Warrior Beat

A day after delivering the hits in a fully padded workout, the Warriors were back in “shells” — shoulder pads and shorts — for Thursday’s sixth practice of training camp. The focus was in the middle, where true sophomore Solo Vaipulu was the center with the No. 1 offense. Vaipulu, who started all 14 games at right guard in 2018, is filling in for Kohl Levao, who is expected to miss most of the remaining days of training camp with […]

Today’s first fully padded practice meant anyone who did not throw or kick a football was a target. “It was exciting,” nickelback Eugene Ford said of the two full-contact, 11-on-11 sessions. “All that tagging off (in limited-contact practices), we’re not used to that. We play football in full pads. It gives us a good feel of what it’s going to be like in a game.” The defense set the tone — and imprint — early. On the first play of […]

For today’s practice, the Warriors donned shoulder pads for the first time in training camp. That meant an escalation in contact during 11-on-11 situational drills. “It gave us a little taste of what football’s like,” quarterback Cole McDonald said of the two-hour practice on UH’s grass field. During the team segments, the Warriors worked on situations, such as third-down plays with varying lines to gain. McDonald made two highlight-worthy plays. He teamed with Jason-Matthew Sharsh on an 85-yard touchdown. On […]

The basketball player who sank “The Shot” to win the 1987 NCAA Tournament — Indiana’s Keith Smart — attended the Rainbow Warriors’ football practice this morning on UH’s grass fields. Smart’s son, Jared Smart, has been the No. 1 left wideout in the first three practices of training camp. The elder Smart is now an assistant coach with the New York Knicks. * * * * * In an homage to Crane Park hoops, the Warriors’ final session today featured […]

For the second day of training camp, the Warriors again ran a double huddle. This time, the experienced quarterbacks — Cole McDonald, Chevan Cordeiro and Justin Uahinui — were grouped together. Kamali‘i Akina, a transfer from College of San Mateo, and freshmen Boone Abbott and Zach Daniel were in the second group. It was a good strategy. McDonald, Cordeiro and Uahinui are far enough ahead they can focus on their timing and getting prepared for the season. The younger quarterbacks […]

The first day of the Warriors’ training camp is in the book. Of note: > During passing drills, the Warriors ran two sections: Cole McDonald was leading one group, Chevan Cordeiro was guiding the other. McDonald, as expected, is — at this very second — the No. 1 QB. No surprise, of course, given his breakout 2018 season and his selection representing UH at the recent Mountain West Media Days. Cordeiro worked mostly with the younger receivers. Sometimes they did […]

HENDERSON, NEV. >> A bowl-eligible Hawaii football team will be guaranteed a berth in the Hawaii Bowl, confirmed Bret Gilliland, the deputy commissioner of the Mountain West Conference. The exception would be if the Warriors were invited to a New Year’s bowl or, beginning next year, the new bowl in Los Angeles. That bowl, which will be played in the stadium being built for the Los Angles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers, has the first choice among Mountain West teams. […]

HENDERSON, NEV. >> The media spoke, predicting the Hawaii football team would place fourth in the Mountain West’s six-team West Division. And then head coach Nick Rolovich appealed to a greater source — Samina, a Las Vegas-based tarot-card reader. Samina was Rolovich’s guest at opening day of the Mountain West Media Days in Henderson, Nev. In previous years, Rolovich brought Elvis Presley and Britney Spears impersonators. Despite returning a conference-high 18 starters and earning a first-place vote, the Warriors were […]