More Pro Day

Dave Reardon talks to an NFL scout about the players' performances at the UH Pro Day. It's candid and sometimes brutal. Here's an excerpt:

Tala Esera OT
"Pretty good drill work. I think he's got a real good shot at second day."

Nate Ilaoa RB
"I love watching this kid play. To me, Coach (June) Jones did a great job showcasing his strengths. I don't see him as a fullback, I see him as a true one-back guy. I think he has a 50-50 shot of getting drafted. Whoever takes him, they have a plan for him."

Leonard Peters S/LB
"He kind of talked about being injured, but was holding back on that to not make excuses. I think some team will love him on special teams. At safety, he gets a little bit out of position sometimes. Some teams are looking at him as a linebacker. Leonard is really good downhill when he sees the run. He gets exposed sometimes against the pass because he'll gamble."

Take the guy's analysis with a grain of salt though, as he say's this about Reagan Mauia.

Reagan Mauia FB
"Big man runs real well for his size. Teams that use a true fullback will be interested in him. His consistency as a blocker is a question, though. A lot of personal fouls in college.

A lot? I just remember two in the 2005 MSU game, early in his UH career when he was playing D-line, but after the coaches talked to him about it, he was on the straight and narrow. I hope this negative impression of The Juggernaut isn't common among the scouts. Anyway, Dave has a lot more info in his article, so go read it.

Pro Day Wrap-Up

Stephen Tsai reports on the Warriors who participated in yesterday's Pro Day in Carson, California.

UH's pro day actually drew as many scouts as USC's. What's more, New York Jets head coach Eric Mangini skipped USC's pro day to have dinner with four former Warriors — safety Leonard Peters and offensive linemen Tala Esera, Samson Satele and Dane Uperesa.

"They've got a nice group of prospects," Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Norm Chow said of the former Warriors.

The event served as a mini reunion. Former UH quarterback Tim Chang showed up. "I just wanted to root for the guys," Chang said.

...

Peters performed well in pass-coverage drills. UH's offensive linemen also excelled, particularly Satele.

"Everybody likes Samson," Chow said. "He's wide in the butt, but he can really move his feet."

In football parlance, Chow's assessment was high praise.

"That's a compliment," Satele said. "I've got a center of gravity. I've got balance."

At the bottom of the article is a list of the players who participated along with their stats from yesterday.

Stephen Tsai has another article highlighting Ikaika Alama-Francis.

As it turned out, the scouts were not interested in Alama-Francis' 40 or shuttle times. Instead, they wanted to see if he could make the transition to tight end.

At the request of the Kansas City Chiefs, Alama-Francis ran pass routes.

He also participated in pass-coverage drills as an outside linebacker.

Less than a month before the NFL draft, Alama-Francis is now a three-position prospect.

By the end of yesterday's workouts, Alama-Francis was too exhausted to spit. He sat on a metal bench, running his fingers through his new orange mohawk.

"All of the scouts were laughing because they worked him so hard," Bauer said. "But he's a great athlete. He's raw, but they can see the talent. And they know he's a hard worker. After what he did today, everybody knows that."

Sounds like a lot of them did great. And now we wait!

UPDATE: Stephen Tsai has various bits of news on The Warrior Beat.

The impact of UH strength coaches Tommy Heffernan and Mel deLaura was evident during yesterday's NFL Pro Timing Day in Carson, Calif.
In the 225-pound bench press, the most repetitions were recorded by players who trained on campus. Marques Kaonohi had 37 reps, Lawrence Wilson had 36 and Renolds Fruean 32.

======

Moving onto schedule news, Ferd writes an article about what Northern Colorado message boards are buzzing about regarding a potential UH game.

"I like the 400K payday, but, seriously, they (the Warriors) could put up 100 points on us," worries one fan on one of the school's fan Web sites.

"One hundred points is possible, UH nearly did it to Fresno State, but they sat their starters after the third (quarter and) ended up with 68 points," wrote another.

While the I-A Warriors return most of their starters, including quarterback Colt Brennan, from a team that set a bundle of NCAA offensive records, the heavily underclassmen Bears will be in their first season as full-fledged I-AA team.

...

If UNC's worst fears are realized, there could be a different payoff to the late addition of a UH game. "I'm not looking forward to the headlines on ESPN etc. quoting some record-breaking defeat," wrote a UNC fan.

