Hawaii football: Quarterback competition between Chevan Cordeiro and Cole McDonald will go on the road to UNLV
Head coach Nick Rolovich did not announce a starting quarterback for Saturday’s road game against UNLV, although indications are Chevan Cordeiro will make his second consecutive start.
Both Cordeiro and Cole McDonald, who started the first nine games, have not eased on their training. After this morning’s practice, each was preparing to be the starter.
“Competing with him, both of us get better,” Cordeiro said. “That’s great about him. Shoot, he’s probably one of the best quarterbacks. Competing against him makes me better. And if I bring my ‘A’ game during practice, it gets him better.”
McDonald remains among the national leaders with 2,796 passing yards (ninth) and 25 scoring throws (eighth). “I’m just worrying about what I can control, and helping the team out as much as I can,” McDonald said.
Quarterbacks coach Craig Stutzmann said: “They’re both competitive. Just like Chevan was pushing for (McDonald’s) job, now it’s time for (McDonald) to do the same thing. They’ve been battling for the last two years almost. It’s nothing new. The good thing is both treat each other with respect. They’re playful with each other. Their relationship hasn’t changed at all. It’s still healthy.”
GO WARRIORS !!!
BEAT them RUNNY REBBELLES !!!
filling up space.
Mountain West coaches’ salaries
Craig Bohl, Wyoming, $2.14 million
Mike Bobo, Colorado State, $1.80 million
Bryan Harsin, Boise State, $1.75 million
Jeff Tedford, Fresno State, $1.62 million
Gary Anderson, Utah State, $900,000
Rocky Long, San Diego State, $878,228
Bob Davie, New Mexico, $822,690
Nick Rolovich, Hawaii, $600,004
Tony Sanchez, UNLV, $600,000
Brent Brennan, San Jose State, $599,184
Jay Norvell, UNR, $500,000
Troy Calhoun, Air Force, N/A
Source: USA Today
more space filler.
https://www.staradvertiser.com/2019/11/09/photo-gallery/hawaii-football-team-beats-san-jose-state/
Chevan delivered. He should start. Period. Anyway, bigger worry is the defense.
GO GO! JO JO & Co.!😃😄 let’s go Warriors!!! and let’s surprise everybody with a 2019 Mountain West championship rematch w Boise! Let’s just win out and see what happens.
This years D is noticeable lacking compared to last year. What did we lose? Tavai and who else? Cant remember. But all I know its been crappy! They gotta shape up!!
the head coach doesn’t want to alienate cole mcdonald. giving him the chance to compete for his starting job back is smart.
so if hawaii wins the mountain west, do they go to a mainland bowl game?
Yup..Defense has to be fixed ..Our running and passing are clicking at the right time..Offense is not the problem…It’s lack of tackling, DBs not turning around looking for the ball and safeties not keeping everything up front…We get burned by the long ball almost every game
Long ball is because lack of pressure. San Jose’s QB couldn’t have gone long without extra time. His arm wasn’t that good. Like Wittik without the height. Nice passed with touch but soft. They did pressure some but the blocking was good. It did force them intermediate a lot. But everytime had extended time was long completion or TD.
Vs UNLV they have to stop the run first and force them to pass. Just like vs Nevada. Then let Padello and Paul Scott do their thing. I think they will do it. Full focus. Stop the run LB’s and Bethley. Can do.
I think because San Jose’s protection packages were so good on film the DB’s for UH played them a little softer than they would Vs a team that doesn’t protect as well. Lots of cushion. Plus their timing was awesome. The pass took some time to get there but the WR always had separation. This game will be different. UNLV is fast too. But their execution not like SJSU.
@6 winning
I think the difference between last seasons and this seasons D is that Batoon is fully in on his scheme. Last season I think he altered his scheme to fit his personnel. This year he is fully invested. I think it is because last year his recruits were still one year away from seeing the field. This year a lot of his kids are ready so we have this transitional period. Seems like Rolo knows this and doesn’t hold the defense fully accountable. Lots of pressure on the offense though.
we lost tavai,pavihi,and sanitoa.
Chelan did a great job but it does not matter if it’s Cole or Chevan, the offense is averaging close to 40 points a game.
The defense is the big problem. Fix that or Hawaii will lose the last 3 games!
