Warrior Beat: Melquise Stovall no longer on Hawaii football team
One of the Mountain West Conference’s top returners is no longer on the University of Hawaii football team.
Head coach Nick Rolovich confirmed that Melquise Stovall, a fourth-year junior from Lancaster College, has been removed from the active roster.
“There are certain expecatations required of a football student-athlete here at the University of Hawaii,” Rolovich said. “We hold all our student-athletes to these standards and expect them to represent our football program to the highest degree. We wish Melquise the best as he moves forward.”
Stovall joined the Rainbow Warriors in January after two years at California and the 2018 season with Riverside City College. Stovall was a consensus four-star prospect at Paraclete High School.
Stovall played in five games this season, starting one at left slotback. He caught 18 passes for 248 yards and four touchdowns, including two in this past weekend’s game against Air Force. But he was most noted for his judgment on punt returns and his bursts on kickoff returns. His kick-return average of 27.4 yards is third best among Mountain West players. Stovall also has been used as a motion back.
Stovall did not play in the second half on Saturday after being assessed a personal foul following a fair catch in the second quarter.
After that, right slotback Cedric Byrd was used on punt returns, and right wideout JoJo Ward returned kickoffs.
The Warriors have several options to fill Stovall’s slotback role. Freshman Lincoln Victor and junior James Phillips have played slot. But both have played in four games — the maximum appearances to maintain a redshirt year.
Dang!
Do not need distractions from less than committed do the right thing kind of guys. Coach Rolovich is more than fair, do what’s best for the program and team……period!
Next man up!
I guess he didn’t like being benched by the coaches. Too bad they couldn’t work it out as he’s a great player. But he can’t accept the coaches decision, it’s best he leave and go elsewhere. Good luck to him.
As Coach Vince Lombardi said “What the hell is going on out there.!!”
After allowing 3 points on the road at Reno, our UH football team got torched, burned, and crashed in the last 2 games against Boise and Air Force. Make no mistake, Boise and Air Force can move the ball and score, but giving up over 50 points to each of them is just not acceptable. “What the hell is going on out there.” Maybe the team was filling themselves with gusto after Nevada, but back to earth. Can’s stop the run and can’t stop the run. At this rate, our offense have to score at least 40+ points per game and hope our defense can do just enough to squeeze a win a close game. Not a good sign that the offense has also turned the ball over than it should and the defense has not created an equal number of turnover or more to balance the equation. To think UH is favored at New Mexico by 10 points is crazy to me. New Mexico played Wyoming tough in Laramie last week. It’s not a good sign that Roe Farris and Kalen Hicks got hurt on Saturday and their situation is up in the air. Depth is a problem. I think Victor and/or Philllips should play. If they can help the team, play them. They can always redshirt in future years should they have some serious injuries.
See? Don’t blame the defense.
There is potentially a fly in the offense ointment.
Think a of us are right about the offense/pro-put in Cordeiro earlier. Let’s see this unfold.
5.
Hawaii is weak in the defensive front, something you need to be effective against an effective option team. To have a chance of winning, the offense needed to be on it and just hope you outscore them but the offense was obviously not clicking as well.
The TV commentator was say something about him calling fair catch then running after. I didn’t really notice but maybe he did.
I thought it was a manini call by the referee to assess the penalty on Melquise. Even the announcer said so. That being said, something must have happened on the sideline afterward that kept him on the bench and it must have escalated to get to this point. Unfortunate, as he was just getting getting the opportunities to be a major contributor. If his dismissal was due to conduct detrimental to the team then it had to be done. No individual is above the team. Good luck young man, but the team must move forward. Go Warriors!
Bummer. But must have been off field stuff. Rolo is known as a players coach so this must have been pretty serious. Lincoln’s time might be sooner than later. I’m excited about that but would also like to see Funkhouser given a shot. Kid got hands.
Stovall’s father speaks:
[ https://mobile.twitter.com/Coach_Stov/status/1186404419203551232 ]
To be clear, he made a mistake that many other players have made and he was forced off the team, he didn’t leave. Rolo is in the wrong on this one. This team is imploding. Poor coaching catching up. The gimmick bulls#!+ only gets you so far.
Hopefully “removed from the active roster” does not mean totally off the team. Please, lets have some wiggle room here. Apologize to the team, etc.
IHMO, he has more “burst” than Ward or Byrd.
Nobody gets kicked off a team because of a penalty unless you got it due to violence of some kind. Much more to the story. Lovers gonna love and haters gonna hate. I hope the team stays together and conquers the adversity.
Talented yes. Good teammate? If anybody wants to believe his Dad go ahead, I prefer to deal with someone I know-that’s Coach, and fans know him too, his heart mind and effort are on making this program something we can be proud of……Bring on the Lobos andl let’s lock down victory #5! GoWarriors!