Ugh. Not the kind of team you want to break records against.

And finally Kalani Simpson tries not to worry about the schedule situation by looking at things from another perspective.

Nothing is as good as it was back home. Those teams in green are your connection to Hawaii -- you wear them on your sleeve. It's like you're a kid again. You hold onto them that tight.

We who actually are here in Hawaii are close enough, though (sometimes unfortunately), to see the warts. We're close enough that the idealized picture is often punctured. We know things aren't perfect. We see it all up close, in HD.

But the local folks stuck on the mainland do have something going for them. With their distance comes innocence. With their homesickness comes a special kind of love. An ocean away, they are fans the way we were when we were kids. I envy them that.

In a way, we should all be lucky enough to get as much excitement out of a team as the people do who are twice as excited by it because they're so far away.

UH's most fervent, true-believer, rabid fans are on the mainland. No, wait, check that. They are in Iraq (and an update -- SFC Steve Chinen is safe and currently home on two weeks of R&R, and hoping to catch Colt Brennan at spring practice next week).

And so, yes, Brian on the Mainland is upset about the whole Herman-schedule-fiasco thing. Everybody is. But it makes him even more determined to, in his words, not "wallow" in the situation. He says not since Al Noga has a senior season been this anticipated.

I can certainly relate, having spent lots and lots of time on the mainland. Maybe being away from TV and radio and people on the street talking about the schedule helps one forget the fiasco, at least for a moment. Then again, the Internet is there to remind you over and over again. Woops.

Pro Day

UPDATE: Stephen Tsai has a new Pro Day article here, and will have updates on his blog. Here's an excerpt from the article:

Running back Regan Mauia looks like a different player. He has a buzz cut, and he trimmed down to 272 pounds.

Running back Nate Ilaoa weighed in at 255 — about 10 pounds higher than his target weight — but he ran a very fast L-drill.

The biggest surprise is Kenny Patton, who missed UH's final eight games because of a broken collarbone. Patton had the highest vertical jump (41 1/2 inches) and ran 40 yards in 4.5 seconds. After the drills, the New Orleans Saints set up a private interview.

Way to go!

Today is Hawaii's Pro Day in Carson. Stephen Tsai writes:

Alama-Francis (torn pectoral muscle), Uperesa (pulled hamstring) and Esera (stomach flu) did not participate in speed and jumping drills at the NFL combine. All three have been cleared to participate today.

"I'm ready," said Alama-Francis, whose pectoral muscle has fully healed.

Ilaoa and Peters are using the Pro Day as a make-up test. Both want to improve their times in the 40-yard dash and shuttle runs.

At Indianapolis, there were short breaks between drills.

"My feet were hurting," Ilaoa said. "I should be fresh this time."

Peters' problems could be traced to slow starts. He spent the past month working on his first-step quickness. He also lost seven pounds and weighs 210.

"We'll see what happens," Peters said.

According to the article, Ian Sample, Lawrence Wilson, Ross Dickerson, Chad Mock, and Kenny Patton will also be there. No mention of Mel Purcell or Reagan Mauia, but they should be there as well, I'm hoping. Good luck to all of them!

======

Dave Reardon writes about the official hiring of Dennis McKnight and talks about the possibility of Greg McMackin re-joining the Warriors as well.

McKnight, 47, was a graduate assistant at Manoa last year, but it was clear even before that he was overqualified for the position; McKnight had served on June Jones' UH staff in 1999 and 2000 as special teams coach and offensive line assistant.

Another veteran of Jones' charter staff will likely rejoin UH in the coming weeks. Greg McMackin, who was defensive coordinator in 1999, might fill that post again.

Jones declined comment earlier this week regarding McMackin.

Rounding out to be another great coaching staff!

======

And finally, Ferd Lewis writes what could be the best-case scenario regarding the schedule at this point in time.

The Oct. 20 or Nov. 3 football game that the University of Hawai'i finally adds could be the 13th and last — but by no means least — of the pieces of this season's schedule.

As we await a finalized schedule and the WAC TV slate begins to come into focus, that last game looms as more than just filler. It takes on a growing importance for quarterback Colt Brennan's Heisman Trophy candidacy and the Warriors' bid for a place in the national polls.

