Tautofi

Defensive end Daniel Tautofi will not play this season due to personal reasons, but June is keeping him on scholarship. What a cool coach.

"He's a great kid, and I'm glad Daniel and his brother (former UH defensive lineman Darrell Tautofi) were part of our family," Jones said. "Daniel has a lot of things going on. He's got a family he needs to provide for. He did a lot of good things for us, and we're happy he'll continue his education and hopefully graduate."

Freshmen DB Stephen Lei will join the Warriors as a non-scholarship player.

In other news, Aloha Stadium is still a rust bucket and will not get needed repairs this year. That's frickin awesome. That protective coat of rust is not doing its job!

Peyton

Stephen Tsai reports that incoming recruit Peyton Ma'o, a linebacker from Arizona, won't be incoming for another two years since he's decided to attend a junior college first. Good luck to him and hope he actually does attend UH eventually.

Free Withy

Look what former Hawaii QB Shawn Withy-Allen's been up to. Playing for the Fayetteville Guard of the National Indoor Football League (MILF).

The Guard tallied 322 total offensive yards in the win and was led by quarterback Shawn Withy-Allen (University of Hawaii) who had six touchdown passes for 216 yards, and wide receiver Desse James (Wake Forest) who had four touchdown scores and 190 yards receiving.

Good luck to one of my favorite backup UH QBs, next to Ivin Jasper.

In current UH football news, incoming freshman DB Lucious Henderson is petitioning the NCAA to let him play this year.

Henderson is asking the NCAA to credit an honors accounting class as a core subject. Henderson said he received high marks in that class. If the course is accepted, his GPA would go up and his SAT minimum would go down, allowing him to play this year. He said a McCollum counselor will provide an affidavit claiming he was told the class could count as a core subject.

"I have a good case," Henderson said. "I've been told I have a good chance."

It sounds like there shouldn't be a problem since his teacher apparently gave him faulty info. And for goodness sake, it's an honors accounting class! He did well! He's a good student! Good luck to you, Lucious. I want you to play this year, not just because you'll help the team, but so I can hear Jim Leahey accidentally call you "delicious".

Interview with Ikaika

Stephen Tsai interviews Ikaika Alama-Francis. Here's an excerpt:

On his training, during which he improved his strength and quickness.

"When I first started (in 2003), my max (in the bench press) was 225 (pounds). It was a little more than my weight. Now I'm at 405. The first time I broke 400, I couldn't believe it. I couldn't believe how far I've come. I know I have a long way to go.

"I ran a 4.69 (seconds), 4.71 (in the 40-yard dash). That was OK. I do a lot of sprints. I work with boxes, jumping on them, and on foot drills and changing directions. It helps to play basketball. You're playing a game, but you get to work on your footwork and lateral movement. Basketball has helped me tremendously in football. And you have fun with basketball, too."

Warrior Pride

This is how I show my school spirit:



That's right baby, license plate frame! Bling bling! Just bought it today at the UH Rainbowtique in Ward Center. You too can show your support for the University of Hawaii by buying this and a whole bunch of other crap, either at Ward Center, at UH Manoa, or online at:

http://www.uhrainbowtique.com

And no, they aren't paying me. I paid them! By purchasing a shiny new license plate frame.

Offseason Training

Stephen Tsai writes about the Warriors doing some offseason training.

"Summer time is grind time," said center Samson Satele, a fifth-year senior. "Games are won in the offseason. I've seen that for five years. The offseason really helps. I've seen a lot of guys go from out of shape to in shape during the offseason."

Good to hear a lot of them are out there. In other news, UH will put on a marketing blitz to get people to buy more football tickets. We'll see how that goes!

Ikaika on Another Watch

Via Sportshawaii.com, by way of the UH Athletics Department, we find that Ikaika Alama-Francis has been named to the preseason watch list for the Ted Hendricks Award, which recognizes the best defensive end in college football, taking into account such silly things as academics and community service. That's like the talent and interview portions of a beauty pageant -- we all know that's just for show! Just joking, don't get all sensitive.

Anyways, good luck to Ikaika, as well as Samson and Colt for their preseason watch listings as well. Anybody I missed? It seems like there are tons of these awards all of a sudden.

Samson on the Watch

The Football Writers Association of America has put Samson Satele on its watch list for the Outland Trophy, which is awarded to the best offensive or defensive lineman in college football. Three other players from Hawaii, but playing for other colleges, are also on the list: senior Enoka Lucas of Oregon, sophomore Jeremy Perry of Oregon State (thanks Cav!) and senior Tavo Tupola of Utah. Good luck to all of them, but mostly to Samson, cuz he's a Warrior! Samson going pound you!

Interview with Nate

Stephen Tsai has a good interview with Nate Ilaoa about football and his freestyle rapping skills. I'd like to hear him rapping one day, maybe after an upset victory over a national powerhouse!

"Nasty can stick," slotback Jason Ferguson said of Ilaoa's skill as a freestyle rapper. "The dude can flow."

Running back Jazen Anderson, whose father has served as a bodyguard for Will Smith and Jay-Z, rates Ilaoa "in the top 15."

In Hawai'i?

"In the country," Anderson said. "He's a freestyle champion. He can take a random beat, and go on. I would put up my money on him against anybody."

