The Haka

Stephen Tsai writes that the UH players will stop doing their current version of the haka because:

Athletic department officials acknowledged that a UH professor voiced concerns that the Warriors might be violating a copyright by performing the haka.

Te Rauparaha, chief of the Ngati-Toa tribe, was credited with inventing the version of the haka in 1820 that is now used by the All Blacks, New Zealand's national rugby team.

The All Blacks received permission from Ngati-Toa to perform the haka before matches.

But in the end, this may all be for the better because:

For the bowl game, the Warriors will perform a haka "specifically made for us," Esera said.

As with the current haka, Esera said, "we can't do it ourselves. We'll go to someone with knowledge. We know people."

An original Hawaii Warriors haka should be pretty cool! And then they can copyright it and it'll end up in videogames and it'll be awesome. Come on Leonard Peters, you should incorporate a fire knife performance for your going away game. Think about it!

Further down the article, Stephen Tsai reports that Nate Ilaoa's heel injury is still bothering him.

Running back Nate Ilaoa did not practice yesterday because of a contusion in his left heel.

Because of Ilaoa's absence, UH head coach June Jones said, "he's doubtful (to play Saturday) in my mind. Hopefully, he'll be able to play."

But Ilaoa, who received several hours of treatment yesterday, said he will be ready.

"I'm going to play," Ilaoa said. "It's Senior Night. What are you talking about?"

We need Fasti Nasti. I have no doubt he'll play. But maybe we'll see more of The Juggernaut aka "Reagan Mauia" who is also a senior, and that would be awesome too.

Dave Reardon writes that the Hawaii-grown players on the Oregon State team are excited to be coming home, even if most of the fans won't be cheering for them.

Then he'll return to Aloha Stadium on Saturday, and (Tavita) Thompson knows he and his teammates -- especially the ones from Hawaii -- will be the focus of some negative attention.

"It's going to be weird," he said. "My first time in that stadium with a booing crowd."

Thompson is the cousin of former UH running back Afatia Thompson, and Afalava's uncle, Kesi, was a Hawaii defensive tackle.

Both players said their relatives didn't try to influence them to become Warriors. In fact, Kesi Afalava tried to get Al to go to BYU.

"I based my final decision on conference-wise, coaching-wise. It felt like family here," Afalava said. "And the Pac-10 conference is one of the toughest in the nation."

Afalava said he knows most of Aloha Stadium will be against him Saturday. But he estimates close to a thousand of the expected sellout crowd of 50,000 will be rooting for him and his teammates.

"Family, friends, Oregon State fans," Afalava said. "And a lot of Kahuku fans. I call them my family, too."

Dave also notes that there will be a Hawaii Warriors feature on ESPN's College Gameday.

UH players and coaches are being interviewed this week for Saturday morning's ESPN's College Gameday program.

"I think a pretty significant feature is in the works," said Neil Everett, ESPN SportsCenter anchor, who is the former KGMB sports director. "I lent them some Hawaiian music (by former UH player Henry Kapono Kaaihue) to use with the piece."

Thanks once again to Neil Everett!

Ferd Lewis marvels that Oregon State head coach Mike Riley is excited to play Hawaii.

I mean, not so much as a lament about humidity, the travel, the demands of a 13-game schedule, playing a week after beating the in-state rival or the athletic department's budget. No bones to pick with the athletic director about scheduling the game. No setting up excuses in case of a loss. Riley even owned up to approving the game when it was made and expressed an interest in extending the series beyond 2008.

"Fact of the matter is, right now I'm excited about it," Riley said of the opportunity to play a 13th game here. He said the opportunity to play the 24th-ranked Warriors was "invigorating" for the Beavers after their Civil War triumph over Oregon.

And, get this, not a peep about Western Athletic Conference officials, who will work the game. Unlike half the Big Ten, OSU didn't jump up and down and demand their own officials. Of course, he's seen Pac-10 officials on a regular basis.

"I've said before that I think the reasons we wanted to play this game are still good reasons and we are looking forward to playing a very good football team," Riley said, positive to the end.

What a refreshing breath of fresh air. But of course OSU recruits in Hawaii a lot. And there may even be more games set up between OSU and UH in the future.

Dave Reardon writes a profile of Hawaii Bowl opponent Arizona State and fired head coach Dirk Koetter.

"I know Coach Dirk Koetter will have his team ready to play and they will be exciting to watch," UH athletic director Herman Frazier said. "I personally spoke to Dirk today and he told me he was looking forward to bringing his team to Honolulu."

Ferd Lewis also writes about ASU.

"We are extremely excited to accept this invitation to participate in the 2006 Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl," said Lisa Love, ASU's vice president for university athletics. "Our (players) have played their hearts out all year and this is a great reward for their season of hard work."

Should be a great game.