The opportunity to play an opponent of some significance in one of those two late-season slots is large in terms of the Warriors' team and individual goals. With the real possibility of two I-AA opponents on the schedule, Charleston Southern and Northern Colorado, there is a need, a crying one, really, to pick up a marquee opponent to balance things out a bit.

...

Indeed, as ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit has put it, "For him (Brennan) to get a realistic shot at it (the Heisman), it will come down to who they (the Warriors) play, how many times they play on TV and can they win games."

One can certainly dream. Let's hope Ferd's dream comes true.

Mid-Week in Review

Here are some stories from the past week or so:

Dennis McKnight has been officially announced as the new offensive line coach.

Dennis McKnight, who served as a graduate assistant last season, has been hired as the offensive line coach on the University of Hawai`i football staff, Herman Frazier, athletics director, has announced.

"I'm so excited that Dennis is on board as a full-time assistant coach," June Jones, head coach, said. "He brings a lot of knowledge and enthusiasm to our team."

...

"Who said you can't come home?" McKnight said. "After working as a graduate assistant last season, I'm very gratified and appreciative of the opportunity to work with the staff and kids on a full-time basis."

Congrats!

======

Colt Brennan and June Jones got awards from the state legislature for being awesome.

======

Tomorrow is Hawaii's "Pro Day" in Carson, California where Warriors like Samson Satele, Ikaika Alama-Francis, Tala Esera, Dane Uperesa, Mel Purcell, Leonard Peters, Nate Ilaoa and others (Juggernaut???) will get to work out for pro scouts. This message board post says it'll be held at the Home Depot Center.

======

Speaking of Samson, he gets props from USA Today.

Scouts are comparing him to former 49ers-Hawaii star Jesse Sapolu, who also had great raw power, leverage and nimble feet. Satele holds the school record with 53 consecutive starts. Has not had his hair cut since enrolling at Hawaii in 2002.

======

Rivals.com ranks Colt Brennan as the #1 quarterback in the nation and Davone Bess as the #8 receiver in their initial power rankings.

======

Ashley Lelie talks about settling in the with the 49ers.

Warriors on the TV

Ferd Lewis writes that there may be many UH football games on national TV this year.

ESPN has already notified the Western Athletic Conference of interest in the Oct. 12 game at San Jose State, Nov. 10 home game with Fresno State, Nov. 23 home game against Boise State and Dec. 1 Washington games.

Additionally, ESPN is reportedly looking at the Nov. 17 game at Nevada.

Moreover, should UH add a game of interest for either the Oct. 20 or Nov. 3 slots, ESPN or another network could pick that one up as well.

...

UH athletic director Herman Frazier has said he intends to add two games to the 11 the Warriors have already announced, one of which would be a Division I-A opponent on the road for Oct. 20 or Nov. 3.

The other shapes up as a Division I-AA team for the Sept. 1 opener. UH has discussed the opening with Northern Colorado.

This is shaping up to be a big year for the Warriors!

And that just makes the whole scheduling fiasco all the more frustrating. I know, aunty, we shouldn't listen to the naysayers and haters who will be harping on the weak weak schedule since they'd find things to naysay about anyway, but this is like throwing a huge load of chum into shark-infested waters! And why does this crap have to happen THIS year? The timing is absolutely horribly the opposite of impeccable.

I'm not saying it still won't be a huge season for the Warriors, because it will be, and they'll play well against whoever they have to play, but what's more awesome -- destroying Northern Colorado, or destroying BYU? Or Louisville? Or Texas Tech? Or any Division I-A team? If UH ends up playing two I-AA teams (I can't even think about THREE) it'll affect strength of schedule, rankings, records, respect, Colt's Heisman campaign, etc. on top of what the inherent disrespect for the WAC already brings.

Oh hell, I'm sorry to bring down a great, positive story about UH football into angst about the schedule, so to make up for it, here's a website where you can buy paper products made out of elephant crap.



Since UH fans have been taking so much crap lately, I thought it was only fitting. But at The Great Elephant Poo Poo Paper Company, the crap is put to good use. Be there!

McKnight Hired (Soon)

Stephen Tsai writes that Dennis McKnight is set to be hired as a full-time coach.

"That's what I heard," said McKnight, who will be named the offensive line coach officially.

...

