“Average Fan” helps Warriors
A few times a week, “Tom-warriornation” will post about offering tickets behind the UH bench for road games. And the casual reader is probably thinking, “spam,” but not in the musubi kind of way.
But as many of us have learned, the poster is Tom Kitaguchi (1970 Lahainaluna High and ’75 UH grad), a four-year letter winner for the Rainbow Warrior tennis team. A self-styled “average fan” who lives on the mainland, Tom has organized group seating for UH fans and players’ families behind the Warrior bench. That’s pretty impressive considering host teams usually assign visiting team’s fans to end-zone sections.
Tom also has worked with the UH Foundation to create a fund to raise money for the football program.
Here’s his site: Warrior Nation Fund
mahalo tom for all that you do.
seen on twitter that isaiah mullen just committed to UH. 6’4″ receiver with upside from the Pacific Northwest. credit to hawaii football news.
Howzit Tsaikos!
First?
Thanks to Tom-warriornation for all he does for UH!
GO WARRIORS!
GO WAHINE!
Thanks and congrats Tom! You have my support!
Morning Tsaikos!
Isaiah Mullen
From Scout.com:
3 star
POSITION RANK 142
WEST WR RANK 20
OR WR RANK 1
Mahalo Tom-warriornation, for all that you do for us other average fans, and the University of Hawaii.
Tom is a first-class guy and true supporter of the program. Because of him, I was able to watch the UNLV game with my family and friends last year from the comfort of seats right behind the team bench on the 50. You can just tell that he has a LOT of aloha for the university, and the school and the team are that much better off because of people like him. Mahalo, Tom!
Yup! Big Mahaloz to Tom Kitaguchi for arranging tickets in good sections for the games. Being at the 50 yard line, and sitting with a bunch of UH fans at away games, is priceless, as the commercial says.
We did sit with Malachi Mageo’s (#38 LB) Dad and it was great that he heard his son’s name get called several times during the game.
I finally got to meet AZwarrior22 at the game. His daughter goes to UoA.
Myki! I was able to hang out with your classmate, Gladys, from UH Nursing school! Ren Hirose, UHAA organizer, planned a great pre-game pa’ina for 100 fans at a nearby hotel. Mahalo to Ren! I even met the sister-in-law of one of my classmates! Small world…
Looking forward to more improvement in the Warriors play in the upcoming games. GO WARRIORS!
Mahalo Stephen & everyone!
I ask everyone to join me in donating monies to help support Coach Rolo’s recruiting efforts. As you know, recruiting is the lifeblood of any college program. Aren’t you excited with his efforts so far? Please help Coach Rolo defray the costs of coach travel, recruiting trips by recruits and other activities.
Please make your online fully tax-deductible donation to the “Warrior Nation Fund”, a UH Foundation Fund (a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization):
https://giving.uhfoundation.org/funds/12600404
Mahalo, Tom Kitaguchi.
I created the Hawaii Football – Warrior Nation group on Facebook which has grown to over 2300 members; with the help of Dennis Nakano (madeinhawaii). Please send us a request to join our group; which includes many current & former players, Coach Rolo and even Rolo’s mom. I like to acknowledge Daniel Ng & my fellow Maui boy “dcwarrior” for helping me organizing Warrior Nation.
Mahalo Tom! We need more people like you!. Hawaii should try to recruit John Krahn 7 feet 440lb. Lineman from King Riverside, Ca. He could really help the Warriors! Look him up in YouTube video. He could open up big hole on the line. Boy! They don’t come in small package! But anyway on this bye week. I hope Rolovich and his coaching staff go and recruiting four and three star players from the mainland. He may get one more quarterback for next year? Because they will be no more Woolsey!. Three more running back and other needs. I hope they reschedule the game with Kansas. Hawaii then schedule teams from the ACC, SEC or other teams from Big 12. They is the money will Hawaii football program!. Don’t be like UNLV schedule last place teams and rebuilding teams! Like this year! Jackson State, Central Michigan and UCLA they all rebuilding or lost a lot’s of starters!. Idaho a last place team. That is why? I Hawaii is my favorite team! Because they never scared to play them in any sports! It will really seriously shock to everybody that? The University of Hawaii football program move out from the Mountain West Conference and joined to another bigger conference. They can really seriously show who they’re really are!
Yes tom is the real deal. I was skeptical around 5 years ago, but after communicating with him and doing some research, I took the chance and purchased tickets and the UNLV games in vegas. He arranged our seating to the best of his ability, and we got perfect seat behind our home team the past four time we attended games in vegas. He put a lot of time in getting seats for our home team in all the away games. Mahalo Tom, for all you do…..See you next year!