Also, it’s sad and embarrassing seeing all the empty seats at Aloha Stadium.
U of Hawaii athletic department need to hire more professional promotion people. Cm on Hawaii, be proud, support the tram otherwise your part of the problem also in not having a successful athletic program.
I have total and complete faith in Coach Batoon Banker et al. Short handed and playing hurt. They are better than latest Performances. Circle the wagons and drill these Rebs good!!!
On one of the post-game radio interviews, Rolo said that Kifi spoke with the team sometime before last Saturday’s game to channel some of his inner Tomey. Good job Kifi.
You can still join us (I can email you the tix before Sat):
Come join our Road Warrior group at UNLV on Nov 16; and sit with other UH fans and families of our current players at the 25-50 yard line right behind our beloved Warriors; with the families of QB #13 Cole McDonald, RB #26 Miles Reed, WR #3 Jason-Matthew Sharsh, OL #74 Gene Pryor, LB #12 Kanai Picanco, DE #48 Derek Thomas, P #36 Ben Scruton, WR #87 Rob Funkhouser, KR #11 Justice Augafa, QB #16 Zach Daniel, etc. And let’s spoil their homecoming like we did at Reno!
Our group is now 850+; and come join our free tailgate; and meet your fellow diehard fans and former players like Greg Cummins, Kody Afusia, David Toloumu, Nicky Clark, Gary Allen, Dave Mutter (maddog), Rick White, Greg McElroy (son is famous ESPN sports anchor), Marc Reno, Eddie Gallegos, Sam Carroll.
Email me: tomkitaguchi@yahoo.com
or Text me 415-324-0585
#11 – #12. I knew Pavihi was out (big loss) but forgot about Sanitoa, Still tho the front line not getting enough penetration. I see they are getting double teamed because stop our front 2 or 3 and all hell breaks loose. Again, gotta recruit. Also, LB’s and DB’s get beat up too much making too many tackles. Gotta jump on UNLV quick like New Mex. 9-4 still possible.
Rebels start a young QB so stack the box and make him beat us with his arm.
why cannot both qbs play, one in the first half and second in second half. or start one and if he is not performing well, quick hook and bring in the others. both are good enough to play so let them plan. it is a shame that one has to sit.
After watching the videos I think the reason why Gaudion cant get distance on his punts is because he is a rugby punter/kicker trying to punt (American style?). His leg does not extend and he doesn’t follow through enough to get distance. He can kick it pretty high but his knee is usually bent (not straight out) like a rugby kick except he is stationary.
Scruton can kick American style. Leg extended, follows through (above his shoulders) and twists his hips a little for extra torque. Gaudion doesn’t do that. But if Gaudion could directionally kick it somehow (Rugby kick Harding style would be best way) so that the ball could bounce (not be fielded) he would get at least 50 yards per punt I think. His leg is actually pretty strong considering his technique is based on only using lower half (below the waist)of his kicking motion. 50 yards at least.
I think Batoon is Aranda jr. That’s why he was hired (plus he can recruit Southeast). To be different from the conventional DC (Suianoa?). To pair his defense with the uniqueness of the offensive system Rolo installed. Complex and sucks right now but I think this video of Aranda’s scheme is Batoon’s endgame. Once he can get the proper “fits” the Defense will be awesome. Hopefully soon.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xhm3Zfri5o
#18 – winning. Yes, 9-4 still possible. Need to see big plays from defense.
Question – Am I correct in understanding that prior to the last game, Rolo and sometimes Cole, called the offensive plays. Weren’t the plays called by Smith from the box this last game? Could that have been a factor? If so, I’d be interested in seeing Cole back on the field with Smith calling the plays. It is clear we have two excellent QBs, both are winners. It’d be nice to see them rotating in same game, and keep opposing defenses guessing.
Yes, THE burro sabio – Kifi did talk to the team after one of last week’s practices. He shared some of Coach Tomey’s philosophy with them. Coach Rolo used it in the locker room at game time – It proved to be prophetic. It goes like this: “Expect to win. Expect to be in a dog fight. Expect that sometime during the game, winning will appear to be impossible. Expect to win it late in the fourth quarter.” Powerful stuff. It applies not just to football, but also to life in general.