"He always has the little insights from his playing days," right guard John Estes said of the 11-year NFL offensive lineman. "He knows his stuff. He's a very good teacher. He is a good motivator."

(Laupepa) Letuli said: "I like the guy. He's so emotional. He yells and he'll get on my butt a lot of times, which is good. I need someone to push me. He does that."

This coming season, Mc-Knight will have to break in three new starters again.

"People are worried about losing three starters — and they were three great starters — but we have so many young and talented players," McKnight said. "They're all tough, feisty, aggressive guys. The hardest thing will be to narrow the field because only five can play at a time."

Good to have him (officially) aboard. Hope he can move out of his office now.

Interview with the A.D.

Dave Reardon interviews UH athletic director Herman Frazier, who talks about ohhh what might've been.

"I think what people need to understand is we're not making any excuses in not getting (the schedule) done in a timely manner," Frazier said. "There have been mitigating factors all the way through the process. As we kept trying to close a deal, other things would happen that opened it up."

Frazier said he has worked with "24 different scenarios" regarding the schedule, going back to last fall.

...

"We may have gotten a little bit greedy," Frazier said.

"I miscalculated, because at the end of the day, too many people were involved in it, because somebody wanted to do this, and somebody wanted to do that," Frazier said, citing the involvement of ESPN as a matchmaker in situations involving up to four teams at a time.

"When we were talking about six home games vs. eight home games, I should've just knuckled down and done it myself."

Frazier said he could have booked a 2007 schedule late last year that would have included Texas A&M and either North Carolina State or Texas Tech, all on the road. Louisville on the road was also an option.

But he wanted to hold out for more home games.

"In November we could've done it. Do I regret it? Now, yeah. I need a game," Frazier said Friday.

There are a lot more details, so definitely read the entire article. But here's one more excerpt:

"As soon as this fiasco is over, we're gonna get future years done and get us out of the market. We have teams knocking on the door for '08 and beyond," Frazier said, but added. "They ain't jumping at us (for 2007), though."

Still, he said he remains optimistic for a full 13-game schedule in 2007.

"We never said it would be a 12-game schedule," Frazier said. "We've got options."

Well, it still sounds like there's plans for two I-AA teams on the schedule, which sucks. In any case, it's a great interview by Reardon. It has what normally would be three months worth of Herman Frazier quotes.

But wait, there's more! In another article, Herman Frazier defends his record.

"With the exception of the schedule, we've passed every other test," he said.

He also said he isn't trying to pass blame and accountability.

"It's like I told the Board of Regents when they asked about the schedule," he said. "'It starts and stops with me.'"

Some of Frazier's statements, especially in regard to the schedule, have sounded more of hubris than humility, and haven't played well to UH fans -- especially when they were led to expect a complete schedule or something close to it on several occasions and none was delivered.

Frazier has not been as accessible to the media as predecessors Ray Nagel, Stan Sheriff and Hugh Yoshida, and often provides quotes through a spokeswoman. This approach has not helped his public image.

"Certain people in the print media have their own agenda," Frazier said.

Guess that means no sit-down with Ferd Lewis anytime soon?

It's great that Herman is talking more, being accountable, and seeming to have learned a few lessons from all of this (plan years ahead, no more empty promises). If he can get two I-A teams to round out the 07 schedule, all is forgiven! Drinks for everybody! I may be dreaming though.

Ah, the Possibilities

This is doo doo.

Division I-AA Northern Colorado has surfaced as a candidate to fill an opening on the University of Hawai'i's 2007 football schedule, possibly in the season opener.

...

The Bears went 1-10 last year, their inaugural season in the Big Sky, after moving up from Division II.

I hope this is just a scenario being floated so that when the actual schedule is released it won't hurt as much. Oh who am I kidding.

In happier bear news, here's a story of a baby polar bear named Knut.

The three-and-a-half-month old white cub padded gingerly round his new enclosure to the gasps and sighs of onlookers.

Fortified by a breakfast of porridge, the puppy-sized cub sniffed the grass and rolled in the dust before delighting the crowds by splashing in a pond.

"I want to take him home," said Daniel Wolff, five, whose mother had bought him a specially made "Knut" cuddly polar bear toy on sale on a stand outside the enclosure.

Awwwww.

