Hawaii Warrior World

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

Na Koa event raises $60,000

By Stephen Tsai on April 13, 2018

Na Koa’s golf tournament raised about $60,000 for the football program. Keith Komeiji’s three-some had the best round. Nick Rolovich played four holes, then turned his clubs over to offensive coordinator Brian Smith for the final 14 holes. * * * * * Former Warrior cornerback Jalen Rogers will be participating in an April 21 tryout for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. Last year, Rogers signed a two-year contract with the Montreal Alouettes. But a coaching change […]

Today’s football special: “McByrd” combo

By Stephen Tsai on April 12, 2018

Stockton and Malone. Montana and Rice. SpongeBob and Patrick. The latest successful duo is quarterback Cole McDonald and slotback Cedric Byrd. During today’s 7-on-7, red-zone session, McDonald and Byrd collaborated on three consecutive touchdown plays. A fourth touchdown was denied when linebacker Paul Scott soared to deflect McDonald’s pass to a wide-open Byrd. The Warriors have had speedy receivers. They’ve had precise route runners. But Byrd is a blend of speed, precision and really sure hands. Also of note from […]

Donors provide a lift

By Stephen Tsai on April 11, 2018

Meeting a need to feed, 11 Na Koa board members and UH alumni are donating their own money to pay for post-practice snacks for the Warriors this spring training. It costs between $750 and $800 to provide snacks after each practice. Ten donors paid up to $800 apiece; one donor paid about $1,500 for two snack sessions. Those donations cover the 11 practices following UH’s spring break. Na Koa will pay for snacks following the April 28 spring game. UH […]

Spring practice No. 7

By Stephen Tsai on April 10, 2018

The Warriors were back on the field — make that two fields — for today’s seventh practice of spring training. (They warmed up at Ching, then moved to the grass field.) Today was actually the halfway mark because the 15th practice day will be the spring fling. Of note: > Slotback Cedric Byrd continues to have a terrific spring. In team drills, Byrd caught an 8-yard scoring pass on an out route. Speed and sure hands are good references for […]

Finding Nino

By Stephen Tsai on April 9, 2018

It will be a homecoming of sorts when kicker Nino Alibegic of Independence (Kan.) Community College joins the Warriors as a walk-on this summer. Alibegic was born in Idaho, moved to Hawaii in the fourth grade, and moved back to Idaho just prior to his freshman year at Rocky Mountain High School. It was the summer before his senior year when Alibegic and a Rocky Mountain player were kicking around a soccer ball. Head coach Scott Criner asked Alibegic to […]

Sunday wrap-up

By Stephen Tsai on April 8, 2018

I apologize for the delay. My mother-in-law is having some medical issues. We’re wishing her a speedy recovery. * * * * * The Warriors practiced in full pads for the first time this spring. Of note: > Two play-making receivers — slotback John Ursua and Marcus Armstrong-Brown — are being held out of practices while recovering from ailments. No worries, UH fans, they’ll be fine. Another reason for comfort: slotback Cedric Byrd and wideout Isaia Leeth are having breakout […]

Gallup leaves Warriors

By Stephen Tsai on April 6, 2018

Walk-on quarterback Kyle Gallup has decided to leave the Warriors. “I’m not going to be leaving Hawaii, but I’m going to be stepping away from football,” said Gallup, who was one of four quarterbacks on the spring roster. “I love the program. I love coach Rolo. I love what we’re doing. … In my heart, I feel like I’m being called to enter into a new season of life. I’m a walk-on, too, and for me and my future wife, […]

Hawaii should have gone all in

By Stephen Tsai on April 5, 2018

If I’m playing craps, I’m pressing my bets. If I’m coaching third, I’m sending the runner home. And if I’m running HTA, I’m making an offer — a real offer — to Dana White and UFC. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I get it. Maybe holding a UFC event in Hawaii doesn’t make the state money directly. So what? There are a lot of things we spend money on that don’t make money immediately, maybe never. But the value of hosting a […]

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