The Warriors are blessed by the wisdom of Coaches Tomey, Rolo and Kifi.
#18 winning
That’s why, during this transitional season for the defense I was hoping they could borrow someone like Sunia. To make it more “conventional” until Batoon has the proper personnel to win the iso matchups in his scheme. Less attack right now (Paul Scott will win in iso soon, you can see it) and more “stout” until the transition fully occurs (probably later in 2020). Need to get more conventional for now I think. But the future with all the front 7 speed (Kahahawai-Welch, Blocker, Laulu, Ritner, Bowers, Kamana, Tufaga, Muasau, Peterson and Scott) will be unreal. If you cant see it (the potential when you pair it with the Aranda video) then I’m sorry. But its there and its coming. Soon. The kids just have to put in the work. And Ritner has to eat more. Maybe Peterson too (so can be LB in Mautautia’s role eventually). Can do. Will happen. Soon.
If you don’t think Nick Rolovich is the right Coaching fit for this program, this “Culture” here, watch this video form the Post game press conference after San Jose game.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ti3IS7Ejb5g
condensed version UH-San Jose. picked up from #25.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzXWA4G1V5E
Sanitoa’s best attribute was that he could smoothly backpedal into pass coverage. He was also kind of angular (lanky?) so to disrupt short/intermediate passing lanes on timing routes. He was just getting good at timing (reading QB) his disruptions. I think Kamana has similar qualities in his package of skills. Pretty physical too. And good side to side as LB. Just needs more reps. Future playmaker.
what would the average attendance be if hawaii was 4-6? somebody mentioned previously that a home loss to unlv after coming home off the road with a 2-0 conference was a turning point. same team, samey situation; with a victory, though, you would hope that 30,000 could be a reasonable goal for the home date against san diego state.
28.
Yeah that UNLV game back in ’16 had over 30K, the first time in years. They lost that game and attendance dropped down significantly again. Unfortunately for this season, the Washington, Boise State, Air Force blow out losses really killed momentum for building up the crowd. If Hawaii gets into a situation where vs SDSU decides the West division, I would hope UH would advertise the hell out of that game and do some kind of ticket price special. I don’t know if it’s too little too late for this season though.
Fresno only has to lose one of their final three games to give Hawaii a shot to win the west, but it would make it a whole lot easier if SDSU finishes them off already this Friday. I think Fresno handles Nevada at home the next week. I actually see San Jose State being a very tough game for them too that they could easily lose. Of course this all goes out the window if UH can’t stop the losing streak in Vegas.
I wish they could have picked up Jonah Tavai last recruiting session. Maybe as preferred walk on knowing that Jahlani could afford (you could kind of tell he was going to be NFL caliber) to help him one season. He could easily lose 20 to 30 pounds and be the FB/H blocker that we will lose in Furuta. Has real good straight ahead speed and is even more physical than Furuta with O-line skills. I don’t think he got in last Saturday. Maybe still get chance?
Oops my bad. Was just informed (the exact phrase was “dumb ass”) he plays for SDSU. We will see him next Saturday when San Diego St comes here….No wonder I didn’t see him. And um, probably no chance then. Shucks.
It’s difficult recruiting highly regarded Running Backs from High School if you throw as much as we do.
A few of our past successes in developing Running Backs were developing them from our existing roster, like Regan Mauia and Joey Iosefa.
One thought comes to mind is Steven Fiso, he played wide receiver in HS, so we know he can catch passes. He was also a return specialist so we know he is athletic and can also run the ball. According to the roster, he is 6′-2″ and 191 pounds. If he is able to put on as much muscle as Joey did in his first few years as UH, he could be our Running back by his Sophomore season.
You know, I’m not going to be nit-picky about this, but because Rolo’s 1 win from a bowl berth and this team is only one full game behind SDSU, concerning Cole’s accuracy ahead of UNLV would be challenging to say the least. Go back to last season when UNLV came over to Aloha Stadium. Cole McDonald didn’t have his best numbers against the Rebels. 14-of-30 for 175 yards, no TDs, and 2 interceptions. Clearly, that could have EASILY revolted with UNLV winning had Cordeiro not stepped in to save the day. That, and the combination of the defense stepping up their game. But if Rolo should be concerned with getting the bowl berth and to still have hope with their Mountain West division title, stick with Cordeiro. Unless…they can do a QB switchblade-type of rotation, where Cole can run the offense up until the 3rd down and allow Cordeiro in case they need a “crunch time” situation. Not sure if that could be something Rolo can consider to add more wrinkles into the run-and-shoot, but it could work to just confuse opposing defenses.
