Warrior Beat

Every so often, the NCAA does the right thing. And that happened this week when the NCAA approved a waiver that allows Eliki Tanuvasa to play for the Warriors this season. The rule is a player has to redshirt after transferring between NCAA Division I schools. After a semester at Eastern Illinois, an FCS program, Tanuvasa enrolled at UH in January. The NCAA recognized Tanuvasa’s reasoning was legit — he came home to help his ailing father — and granted […]

After every spring practice, receiver Jared Smart runs a go route to the neighboring soccer field where he fields “passes” launched from the JUGS machine. With the sun at an unforgiving angle and the fatigue from a two-hour practice, it is a challenging time for Smart to work on his focus and receiving skills. “You have to put in the extra work,” Smart said. “That’s the path my dad took. I try to do the same things he did. I […]

Kahuku High defensive back Nalu Emerson has signed with the Warriors. Here are the details: > Emerson is 6-1 and 205 pounds. > He graduates from Kahuku in May. > He was named to your favorite newspaper’s 2018 All-State third team. > He projects to compete at safety for the Warriors as player who can play in coverage or mix it up in the box. > “Choosing Hawaii was a no-brainer for me,” Emerson said. “Honestly, I feel they’re on […]

In a spring practice that turned into a mini reunion, five former UH coaches attended today’s 2-hour workout on the grass field. June Jones, who has been in town since the beginning of the year, leaves this weekend for his third season coaching the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League. Dan Morrison, a former UH quarterbacks coach, has been observing spring practice. Morrison has decided not to return to Hamilton this coming season. Former UH coaches Kanani Souza, George […]

Trey Larsen aced a walk-on tryout more than a year ago, earning a slotback’s spot on the Warriors’2018 spring roster. But his work in those practices and the offseason program did not result in a spot on last year’s team. Undaunted, Larsen participated once again in last month’s walk-on tryouts. He initially was not put on the callback list. But this week, he has rejoined the Warriors — as a cornerback. * * * * * The unlikeliest hero — […]

Doug Russell? “No, he’s now Russ,” UH head coach Nick Rolovich said. “He lost the ‘ell.’” Russell looks — and feels — an ‘ell’ of a lot better after dropping 45 pounds from last spring to this spring. Russell, who is 6 feet 5, now weighs 285. “I’m moving a lot better,” said Russell, a defensive tackle/nose tackle. Russell said he has been on a conditioning program for quite a while. “I hit a road block,” he admitted. “I was […]

To the UH football players, it was no surprise when running back Wilbert Haslip was named the team’s 1978 MVP. Haslip was the players’ overwhelming choice despite spending most of that year on crutches. “Even though he missed most of his senior year … we voted him the team MVP at our banquet,” former UH quarterback Jeff Duva said. Last month, Haslip died in Riverside, Calif. He was 62. “Wilbert was a great athlete, a great football player, a great […]

It makes sense that cornerbacks coach Abraham Elimimian would help devise a creative product for the Warriors’ spring practices. After all, Elimimian’s father is a Renaissance Man who authored the “Encyclopedia of World Literature.” Elimimian came up with two clothes attached chest-high to a vest. They serve the same purpose as the flags in flag football, only they are placed in the target area for defensive backs. The cloths have been helpful in teaching proper hand placements during drills. Elimimian […]