Tidbits

I was listening to Sportsradio 1420, Bobby Curran was interviewing June Jones at Lulu's, which was hosting a benefit for Warriors Respond and the June Jones Foundation. Go visit, they sell some cool clothes.

Anyway, they talked about some football. Here are some tidbits:

• Colt Brennan will be under center more this upcoming season.


• June Jones was very high on Ray Hisatake, Blaze Soares, Kealoha Pilares... actually a lot of guys.


• Pilares may be returning kicks next year.


• June was especially proud of Mario Cox, who is working his butt off in workouts and in the classroom. He'll be competing at running back.


• June was also high on Amani Purcell, who is up to 275 pounds. I think June said they're crafting a role for him on the defensive line.


• June joked that he wants to skip spring and go straight into fall, he's so excited about this upcoming year.


• Nothing really mentioned regarding the schedule.


• June also joked that Davone Bess might be punting. At least I think it was a joke.


• And finally, next month, there's gonna be something called June Jones and the Magic Temple which is a magic show by John Hirokawa that involves June Jones slaying a dragon...I think, errrr, here's the description:

  John Hirokawa and the Magic of Polynesia presents "June Jones and the Magic Temple," a benefit event for the University of Hawaii's Na Koa Football Club!
  
  Set for Friday, April 27 at the Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel, this gala event will include heavy pupu prepared by Murphy's Bar & Grill, Hukilau, Side Street Inn, Contemporary Flavors Catering (from Kauai) and more. The evening will also include beverages and a silent auction. Then sit back and enjoy a special show featuring master illusionist John Hirokawa and UH football coach June Jones!

  
  
It sounds very strange. I can just imagine June wearing a puffy shirt like David Copperfield and acting all mysterious. Anyway, I hope there's a video of it for sale to benefit Na Koa as well. Tickets are $125!

UPDATE: The show was postponed... no word on if/when it'll be rescheduled.

Bad Bad News

UPDATE: Keenan Jones talks to Dave Reardon, and clears up the situation in this June 17th article. Thank goodness.

The Advertiser reports that UH corner Keenan Jones was arrested yesterday.

Honolulu police were called to Jones' apartment at 2591 Dole Street by neighbors reporting a domestic argument at 2:30 p.m. yesterday. The incident came hours after Jones, a 6-foot-2, 192-pound cornerback, was suspended from the team for missing several team assignments.

...

According to police, Keenan Jones, 21, of Harbor City, Calif., got into a verbal argument with his 21-year-old, live-in girlfriend.The argument escalated and turned physical, police said.

In a statement to police, the woman alleged Jones punched and kicked her and prevented her from leaving the couple's apartment.Responding patrol officers broke up the fight and arrested Jones.

I'm sure we'll learn more details from Tsai and Reardon tomorrow. Unbelievable.

UPDATE: No new news. Here's a short article about the incident from the Star-Bulletin.

Vegas

Is the Advertiser being cheeky? They have a breaking news article entitled, "UNLV releases football schedule; Hawai'i still on it."

Wah wahhhhhh!

Spring is Near

In yesterday's Warrior Beat blog post by Stephen Tsai, an item vanished, but others took its place. Here's one:

Cornerback Keenan Jones has been suspended for spring ball for missing mandatory team assignments.
UH coach June Jones declined to discuss details, but said the cornerback will remain on scholarship and compete in training camp in August.

That sucks, especially with last year's paperwork fiasco. Hope he'll train hard in the offseason and come into the fall ready to compete. Speaking of spring practice, Tsai also posted a schedule, which can also be found here:

The practice dates are April 2, 4, 5, 9, 11-12, 16-19, 21, 23, 25, 26 and 28.

And finally, Ferd Lewis is still burning.

Well before Forrest Gump gave us the "box of chocolates" analogy of life, Stan Sheriff offered the "apple pie" theory on athletic directors.

Sheriff was athletic director at Northern Iowa and the University of Hawai'i, two schools that posthumously named facilities for him, and came to believe that an AD's employment is measured like an apple pie.

With each crisis, Sheriff used to say, a slice (the bigger the crisis, the bigger the piece) was subtracted until, eventually, there was an empty pie tin and, hence, an exit.

Clearly, the Herman Frazier model pie is a lot like his current football schedule, showing some glaring pukas.

And it goes on. Let's hope it doesn't have to go on for much longer.