Re the defense:
No question the defense has been disappointing recently, but rather than blame the schemes, the players or the coaches, I really think we should look at the injury problem. Yeah, yeah I know every team has injuries, but consider what UH has had to deal with recently.
Blessman Taala played the whole SJSU game with one hand completely wrapped up. I assume he has a fracture under there somewhere. This dude is a BULL on the interior, but understandably he hasn’t been as effective playing one handed.
Derek Thomas was one of our starting DEs all season. He’s very strong at the point of attack vs the run. Does all the unsung dirty work. I didn’t even see him on the field or on the bench vs SJSU. Is he injured?
Kalen Hicks is our best free safety type, quick enough to cover in pass defense and a good tackler in run support. He’s the glue to the defense and him being out hurts us big time.
Kanai Picanco is a very quick and active linebacker and can cover the short passes. He’s more a situational player rather than a starter, but I think he would have helped big time vs SJSU.
So what’s my point? Let’s not get too down on Batoon. Batoon needs to recruit well this year to replace the seniors and for depth and we need a pass rusher or two as well. But I personally think he’s done a good job under the circumstances. ‘Course I’m old enough to remember when people were hating on Dave Arranda — particularly after we got stomped at UNLV — but when he got hired at Wisconsin and then LSU, suddenly everyone really missed him.
Warrior Mojo – Touche! Nice to see you post!
WarriorMojo
Amen. Good synopsis.
The defense is not on the fault of Batoon. Wouldn’t matter who you have running it, we don’t have the athletes yet to compete with the speed of the better teams on our schedule. Doesn’t help with injuries also. Like others say, he needs to recruit and get more of his players in the system. For now the offense just needs to be clicking and just outscore the other team
Everybody wants to blame the defense! Scoring in every level of football has increased in the last decade. The rules have changed to give offenses the upper hand. The defenses are almost limited to playing touch football. Scoring is what people wanted, that’s what your getting. Just win baby, go Warriors.
Hiya PONO, WarriorMojo and Ainbama!
Long time….
When you add up all the implications and ramifications of this game it is in my opinion the most important game in recent memory. Bowl bid, conference implications, keep alive a chance for 9-4 and other stuff. I am looking forward to a tremendous effort by the Warriors!
Amen, Maddog, amen.
29
I was remembering your comment. I was at that game. They were driving for the go-ahead score, and then there was a turnover on the final drive. My cousin blames the stadium, not the product. Nobody wants to go to the stadium.
43.
While I agree that the stadium experience needs to vastly improve, I think it’s more so the product on the field that has killed attendance. Not to the fault of this coaching regime at all though. This is all on the previous regime. Rolo and staff have brought back a consistently winning program. Maybe not as many wins as the fans want right now, but exponentially better than 2012-2015.
If people are saying it’s the stadium experience, what’s so different about the stadium experience now than it was back in 2010? The only thing I can really think of is the loss of the kam parking lot to rail construction. The food has always been consistently below mediocre at best except for a few things.
Andrew – the main downturn to the stadium experience has been game start time. In the days of Tomey and Wagner, the games started at 7:30 pm. People went to the stadium, had a tailgate dinner, and entered the stadium under the lights–much like a carnival setting at night.
Moving the game times to 5:00 pm and earlier (for national TV) made half the seats in the stadium undesirable. People in the mauna sidelines would sit with the heat and glare of the sun in their eyes until 7:00 pm in September and October. No umbrellas and parasols sent many old, old timers to PPV heaven. Over two years I got seats on the mauka 50 yard line when I started on the 30. Eventually I managed to move to the Makai sideline, but that was a much slower process due to demand.
So around half the seats in the stadium become junk seats unless you were working on your tan. Coach McMakin was blamed for the huge downturn in attendance in those years, Not his fault…maybe 20% at worse.
