Tuileta joins Warrior football
Larry “Tui” Tuileta has joined the Warriors as a quarterback.
Tuileta returned from an international volleyball tournament yesterday, and was scheduled to meet with coach Nick Rolovich in the evening. Tuileta will attend today’s football practice, the fifth of spring training.
Tuileta has been placed on a football scholarship. He will have two years of eligibility remaining in both sports.
Tuileta, who was the volleyball Warriors starting libero this past season, was a state player of the year in both sports as a Punahou senior during the 2013-14 academic year. In April 2013, he made a verbal agreement to play football and volleyball at UH. But on signing day on Feb. 5, 2014, he announced he would join USC as a walk on in both sports.
In December 2015, he left USC with the intent of enrolling at UH. After a year of community college to up his credit count, he joined the UH volleyball team last December.
Rolovich praised volleyball coach Charlie Wade for allowing Tuileta to play both sports and athletic director David Matlin for creating an atmosphere of collegiality.
Tuileta has earned a reputation as a hard worker and cooperative teammate.
“I’m so proud of this locker room right now,” Rolovich said. “He’s going to be a guy who’s going to fit in and improve it. I think he can. I want that to be (the players’) favorite place on the planet — that locker room — and it’s getting there.”
Tui is a born leader and great athletic. I just don’t think he can move ahead of Dru Brown at this late date.
Tui reminds me of Tim Lyons, who was sandwiched between Bernard Quarles and Ralph Cherry, so while certainly not on their level athletically, he found a way to get it done through grit and leadership. If I was one of the Coles, I would be worried…..
No one said that Larry has to play QB to get on the field.
This feels more like a favor to the volleyball team and a potential scout team QB. The Coles have eligibility beyond Dru Brown’s graduation. Maybe neither is ready to be the backup.
Linemen are not the only ones who get knocked
out of the game. A sprained ankle, a turf toe,
a broken pinkie, etc. can put Tui in
a game real fast.
Welcome Larry Tuileta !!! Enjoy the game; enjoy the team. Have fun! Rolo’s statement says a lot of where he has the team. Go Warriors !!!
Tui does not have to start to help this team. He can help prep the starters. He can can be a leader in the locker and he can help recruit some Punahou kids to stay home.
The guy is just a great guy to have on the team. He can be what guys like Beau Reilly and Aaron Zwhalen provided……maturity and leadership.
It takes a lot of quality individuals working together to make a team great. Tui is that kind of player. I recall watching a volleyball match last year, and Coach Rolo was there with his eye on Tuileta. He said there were a couple of volleyball players he’d like to have on his squad.
Pride Rock Rises!
Tui:
impact on any back up QB? leave program? change position?
very last minute upheaval, but positive over all?
he impressed me during the VB season — brought skill, maturity, leadership to the team
Kahuna:
agree with your post, but both are gone!
DPK:
i vote for Gassman to be a TE and dedicated FG blocker
would love to see him “spike” the ball and a team mate scoop it up for a TD!!!
another would be Stinjin (sp) as a wide out.
i also wondered if Rolo promised Tui a scholie when he transferred home. He was not eligible immediately due to him not being able to transfer some credits from USC so this was a promise to Tui from Rolo one year late.
Wade should Thank Rolo for givinng Tui a scholie thus helping the Tuileta family finacially and allowing Tui access to the training table to get bigger….stronger and faster.
I doubt Wade would object to Tui playing football. Any time a young man can get his educaton paid for….you should be excited for the guy. Work out great for everybody…..including the fans. We can see more of Tui.
We have a ton of quarterbacks now
Welcome to the football team Tui! Love you on the court and I know you will also contribute on the field with your humbleness and leadership.
Let’s Go Bows!
Welcome Larry Tuileta !
Last Call: UH at UCLA football game on Sept 9.
Come join our group of almost 400 UH fans on the Hawaii side line in Sections 6H, 7H & 8L; 10-54 rows up around the 5 to 20 yard line. Text me at 415-324-0585. Prices are $69 or $89 (Sect 6H). These seats have backs (not benches).
http://uclafootball.io-media.com/web/index.html
Also a big UH tailgate here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/uh-vs-ucla-rally-tickets-36017408037?utm_source=University+of+Hawai%E2%80%98i+Foundation&utm_campaign=496c56f709-2017_RoseBowl&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_4358bbe6fc-496c56f709-125494417
UH-UNLV FOOTBALL GAME IN VEGAS NOV. 4 (Vegas Baby!)
Come join 400 other UH fans at the 50 yard line (Sections 106, 107 & 108) 16-21 rows behind our Warrior bench. Contact me now to reserve your seats in row 21; which is right below the concourse–easy access to the restrooms & concessions!
Email me: tomkitaguchi@yahoo.com or text 415-324-0585
On a different subject, someone asked who will replace Steven Lakalaka for short yardage situations, there are several capable running backs. Ryan Tuiasoa most likely, but I would like to see Kaiwi Chung given the pigskin.
H-man … I love that idea. Stack Kaiwi and Ryan in an I and handoff to either one!
Great Afternoon All!
Can he play O-Line?
Das it
with tui’s hands they at least found their starting holder for place kicks!
#19 willieboy, I think you may be spot on.
Yup. Kaiwi played center for Kamehameha; was all-state first-team selection (2013). He had his weight up to 270, but was converted to full back by the Chow coaching staff, so he brought his weight down to 240. Then Rolo converted him to a hybrid tight end with primary blocking assignments. But he can tote the pigskin.
Tui at practice :
https://youtu.be/9pVQ1UFJMFo
Off to the Great White North …
June Jones has been named the assistant head coach of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League.
Thank god the CFL season is mostly summer into early fall in Canada. Average temp for the month of January in Ottawa is 15. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
CFL would gain a lot more viewers if they went with American football rules and same field specs.
New post: http://hawaiiwarriorworld.com/?p=44265