Get Chance?

June Jones has a plan writes Stephen Tsai.

People in the know say June Jones has crafted a plan that would allow UH to open the season against an opponent from a BCS league. There are a few hurdles, but Jones should have enough juice to overcome them. The holdup? Jones hasn't been asked to help with the schedule. In fact, Jones is out of the loop when it comes to scheduling. Even the No. 2 guys — Carl Clapp and John McNamara — are not in the inner circle.
Meanwhile, we wait while the AD waits for a mysterious Division I-A team to see if it can orchestrate a three-team schedule switch.

Herman, please ask June to help you with the schedule. It won't make you look bad. If anything, it'll save you! June Jones giving you chance.

Chance em!

THREE I-AAs?!?!?!?

Well, that's the worst case scenario, but you gotta be kidding me.

Season tickets went on sale yesterday, but UH still has at least one home date left to fill. If the Warriors can't find two more Division I teams, they'll be left with a schedule including at least two I-AA teams, and maybe three, to fill a 13-game schedule.

"That's the worst-case scenario," Warriors coach June Jones said, referring to the possibility of playing three I-AA teams. "We need to have 13 games, to me. We lose money otherwise."

UH athletic director Herman Frazier did not respond to an inquiry yesterday via spokeswoman Lois Manin about progress on the schedule.

I can't believe this crap.

Brennan said he would personally prefer a 12-game slate to one of 13 games if it includes three I-AA opponents.

"I know we would lose some money," Brennan said. "But if we stack our schedule with three I-AA teams, I don't think the public and the media would accept it very well. They would use that to deflate whatever we accomplish."

If you read the rest of Dave Reardon's article, the scheduling situation isn't really bothering Colt too much as he and his teammates focus on training, but looking at the quote above, it is a concern. I think a 12 game schedule would be ideal to TWO I-AA teams, let alone frickin THREE! But like Coach Jones said, it would affect the bottom line of the UH athletic department if there wasn't a full schedule. Oh well, like always, I hold out hope, however dim. Sounds like something Eeyore would say.

Meanwhile, June Jones tells Dave Reardon:

...he plans to have the two open spots on his staff filled around the time spring practice starts, April 2.

"We won't have one done until next week and two weeks for the other," Jones said yesterday.

Come on Reinebold!

So March 19th...

...came and went and no games were announced.

Well, the night's not over yet, so there's hope yet.

But don't stay up.

As Stephen Tsai wrote:

Just returned from UH, and the football coaches are resigned to a schedule with (at least) two Division I-AA opponents.
One coach joked the Warriors would open against OD.
OD?
Open Date.
Asked about the opener, a UH safety said: "I think we're playing Madden that day."

Michael Brewster

Mike Zimmer of the Billings Gazette writes a profile of former Warrior running back Michael Brewster, who is gearing up for the start of the United Indoor Football League as a member of the Billings Outlaws.

Though he is a running back by trade, Brewster will be a starting receiver and kick returner for the Outlaws when they open the United Indoor Football league season Friday night at Fort Collins, Colo.

"My goal is to get him double-digit touches in every game," said O'Neal. "Michael is a big play waiting to happen every time he has the ball. With his speed and quickness, his great hands, his shiftiness, his power and strength ... with everything he brings to the table, he's a lethal weapon with the ball in his hands.

...

Brewster is also lethal in the weight room, a hobby that has produced a physique worthy of earning the nickname "12-Pack" from his coach.

O'Neal tells the story of an afternoon earlier this spring when he and several Outlaws played basketball for about 90 minutes. When the hoops session was done, Brewster hit the weights.

"He started with 14 (bench press) reps at 225 pounds, then did eight at 315, then six at 330, then he finished with four at 350," said O'Neal. "AFTER an hour-and-a-half of full-court basketball. It was impressive.

"You can see by looking at him how hard he works on his body. I call him 12-Pack. He doesn't just have 6-pack abs. He has a 12-pack."

Good luck to Brewster!

Mouse, McMackin, Hugh

Mouse Davis is now officially the offensive coordinator at Portland State, joining Jerry Glanville.

Dave Reardon writes that Greg McMackin is not necessarily interviewing for the defensive coordinator job at UH.

(June) Jones said McMackin is not up for the defensive coordinator's opening, because Jones plans to fill the two open staff positions before deciding who the coordinator will be later.