The stadium has many problems ranging from parking, premium parking, tailgate restrictions, premium seat charges, expensive food and drink, and boiling in the sun at times… but possibly the easiest no-cost fix to increase attendance is to move game time to 7:00 pm or later. After all, we are paying for the charter flights of the MWC schools so they don’t have to rush and catch commercial flights on Saturday nights.
Back in the day, the word in the automotive circles was: “Ford has an idea but Chevy has the machinery” (maybe equal today but) Think you gotta go with the Chevy Corvette. Controlled aggression when under the gun. 9-4 baby!!
#43 Steven Fiso 6’2 191lbs. what is his 40 time? Sounds good. Long arms and big hands? WhoA!! Maybe no more fumbles down the road.
45.
We hardly ever have games 5:00 or earlier. They moved the games to 6:00 a long time ago and with the 6:00 kick off time, we were still getting 35,000+. So i highly disagree the start times being the reason for bad stadium experiences and low attendance. I would agree for that one or two ESPN games that we may have earlier in the season there would be people that don’t want to go due to the sun, but at the same time we have had earlier games start times that have had high attendance.
Moving the game times to 7:00 would not magically fix the attendance problem.
btw the change in start time from 7 to 6 was done in Fred Von Appen’s magical 1998 season
Just beat UNLV-period!
Pomai…
Warriors….41
Re Bells….28
An MWC writer’s view …
https://www.mwcconnection.com/2019/11/14/20960022/rainbow-warrior-perspective-hawaii-vs-unlv-three-things-to-look-for-prediction
they beat a sec team. that gives me pause. the last place team on the weaker side of the conference beat a sec team. did unlv suffer any major injuries after the commodores victory?
photos from yesterday’s practice.
https://www.staradvertiser.com/2019/11/13/photo-gallery/university-of-hawaii-football-practice-nov-13/
It’s hard for me to understand the QB controversy unless it is to make UNLV prepare for both. The results clearly speak for themselves.
rolo should start cordero and switch to cole if the offense doesn’t score any points.both qb’s keep playing if they score.field goals count.incentive program.
Not everything has to be based on competition. Cooperation is a great game-changer and allows Coach to select the best combination of elements into each game and each play. The more the unity and the less the individual ego, the greater the chances of success.
And save the celebration energy for the alma mater
GO, RAINBOW WARRIORS!
Stephen are we getting anybody back for tomorrow’s game. I would hope maybe 1 or 2 guys-
Chevan was on fire in last year’s game. Hopefully he can keep it up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=he6qjlDdlUM
I think this game the Defense has to be held more accountable by both Coach Rolovich and Coach Batoon. Maybe even the position coaches and the players themselves (defensive guys) as well. Back ups too. Some coercion, compelling of some kind. Backups need to push each other (like Cole and Chevan do) to best prepare for a successful game/game plan. Or show the coaches that they need to get in. Like Kamana did. Like Kaneshiro and Bethley did last year. I fully believe they can do it. Collectively. As an entire unit. As ONE. Got lots of different skillsets, and a lot of them do have speed, technique, and intangibles/IQ. Maybe one year away from being unreal. But let’s start right NOW. Can, CAN DO!
I thinh if Bethley (trusting his ability), Ford (playing a little more passionately), Pritchard (staying under control), Padello (winning in space), Vega (winning his iso matchups), Pass rush (so scheme aggressively by Batoon), Scott (finishing the play), Mautautia ( finishing the tackle), Kaneshiro (trusting his talent), Farris (extend the focus) and Okeke (stay disciplined) can flourish in their roles, this defense can finish the season confidently and level up with the offense. Taala, Akoteu, and Hune need to assert their ability to dominate physically as well. Going to be unreal soon. Start it right NOW. Mindset Flex. Can do.
Watching film, I think if Mautautia was less aggressive on the technique as he approaches his tackles and “lasso” (wrap up waist and slide down to legs then ankles) tackle Alvis Satele style he would dominate his side. He really likes to “thump” on contact. This puts his momentum forward and most times off balance. But you can see him knifing in on a lot of plays, run and pass. Unreal nose for the ball. I wish he would just “MMA” (grab, twist, “lasso”, toss, no need to thump) the tackle, “Jujitsu/Aikido” style. Use his leverage against the runner like Satele did. He can do it. Unreal competitor Mautautia. Just little undersized vs O-line. Tough, aggressive, instinctive. I trust him.