And football-wise:

On his health:
"Everything is good. Last spring, I used to work out, and my leg would be bugging me for a couple of days. I couldn't do anything. My hamstring would be bugging me. Now I'm working out like I did out of high school. I'm able to work out on a consistent basis."

Samuseva

Looks like former Hawaii Warrior Lance Samuseva is doing well playing for the Rock River Raptors of the United Indoor Football league.

Coming from pass-happy University of Hawaii, Lance Samuseva might not be expected to be up on the football running game.

Actually, it’s the Rock River Raptors nose tackle’s favorite part. Or, rather, stuffing it is.

“In college, I loved to play against the running game because it’s more physical,” said Samuseva, who at 6-foot-1 and 310 pounds looks like the human embodiment of the term “built like a fireplug.”

“A lot of the teams we played, they would see how our offense passed a lot, so they’d think we didn’t know how to defend the run. But our coaches emphasized it a lot.”

He's praised by the coaches and talks a little about being raised on Oahu. Good luck to Lance! UH needs more like him!

Slye Says Bye

Wide receiver Jordan Slye is leaving the team for "personal reasons." We wish he could've stayed with UH, but all the best to him as he leaves. June Jones granted him a release, so I hope this doesn't affect the team's APR.

Patton

Kenny Patton has decided to go back to playing corner after experimenting at receiver this spring.

And it turns out the WAC will have instant replay this season. Fun!

Colt's Silver Hammer

Stephen Tsai reports that Colt Brennan has been named to the Maxwell Award preseason watch list for the college player of the year. It's awarded by the Maxwell Football Club. Here's a fun fact about them:

The Maxwell Football Club is an active participant in football at all levels 52 weeks of the year. Several years ago, the Club provided a grant that led to the development of the short cleat that greatly reduces knee injuries.

Interview with Davone

Stephen Tsai has a great interview with Davone Bess. Definitely a must-read. Here's an excerpt:

On learning the offense:

"I knew what I had to do, but I didn't know the overall concept. Now I know that. Coach (June Jones) told us at the beginning of last year's fall camp, 'You'll get better the more you go through this.' When I watch film (of last year's games) now, I'm like, 'Why did I do that?' If only I knew then what I know now.

"I think it clicked in the middle of spring ball (in April). That's when everything clicked. It was like, 'OK, now I understand everything.' Last year, I knew my routes. If coach told me to run this play, I knew what to do. But I didn't know what (wideout) Ian Sample was doing. I didn't know what (wideout) Ross (Dickerson) was doing. I didn't know why Colt was looking off that safety. I didn't know the overall concept. Now I know why. Now that I know it, it's kind of a natural buzz, a boost, to think about it. I'm fired up, because I know what I'm doing now."

Wow, with Davone and the other receivers mastering the offense, Colt mastering the offense, Nate back, Mauia ready to be the Juggernaut, the O-line healthy -- this offense is gonna be amazing! Can't wait for the season the start!

Summer

I've been wondering about this:

UH got the good news it wanted when it learned last month that safety Leonard Peters and running back Nate Ilaoa received an additional season of eligibility because of injuries.

But running back Bryan Maneafaiga and receiver Ian Sample have not had their appeals resolved yet. The NCAA will render its decisions later this month, UH athletic department officials said.

Let's hope we hear good news regarding Bryan and Ian.

The article also talks about players attending voluntary workouts this summer. Ryan Grice-Mullins is recovering from a hammy injury while Solomon Elimimian and Adam Leonard are working out in Seattle with Eric Metcalf. They will come back as titans!

On Haunted Knee

Jason Ferguson is on the comeback trail, with the help of a dead fellow.

To mend the ACL, Ferguson underwent an allograft using tissue from a cadaver.

"As long it works," Ferguson said. "I'm like, 'Hold up this time, please. I don't care if (the tissue is) dead, alive, from an animal, anything. Don't let it tear again.' "

His knee is haunted! Wooooooo! Nah, good luck to Jason as he rehabs and gives DBs fits this year.

Colt

Stephen Tsai interviews Colt Brennan. Here's an excerpt:

On running back Nate Ilaoa, who recently was granted an exemption allowing him to play as a sixth-year senior in the fall:

"That was great news. That was the thing I was probably worried about the most all spring. I know he was definitely worried about it. Nate's had such an up-and-down career here. But, really, I think he's going to be the straw that stirs the drink this year. He's really going to make the difference in making us a great offense. He's a great blocker, but as far as his play-making ability, and his running, and how much the team loves him, I think he's going to have that huge season that's going to make everything right. After all of the injuries and criticisms he's battled, this is going to be his year."

Smack Talk

Here's an article from the Philadelphia Inquirer about Timmy Chang and his Eagle teammate Keyonta Marshall. They joke about how Marshall was talking smack to Timmy in NFL Europe when they played for opposing teams.

On a Mission

Stephen Tsai has an article with news about several players:

Waylon Lolotai, a linebacker who signed with UH in February, will be going on a church mission and won't be back until 2009.

Ryan Keomaka, who was dismissed from the team due to academic reasons, is seeking reinstatement. Sounds like he's got his studying in order.

And finally, juco transfer Gerard Lewis and freshman Lucious Henderson will both be academically eligible to play this year. Details are in the article!