Initial donors to our fund included famous Tsaikos Tom Mui, TheDuke, smugdude, Garrett, chopsueyboy, A-House, waryor, Barry Hatori, Larry Akiyama, Earl Mente Realtors, Glen Morisato, Wally Miyamoto, Melvin Kiyuna, Ken Azuma, Carey Adachi, Arvy Wong, Joe Nanya, Richard Yuen & also Rolo’s mom (who I met thru Facebook but haven’t met in person yet–but will at SJSU this year).
I’m just getting to know Tom and find him to be a great guy just interested in helping the UH improve its fan support. I’ll be at the UH-San Diego State game using tickets from Tom and hope to make more games in future years!
Mad respect for tom-warriornation for what he’s doing. Wish we had more alumni doing what he’s doing! Never met him before but I can tell he must be a great guy!
Thank you for all that you do, Tom! It is unfortunate that I haven’t been able to take up any of your offers though. Hopefully in the future I will be able to.
We have gotten tickets for a few away games over the years from Tom and they’ve always been good seats in ‘friendly territory’. Keep up the good work!
No such thing as an ugly win, they’re all beautiful. Go Bows!
Mahalo nui loa, Tom!
RE: #9
tom-warriornation — your mention of dcwarrior jogged my memory and made me recall the association with dcwarrior, who was introduced to me (via email) by Garret (two r’s) in San Diego. I recall dcwarrior telling me he wanted to organize the expat UH fans with Garret and the Tsai-kos. He mentioned your name, which is why I knew you were ernest when you you first offered to obtain tickets. You have succeeded!
Re: #7
So Slugger (nee Mei Ling) and azwarrior22 finally meet in Arizona after 8 years. Both residents of AZ and both original Tsai-kos. Under the unwritten by-laws of the Tsai-ko unorganization, they may claim establishment of the Tsai-ko ARIZONA “Chaptah”.
So who’s gonna be the President? 🙂
Other Tsai-ko “chaptahs” are shown here: http://stevem.altervista.org/mainintpost.html
also forgot to mention to give kudos to SteveM as he and I coordinate the seating charts at road games so that Tsaiko’s can meet each other at their seats or tailgates (some for the first time) etc.
In our first Warrior Nation fund drive in 2011, we raised $4050 that was used for knee braces for our offensive and defensive linemen. Two years ago, we raised $2245.80, which is the current balance in our account.
And having several hundred Hawaii fans sitting so close to our Warrior bench on the road will “pump up” our players to help us win! And if you buy tickets directly on your own, you will end up sitting between the opposing team’s fans–no fun, especially at Fresno! Last year at UNLV, I had almost 400 Warrior fans right behind our team bench; including former players Gary Allen, Dave Mutter, Nicky Clark and families of Dakota Torres, Malachi Mageo, Kody Afusia and Ammon Barker. This year and the previous years, we have these same great seats at San Jose, where 1000+ fans cheered them to a 13-0 upset win in 2014.
Good afternoon Tsaikos…
Mahalo Tom for all that you do. Last year’s UNLV tickets were awesome. See you next year. 🙂
Good Tuesday Greetings Tsaikos! Mahalo, Tom for the info on Warrior Nation Fund. Another great way to help our Warrior FB program!
Tom is legit, he does this for the people of Hawaii. I personally have gotten game tickets from Tom and they were always great seats!!!!
Does anyone know what the current operating budget deficit is for the Athletic Department?
GOOD AFTERNOON, HAWAII!
Tom-Warrior Nation is one terrific guy!
Of course anyone with the name Tom must be OK! 🙂
Mahalo Tom!
I have purchased tickets through Tom, he makes it so simple. It is great to attend road games and be next to dedicated WARRIOR fans!
Great Aftenoon All!
tom-warriornation is All-Aces by me. Have relied on him on more than one occasion for tickets to road games and he has always delivered!
I am amazed at the loyalty the guy has to put in all the effort he does simply as a fan. Without thought to making any profit and instead, at formidable personal sacrifice, he has faithfully provided a valuable service to all Warrior Football Fan-atics for years.
Mahalo Tom and see you in San Diego!
PLAY WARRIOR!
Contribution to Warrior Nation Fund…done!
Leaving for Call the Coach…soon!
