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: Hawaii athletics graduation day

By Stephen Tsai on May 11, 2019

Three former UH basketball players — Sheriff Drammeh, Brocke Stepteau and Jack Purchase — earned degrees today and are ready for the next phase of their lives. Drammeh has reached an agreement with a sports agency in Europe and is expected to play professionally over there. Purchase is headed back to his native Australia to audition for the professional league over there. The free-agent period is coming up. Stepteau is exploring options in basketball and music. He is accompanying Purchase […]

Dick Tomey was a Hawaii football legend

By Stephen Tsai on May 11, 2019

Dick Tomey taught us that football is a microcosm of life … What Division I football meant … The pursuit to Beat BYU … The importance of winning it in the fourth quarter … That there are different ways to measure things, like apples and oranges … That walk-ons matter … The importance of the name Noga … The muddle huddle … Desert Swarm … The four Fs of football, family, food and friends … Failure is another opportunity to […]

Warrior Beat: Hawaii football adds California prep pass rusher Mark Blocker

By Stephen Tsai on May 10, 2019

The top pass rusher from California’s 2A state championship team is joining the Warriors. Mark Blocker of Lawndale High (Inglewood, Calif.) announced it on Twitter this morning and confirmed his decision during an interview with the Warrior Beat today. Here’s the skinny: > Blocker is 6-3, 230 pounds. He played D-end in Lawndale’s 4-3 and outside linebacker in the 3-4. He’s expected to compete at hybrid end for the Warriors. > He attended Downey High in L.A. through his junior […]

Warrior Beat: Hawaii athletics all about the keiki on Thursday

By Stephen Tsai on May 9, 2019

In a state surrounded by water, it’s always refreshing to see UH’s coaches wade into the community to volunteer their time for a worthy cause. Once again, the Rainbow Warriors and Rainbow Wahine helped sell Keiki Day newspapers to raise funds for Parents and Children Together (PACT).

Warrior Beat: Hawaii football gets commit from Kamehameha end

By Stephen Tsai on May 8, 2019

As a birthday present to his mother, Kamehameha’s Ezra Evaimalo announced his oral commitment to accept a 2020 football scholarship from the Rainbow Warriors. “Basically, I tried to pay her back,” Evaimalo told the Warrior Beat today. “It doesn’t add to up what she’s done for me.” Evaimalo, a junior, said he is 6 feet 2 and 225 pounds. He will play a hybrid defensive end/outside linebacker position for Kamehameha during his senior season this fall. As a 2020 recruit, […]

Warrior Beat: Hawaii football graduate assistant impressed

By Stephen Tsai on May 7, 2019

It’s UH’s final-exam week, but Rafael Aguilar already has earned high marks for his football work this spring. Aguilar was hired as a graduate assistant to replace Numi Lolohea, who joined Tennessee as a GA. “We were worried about the timing of losing Numi, but we were really blessed to get Rafael,” defensive coordinator Corey Batoon said. Aguilar coached on both sides of the line at American River College. In 2018, he was ARC’s assistant offensive line coach/offensive and special […]

Warrior Beat: Hawaii football recruiting, addition, camps

By Stephen Tsai on May 6, 2019

It’s final exam week, but the work still continues to for the Warriors. The coaches are on the mainland to evaluate football prospects and meet with their coaches, counselors and teachers. The UH coaches already have visited local high schools, and will make their second — and third — tours during this evaluation period. Per NCAA rule, the head coach is restricted from making these evaluation visits to schools. * * * * * * Congrats to Meredith and Jacob […]

Warrior Beat: Hawaii football’s Max Hendrie to medically retire

By Stephen Tsai on May 3, 2019

Defensive end Max Hendrie is expected to medically retire from the UH football team. The status means Hendrie would remain on scholarship, but would be ineligible to play for the Warriors. Hendrie, who was born and reared in Sydney, was listed as a defensive end in the Warriors’ four-man front. He redshirted in 2016. He played in nine games in 2017, recording 13 tackles as a reserve end and on special teams. Last year, Hendrie played in 13 games. Two […]