I’d look for him to end up with his brother at Nevada for his senior year
True fans should be open-minded. And for starters, offensive-based coach, offensive-based player (Stovall)? Considering how Warriors lost on Saturday? There could very well be a pox in the run and shoots’ own scheme down lower campus. Most I’ve been telling at work, “it’s NOT mostly the defense why Hawaii lost to Air Force” oddly enough said nothing when this Stovall news came down.
Let’s hear from all sides. That’s true Warrior living. 🗿🤗
15. He would have to sit out one year ? and his eligibility would run out.
Unfortunate, he could play.
Could this be a pattern of behavior? All speculation but….
This is from when he left Cal.
A spokesperson for Cal football confirmed Stovall’s departure, adding, “Melquise had been suspended previously for conduct detrimental to the team and has decided to leave the program.”
I guess all of the critics from the 2017 season are coming out of the woodwork now. Always the coach’s fault.
Sad and Poho (waste) of talent cause he was hard head. Stoval got kicked out of Cal for the same reasons. Same with that JUCO All American defensive end who was readmitted to UH, but didn’t change his ways and got kicked out, again.
Looking forward to seeing more of Lincoln Victor and James Philips.
GO WARRIORS !!!
Beat them Los Lobos !!!
Sounds like a trust issue.
Yup! Go Warriors!
Next Warrior Up!
Hopefully I am not being questioned regarding being a true fan. I quite honestly put myself a slight rung higher-
Rolo admitted AF unleashed new offensive schemes and we did not adjust. DC may want to dig into archive video on Dave Aranda’s Defense against option offenses.
I can only go by what I saw on tv, but in the games that I watched it looked like there was a little frustration and attitude in Stovall. It was little things like throwing his arms up on a throw that was short and a disgusted look on the face. Maybe he’s just ultra competitive but it also felt like he thought he was too good for the team. Again, this is what I noticed from body language but something seemed a little off.
Aranda was not well liked by some UH fans, especially after the USU loss in 2011 that is considered the turning point of their program. Same with Paul Johnson, who a number of critics as Wag’s OC.
Just he on the road and win this game. Crisp disciplined dedicated. Leadership on all units, energy and focus. They are gonna attack on D and work perimeter on O. GoWarriors!!!
Talented for sure but if he couldn’t work within the rules of the team good riddance.
#27 – Maddog50 – Yes, you are a rung higher. Mahalo for that!
https://www.staradvertiser.com/2019/10/22/sports/ferds-words/ferd-lewis-university-of-hawaii-football-team-ran-out-of-patience-with-talented-stovall/?HSA=944a908a586ac99c9b9df21725c07949f703e820
It is too bad about Stovall. The guy could play.
As for this week, I hope the Warriors regroup, refocus and come out ready to play their best. I have faith in them.
Keep in mind too decisions like that aren’t just made by one person. They have a small group of coaches and players that help to make difficult personnel decisions. I’m sure there’s way more to the story and this past Saturday wasn’t the first issue with him. Wasn’t he held out of a game earlier this season too?
Stovall. Good distraction to make us forget the AF game. But I won’t.
We try to remain positive after such a drubbing Warriors received at the hands of the AF Falcons. But it’s really hard. I was at the game. I left early along with hundreds of others including AF fans. As I made my way out, I passed a few AF fans. They were kind. No words spoken as they felt sorry for us, giving us pitiful looks of compassion and understanding. I never want to feel this way leaving Aloha Stadium ever again. I thought I was past this with the departure of Norm Chow.
One of my thoughts for the AF game was team discipline. I wasn’t there.
Looking for a return of team discipline this week. Lot more football to be played and all games are much more important now.
This next game is a must win.
oh well …
The Boise State football team added some beef to its 2020 recruiting class on Monday night when junior college offensive tackle Riden Leong verbally committed.
Leong — a 6-foot-5, 320-pound tackle at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, California — is a three-star recruit and the No. 12 junior college offensive tackle in the 2020 class, according to 247sports. Originally from Waimanalo, Hawaii, he played his high school ball at Maryknoll School — a private school in Honolulu.
Leong was in Boise on Oct. 12 for the Broncos’ win over Hawaii. He announced his verbal commitment Monday night on Twitter, becoming the 10th member of Boise State’s class and its third offensive lineman. The Broncos also have verbal commitments from 6-3, 280-pound guard Nathan Cardona and 6-6, 275-pound tackle Brandon Hernandez.
Leong also has offers from TCU, Iowa State, Hawaii, San Jose State, Liberty and University of Texas-San Antonio.
We play New Mexico this week-losses are painful lessons for all. Don’t think we will see anything like this the remainder of the year-GoWarriors
Travel schedule is “favorable”.
travel to New Mexico. a long haul to nowhere.
Home vs. Fresno and San Jose.
at UNLV. “easy trip”
Home vs. San Diego and Army.
Stovall was an individual who gave a different dimension to the slot position that frankly needed to be addressed. YAC. He was good but “anykine” (unpredictable in an unconventional way). Hard to trust I think.
Going forward the offense should be fine. Maybe better if all the parts rotate in. Especially YAC slots like Victor (in traffic), Phillips (in space) and even Funkhouser (tough runner vs Nevada). The return units gotta get reps and practice. Just don’t fumble. Can do.
