allen is out now) sense, it’s best way to keep the game short and close. But the in-laws want the best for their daughter (who wouldn’t) so the son-In-law tries his best, even though he lacks the resources. One day there will be nice grand children from this Haole boy but its all up to us as fans of the program to support this effort (not only of Rolo but of all the coaches and staff). I’m sure there will be a shake-up of the staff but it wont be for the in-laws benefit, it will be for our daughter’s (the program’s) benefit. I cant wait to see Mermea and Doug Russell as 310 pound space eaters, to free up Moala, Choi, and on passing downs a Padello or two. To have Paul Scott helping out Tavai freeing up Mautautia or Santiago to rove and cause havoc. To see Miles Reed with Collie in the slot using Ursua outside or in motion to create mismatches. And seeing Holly and Keliikili use their versatility just as St. Juste and Tuiasoa gives us right now. The future is not as cloudy as everyone thinks and I feel like there will be (one cousin) a local boy or two that will kill it (ex. Nate Jackson, Eddie Klaneski, Chad Owens, Rich Miano) that will steal our hearts because he loves his cousin (the Hawaii program). Watching this program for so long it feels different. like my daughter has a good one this time, I can feel it, can’t you?
Earlier this season I believed the (starters) had the talent level to compete in the MWC a but the dumb penalties and the lack of depth at CB killed them. The CB and LB got shredded by everyone all season. But when they cleaned up the penalties the defense still lacked the ability to stop team from scoring and gave up way to many big plays. Kevin Lempa leaving was a huge loss and with no equal or better replacement the defense had 2 problems a DC that is not ready yet and lack of depth due to hindered mainland and international recruiting overall the past 5 years.
Hawaii can’t rebuild and reload with just very talented Local Boy recruits, it takes a mix of very talented Mainland, International and Local recruits to achieve this. I don’t care what coach you put in place at Hawaii, without a team of very talented recruits (Think June Jones era) the coach can only do so much. Rolo and Chow have a very real disability in overall recruiting with the “Rainbow” in tow.
Playing against MWC competition that landed those mainland recruits that rejected Hawaii Rainbow Warrior. And get stomped by them at Aloha Stadium (Colorado State) has got to feel hopeless for Rolo knowing his starters are very good and the depth chart is lacking against other MWC teams depth charts. You can only out scheme the lack of depth chart talent Rainbow Warriors have by so much until the other teams talent eventually takes over the game and it’s over.
Live Aloha, Play Warrior
Piling on is an old football penalty that accompanied 15 yards. Seems like a lot of that going on. I just wonder what the dialogue might be if we had 3 more wins than we have going into the last two? It was within reach and for many reasons did not happen(Lempa departure, 5 starting lineman no longer with team, injuries and lack of talent and depth at key positions). Coach Rolovich has a grand total of 1 1/2 recruiting classes under his belt. Kipper who probably will start last two Vanderpool Mermea and many others are waiting in the wings along with the 8 commits and several others who will be committing. We are not in dire straits and can compete beginning next year. Yes I’m disappointed, this was a lost opportunity to progress-still two game left and hoping for the best. Does the program need more support–of course, but people like winning and right now that’s not happening-convinced and I mean convinced it will. GoWarriors
Just an addendum to the above post-look at the game notes for this week. 6 of the eleven OFF positions are now backed up by freshman-I think Kipper gets the nod at RT. On defense we have two freshman listed on depth chart. I’m pretty sure that there is a fine line separating several others from getting game experience and being red shirted. In order to build a roster and build a body while getting academically adjusted redshirting is a way to go however painful it may seem. Utah St. roster much like NM relies ar this time on a ton of JC guys and a few transfers. Gotta feel or at least hope we gonna get a real good group this year and hopefully a few eyebrow raisers!!!!!
Wishing UH the best vs USU. Getting wins these last two games would be big and set the tone for the off-season.
There could be more BYU backers (LDS) in Aloha Stadium a week from Saturday. Austin Kafentzis is starting at RB for the injury plagued Cougars. The Cougars are down to their 3rd or 4th team QB, a true freshman (returned missionary). BYU OC Ty Detmer is on the hottest from fans who want him canned, but it’s likely the Sitake will retain him at least for one more season. Just recruiting the best Poly players is proving to not be enough for BYU as many are opting for P5 schools, such as Utah (just like the Kamehameha player Mika Tafua, a former BYU signee, who is now at Utah after finishing his mission).
https://www.vanquishthefoe.com/2017/10/12/16467836/former-4-star-byu-signee-mika-tafua-flips-to-utah-post-mission
Should be that “Ty Detmer is on the HOT SEAT……” Damn auto correct!!!
Morning Tsaikos!
Agree with you Maddog. Seems like everyone wants instant success now days.
It’s time to get the band back together!
JJ/Miano and co. And the Run n shoot!!
#68 Old School Dave-saw BYU last game this freshman QB can play-Critchlow 14 of 22 for 160 and a TD. UNLV moves the ball all over the place but just could not score, BYU won 31-21. Our last few games should be interesting or I sure hope so-
Well, football is just that…a game.
But the game of life is more important.
Teach little kids to be tough.
To be kind to others.
Pick themselves up.
Coach is just another parent.
Honor your parents.
🙂
Well said, Ipu Man. Some are taking this losing streak way too seriously.
Good advice, Ipu Man! Adversity will only make the ones who buy into the program stronger. I suspect there may likely be some roster changes come spring time or sooner for those who’ve checked out.
Ever been so old you feel like you skipped a day.
That’s me.
The new post: http://www.hawaiiwarriorworld.com/?p=45050