Tom you are the best person with a big pride of Hawaii football. People in Hawaii should really be proud that? You still have a great Aloha Stadium! Because just remember this Sam Boyd’s Stadium it still looks like a High School Stadium. But the news in Las Vegas RJ is that? Last Vegas is trying hard to get Oakland Raiders to relocate to Las Vegas. But the problem is that how should they get $750 million to build a new Stadium!. They’re planning to rises up hotel room tax rates to $200.00 per person and another $200.00 airfare to coming to Las Vegas. Please rises property tax to another 2% ! Already the property tax went up to 17%! Because of the NHL team in Las Vegas without a team name! . The city and state will vote for it? A lot’s of people in Vegas think that? It will be a flop for Las Vegas in 5 or 6 years from now!. Just to make National news!. A lot’s of people that have seats in the state and city. Will be voted out for the big problem!. Because how can Vegas hold a major sports teams. When they can’t hold a long-term with a minor league team!. Last Vegas drop CFL, ECH three times and Arena Football League two and a half season!. Because it’s already shows how Vegas don’t care about their sports program! One thing is not supporting the UNLV home games every years!. That is happening in Las Vegas
Tom is the best. Very responsive and always trying to help. I would recommend if you want to attend a road game ask him. We had a great time in Arizona last week. You cannot beat the 50 yard line seat! Mahalo Tom!
Did you know Tom was also instrumental a few years ago in garnering funds to help purchase knee braces for the lineman?
Good stuff Tom.
Another fun fact…
Tom’s tuition and dorm was probably aided by many of us older folks. His mom grew, prepared, and sold that onolicious “Lahaina pickled Nasubi”.
Mahalo Tom !! Thanks !
Okay…I’m in.
Much Mahalo’s Tom. Maui No Ka Oi! Thanks for the great seats at last years game at UNLV. Way better seats than thru the Cal Hotel.
Wow!
RIP Ernie Cruz, Jr.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCOzZ7oamec
Tom is an engine, pulling us all along. Thanks, Tom, for all you do!
The important thing to realize is, if you are a UH Football fan, you are part of a community. The Tsai-kos are a strong subset of that community. The UH FB community reaches far past the islands – to the neighbor islands, all across the US of A and all around the world!
The Warrior Nation is a way for all of us to stay connected with the ‘aina and our favorite team – and with each other. So please, go to the games and talk to each other about UH football. Get involved if you can – give Na Koa, Tom or AKA a hand. And send in what you can for Coach Rolo’s recruiting efforts. Large or small, every bit counts!
Thanks to the Warrior Nation and hope to chat with one or more of you about the Rainbow Warriors!
DcWarrior–nice plug hope it bears fruit. Gonna tro my Hondo into da bucket even though I contribute to Na Koa, same cause.
Gonna go out on a limb after having watched the AZ game 3x. This team is about to turn the corner. Personel tweaks and some alignment clean up and clean tackling theses guys will put it together. Effort is not lacking at all overall. Hope to have a great crowd to meet the Wolfpack who will be at Purdue this week. Purdue is. Coming off a bye-then they come to us after our bye. I was never one to hold a grudge but I believe in serious payback-this team will get there share of payback this year! Go Warriors!!!
Tom no ka oi!
Mahalo Tom. Just shows that you don’t have to be a millionaire to make an impact. Thanks for showing us the way Tom.
I was watching Air Force play Abilene Christian the other night and started to wonder if Rolo can implement a triple-option package for Brown. The blocking schemes doesn’t seem difficult, and since DB comes from a JC that ran the Triple-Option he’s probably familiar with the post-snap reads It might be a good way adding a wrinkle to the offense and provide an added boost to the run game.
Nevada has been running a simplified triple-option package with their safety – who was a TO QB in high school – against ND and Buffalo that proved to move the ball and force the defense to adjust.
I think it might be fun to watch from a fans’ perspective. As well as increasing the chances of evening out the rivalry between these two teams. It’s time to bring back that island curse that has plagued Ault when he was head coach!
Mahalo Tom! Helping those who attend road games in ticketing and information is great in connecting with other Rainbow Warriors
You are a true Warrior.
45.
Triple-option makes me feel all aglow inside.
It’s the great equalizer.
The Citadel upset South Carolina two seasons ago.
New Mexico(and Air Force) upset Boise State on their dystopian sci-fi football field, too.
I back Nick Rolovich all the way.
But when Coach McMackin was let go, I was a big proponent of hiring IJ.
I think the flex-bone correlates perfectly with our “have-nots” budget.
In all fairness to Coach Norm Chow, I think he could have won a couple of Mountain West games if only he had a bye week.
Navy is my surrogate team.
2 wildcard spots make for some convoluted rooting.
If the Mets lose, I root for both St. Louis and SF.
If the Mets win, I root for St. Louis to win and SF to lose.
I like the Giants better, but I don’t want Kolten Wong to get blamed for the Cardinals disappointing season.
I think Jedd Gyorko’s numbers are suspicious. It’s Brady Anderson-like. The spike in home runs is wholly disproportionate to his career.
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