The game at New Mexico will be tough since it’s on the road and they have an unorthodox offense. New Mexico has also struggled this year and they have a hard time stopping the pass so this would be the perfect game for Hawaii to turn it around and begin this last stretch of the schedule with a W. The other road game, UNLV is a worrysome game. UNLV has also been struggling but Hawaii hasn’t won at UNLV since 2007. Hawaii already broke a similar streak at Nevada so maybe this can finally be the year we win in Vegas.
#27 – surely only a very disturbed person would accuse you, who actually suited up for the Rainbows, of such a thing.
Watching the videos I think the unconventional part of Batoon’s defensive scheme is that so many pieces are rotated in. I love getting contributions from the entire “depth” but I think it needs to be in workable, digestible spots and situations.
Some players (“back-up” unit guys) seem “mis-placed” (Padello?)and used disproportionally opposed to the (primary unit) ones who really need to be in. Batoon does have specific down and distance packages but it seems they never develop a rhythm and sense (aside from second half Oregon St and whole Nevada game) especially first unit DL.
The back end of the defense just needs to be synched up with the DL scheme so the entire design can function the way it should. Plus the linebackers need to play better and make a play or two every series. Trust each other. They can do it. It happened in Reno. LB’s are the key (they need to produce). Plus more reps for primary guys. Batoon.
KHON2 news … on Lincon Victor,
includes Cole’s highlights.
https://www.khon2.com/sports/lincoln-victor-probably-green-lighted-from-redshirt-season-as-bows-look-to-replace-stovalls-production/
Another positive thing to look at is that while Hawaii is 1-2 in conference, that includes 1-0 against the west division. New Mexico is our final Mountain division opponent and then it’s four straight West division teams, three being at home. It’s pretty clear that the top of the Mountain division is quite ahead of the West.
Regarding Batoon and his defense.
He has a unique and complex scheme to his defensive method. The pieces need to fit in a certain way for it to function properly. The current pieces are not all his people. Most of his recruits (2018 and 2019) are very different than the current holdover players from Suianoa’s classes. Not real fits for Batoon. You can see it. But he gives them game reps anyway. I think because that is part of how his system will function. Everybody has a role, fit or not (for right now). Just play hard and do your best. He will take the blame.
The JC guys he brought in (over the two years) are much more athletic than Suianoa’s guys. Maybe a little less physical but you can see the “plan” processing. Now as the redshirt freshmen start to get their “feet wet” you can see the concept, sort of. Looks like athleticism and quickness at every position, And speed in certain other areas across the secondary. Just got to teach them how to tackle effectively.
I think once he installs the right fits into this scheme the defense will fly around and make plays. Going to be fast and versatile. You can see it, kind of (especially when the two Jonahs are in). Just got to work in some physicality. Ritner, Blocker, Bowers, Laulu, Kahahawai-Welch, Killins, Kaneshiro, Davis and Muasau. Different from Suianoa’s guys. I think Batoon is on the right track. Just needs some time and experience. It will be unreal when it happens (full phase II for the Batoon defense). Soon. One more good defensively focused class would be perfect. Then “Fast and Furious D”. Soon.
Lincoln Victor to have expanded role:
Kick returner and slotback.
per ST’s article.
GO WARRIORS !!!
BEAT them LOS LOBOS !!!
ST: Can you post the team’s itin –
I was wondering how the heck we can travel to Albuq
in a “reasonable’ length of time. Thanx.
Photo gallery of yesterday’s practice.
https://www.staradvertiser.com/2019/10/22/photo-gallery/university-of-hawaii-football-practice-oct-22/
UNM selected UH as its homecoming game. Bulletin board material. Although the Warriors should be prepared and focused for every game, being tabbed as the homecoming patsy gives them additional incentive to rock on Saturday. Let’s see another Nevada game.
(un) Fun Fact.
UNM’s stadium is at 5, 100 feet.
GO WARRIORS !!!
BEAT them LOS LOBOS !!!
51.
They seem to be everyone’s homecoming game. I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re also UNLVs homecoming game
#53, Andrew: You may be right on UNLV designating UH as its homecoming. The only problem is that UH will draw a lot of fans and give it less of a home game feel, and thereby make it a less than ideal homecoming for its alums.
Great Morning All!
Interesting comments.
The wise man once sed, “Every week half the coaches win, the other half loses.”
Eh, the other guys not jus showing up to be patsies…
H-Man,
😎 😈
I always remind myself as I walk outta No-Aloha Stadium: Win or Lose, the other fans gonna be LEAVING Hawaii, I am going back to my hale and STAYING here!
Go Warriors!
Pomai,
56 – 14 Akamai Okole
Just gotta get more physical D players. Plus one big running back with long, strong arms and hands and can block. simple. 10-3 still possible
Defending Pride Rock is an all in affair. I trust the coaches.
New post: https://www.hawaiiwarriorworld.com/?p=51708