Warrior Beat

Expanded coverage of UH football, including practice notes, game analysis, recruiting info and observations on the Mountain West Conference.

About the blog host

Stephen Tsai covers University of Hawaii football for the Star-Advertiser. Follow him on Twitter @StephenTsai and sign up for the Hawaii football newsletter here: http://www.hawaiiwarriorworld.com/email-signup/

Latest news

Warrior Beat: Scheyenne Sanitoa made a lasting impression with Hawaii football

By Stephen Tsai on July 6, 2019

Several years ago, a group of coaches and former players went to American Samoa to bring needed items and provide instruction in football. One of the camp attendees was memorable for his unique first name (it came from his mother’s cousin), his articulate questions, and unabashed joy for life and football. Former UH head coach June Jones, who was part of that group, said that youngster, Scheyenne Sanitoa, made an indelible impression. Sanitoa grew up to be a University of […]

Hawaii men’s basketball back on the court

By Stephen Tsai on July 2, 2019

After a break of about seven weeks or so, the Hawaii basketball team was back on the court yesterday. The NCAA allows members eight hours each week for team activities, of which up to four hours may be spent on the court. This training session runs for about six weeks. > What’s new? As previously reported, Gibson Johnson and Jack Rydquist have been added as graduate managers. Dominic Drury, who was a graduate manager last year, is now the assistant […]

VIDEO: Hawaii football trains with Army at Schofield

By Stephen Tsai on June 30, 2019

Thanks to the 25th Infantry Division, the Warriors had a training session at Schofield Barracks on Saturday. Here’s the story, with a video from Brian McInnis and Dennis Oda, edited by Stanley Lee: Here’s some of the ha’a the 25th ID performed to greet the Rainbow Warriors upon their arrival at Schofield: Army 25th Infantry Division soldiers greeted #HawaiiFB with a ha’a at Schofield. pic.twitter.com/zkgNzDgqDq — Hawaii Warrior World (@hawaiiwworld) June 29, 2019 Some extra photos:

Kicker Matthew Shipley makes 2020 commit to Hawaii football

By Stephen Tsai on June 30, 2019

The Hawaii football team added the fifth oral commitment to the 2020 recruiting class with a pledge from Matthew Shipley of Liberty Hill (Texas) High. Here’s the skinny: > Shipley is 6-1, 175 and in a practice once launched a kick 73 yards. Chris Sailer, who runs elite camps for kickers and punters, said Shipley has 55-plus-yard range and competes well under pressure. > Shipley earned high marks from Sailer, as well as a high rating (fifth nationally in 2020 […]

Hawaii football hits Waikiki Beach for training

By Stephen Tsai on June 28, 2019

The Hawaii football team (and some Rainbow Wahine volleyball players) hit the beach — Queen’s Surf Beach — for the final workouts of this summer session. The workouts included footwork, sprints, obstacle routes and various sprints out of the Pacific Ocean.

College World Series champ Vanderbilt set to host Hawaii baseball in 2020

By Stephen Tsai on June 27, 2019

The 2019 College World Series finalists — champion Vanderbilt and runner-up Michigan — will be heading to a UH baseball calendar. The Rainbow Warriors will play Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tenn., in March in the first year of a home-and-home series. Mike Trapasso said the Commodores initiated the contact. Thirteen Commodores recently were selected in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. In 2021, Michigan is set to visit the ‘Bows for a series at Les Murakami Stadium. The ‘Bows had […]

Hawaii men’s basketball: Brocke Stepteau pursuing music career in NYC

By Stephen Tsai on June 26, 2019

Former Hawaii guard Brocke Stepteau has put his basketball dreams on pause, just for a little bit, while he pursues a music career in New York City. A few months after the release of his album Ascension Stepteau is spending time in the Big Apple as an independent hip-hop artist. In a text to the Warrior Beat, Stepteau wrote: “Working in a studio. I’m an independent artist … which means I’m not signed to a label, so that money I […]

Warrior Beat: Dwain Bradshaw leads Hawaii football’s conditioning program

By Stephen Tsai on June 25, 2019

Early risers might have noticed there’s an added pep to the steps at UH football conditioning drills. Credit goes to the enthusiastic leadership of Dwain Bradshaw, the Rainbow Warriors’ new director of football athletic performance. Bradshaw, who holds degrees from Arizona State and Auburn, has a solid background in football and conditioning. He was a football intern at ASU, his alma mater, in 2014. After that, he was a graduate assistant at Auburn. In 2017, he was a strength/conditioning coach […]