Pritchard too. Same problem as he approaches the tackle as Mautautia (balance issue). But he is not around the ball as much because he gambles (assigned?) through gaps then has to chase. But if the RB picks the wrong gap he will “Blast” you. Guarantee. He however should be the “thump” guy (just don’t cheap thump) on this defense. Especially next year. One “Enforcer” cuz. Like Blazé Soares. Blast the lead blocker/O-lineman too so to fill the hole. Just “Blast” them. Enforce. He is good at that. Real good.
The real key to stopping the run I think is Bethley. Struggling this year ever since his ejection at Washington. He has to get over this. Just a case of mind over matter. He is the key. He has a tremendous nose for the football approaching the box. He’s just been missing (not finishing) his tackles lately (often). It’s kind of affecting his aggression. He just needs to stay disciplined is all. He at times is the last line of defense until Ford (not going to catch up), Okeke, or Davis has to chase that runner down so he needs to finish that tackle. He can do it. Re-set his mind (“Mind right” Maddog called it) So important. The most important piece. Going be an unreal playmaker one day soon. Start now.
For all the trash talking about the defense, they did hold San Jose to three field goals. If all of them were converted to TD’s, we would have lost the game and complaining about the offense led by Chevan. Defense allowed only a FG when Hawaii fumbled the ball. If that was a TD, we would have LOST by 2 points. Go Warriors!
Something about Kaneshiro too. Weird. Special. Watch the videos. He gives up a lot of completions but he is usually all over the receiver when it happens. Very competitive. Totally undersized (body not filled out yet) right now. Wont be next year. Instincts/anticipation aren’t fully there yet but that’s all he’s missing. Has good technique, speed and physical ability (not physicality yet though. Soon). You can see it. Run support angles need to be cleaned up a little too (everybody except Davis has that problem). Fast enough to cover “centerfield” in Okeke’s role too. Just got to develop the instincts. Soon.
Another MWC writer’s view of game …
https://www.mwcconnection.com/2019/11/15/20967109/unlv-football-game-preview-battle-of-the-ninth-island
66. 4 FG’s.
Even if Fresno State beats SDSU, I think San Jose State can beat Fresno State and help hawaii out (granted we beat UNLV)
17-7 SDSU in the 4th. Neither team looking all that great.
SDSU eliminates Fresno State from conference contention. Now just gotta take care of UNLV. UNLV is not a good team but this game got me nervous
perhaps moving Padello around this year is the missing ingredient to the pass rush — not effective as an ‘off-the-line’ OLB as a LOS player compared to last year
‘little things mean a lot’ sung by Kitty Kallen (sp)
1100 hours — 16 OCT 19 — PPV watching!!!
let Rolo use McDonald in the 1st and 3rd qtrs with Chevan doing the work in the 2nd and 4th qtrs
If we beat UNLV and have the west championship next week and we still have a ghost town crowd, then it’s time to hit the panic button
Play UH games at 2500 seat Ching Field and continue to broadcast the games on PPV. Add some bleachers to make it 5000 seats. Save on rental fees and cleanup fees at Aloha. Bring in choke food trucks and KCC Culinary students. Add bleachers when needed as crowds increase.
did noah allen ever have back-to-back games like eddie stansberry? uh can win the big west if this is who stansberry is going to be? stuck at 28, eddie didn’t go out of his way to get his 30. when he received the ball, late in the game, he didn’t hang on to the ball, waiting to be fouled. he kicked it out.
portland state conceded the game. only three possessions down(supposing 3s), with what, a minute-and-a-half? i wanted to see hawaii hit some late free throws, but they were actually able to run the shot-clock out.
Tua hurt…looks pretty bad….right leg
i compartmentalize when i watch tua. i am rooting for hawaii high school football. i hope this injury isn’t season-ending.
Hoping the D don’t make UNLV look “good” today.
Bring the wood and give em spankings!
Not sure why ESPN has to do a split screen to try and show Tua being loaded into an ambulance but at least MSU, has the decency and good sense to use a banner to block the TV cameras.
the halftime analyst for the indiana/penn state game called tua injury-prone. looking at the play, i think a lot of qbs would have gotten hurt in that situation.