"He is one of three people interviewing for an assistant coach's position," Jones said. "There is no defensive coordinator interviewing yet."

Assuming McMackin joins the staff, he would then likely become a candidate for the coordinator's position.

Maybe it's June's way of leveling the playing field? In any case, having McMackin and Reinebold on the same staff would be a plus for the defense. And that just may be the case, as Reardon continues:

(Mouse) Davis quashed speculation that Reinebold would leave UH for the title of defensive coordinator at Portland State.

"I think he's pretty much locked in (at Hawaii)," Davis said of Reinebold.

Right on.

Season ticket renewals begin on Monday. Does this mean the people renewing their tickets will know who UH is playing? We'll find out!

And finally, from yesterday, Ferd Lewis praises Hugh Yoshida in order to bury Herman Frazier. Ouch! I don't wanna piss Ferd off.

McMackin and Reinebold

Greg McMackin and Jeff Reinebold are finalists for the Warriors' defensive coordinator position, according to Stephen Tsai.

If Reinebold is promoted to defensive coordinator, UH will hire a defensive line coach. McMackin does not appear to be a candidate for any other UH job besides defensive coordinator.

Jones was scheduled to return to Honolulu last night after spending four days in Southern California.

Jones and McMackin will meet this morning.

Jones would like to name a defensive coordinator before the April 2 start of spring practice, although there is no established time table.

In his one season at UH, McMackin implemented an attacking, zone-blitz defense. Jones' only Western Athletic Conference title was in 1999.

While McMackin favored a four-man front when he was at UH, his schemes have the flexibility to adjust to the Warriors' current 3-4 alignment. In the 1999 O'ahu Bowl, the Warriors used a five-man front, essentially a 3-4, to defeat Oregon State.

Sounds like either one of them would be great, though I hope Reinebold gets it. If only to make sure he stays at UH for the next twenty years!

Timmy Chang Update

Former Warrior Timmy Chang recently signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL. He spoke to Steve Milton of The Hamilton Spectator about it.

Chang needs time to develop, though, simply because he hasn't played much since leaving Hawaii in 2004. Undrafted, he tried out with the NFL Cardinals and was cut, got five pre-season appearances with the Eagles last year, and quarterbacked the NFL Europe's Rhein Fire last winter.

"Probably the wrong place at the wrong time," Chang explained.

The Canadian game, though, might be the right place at the right time, and that intrigues him.

"Three downs puts the offence in a bind in some ways but it has its advantages too with all the motion," he said. "In college, I threw the ball 90 per cent of the time. The defence knew what was coming, we knew what was coming and we still had success.

"I'm very excited, I can't express enough gratitude to the staff for bringing me up there."

Good luck to Timmy!

UPDATE: Here's an Advertiser article from today regarding the signing.

"He's is a guy who did incredible things in college and has had success at the professional level," said Hamilton general manager Marcel Desjardins in a statement. "With Tim's addition, the quarterback position is now a position of strength for our team and will help us achieve success.

"After speaking with Tim on the phone, he conveyed that he's very excited at the opportunity to come to Hamilton and of course we're thrilled to have him here."

Two I-AAs?

Ferd Lewis writes a column entitled "Schedule of the weak is shameful".

Indeed, the possibility of being left with two I-AA opponents is one of the most disconcerting elements in the whole the University of Hawai'i scheduling fiasco. And it is fueling much of the uproar while we wait ... and wait for a schedule.

...

The spin out of UH would remind you New Mexico State is playing two I-AA foes. But, really, do you want to put UH in the same category with the Aggies, who were 0-12 just two years ago and have been struggling to beat somebody, anybody, ever since?

Here, booking two I-AAs will be taken as a sign of desperate straits. Not the best of advertisements heading into what should be a banner season ticket sale.

Elsewhere the perception will be worse: that UH was trying to pull a fast one and was afraid to play another team of note. Not the kind of message you want to be deduced while pushing a quarterback for the Heisman Trophy or campaigning for a place in the Top 25.

By any name — I-AA or Football Championship Subdivision — having two of them on UH's schedule would be an embarrassment.

Please let it not be true! Or maybe this is the build-up to one of the greatest April Fools jokes of all time? I'm laughing already! Hahahaha!

Unannouncement (#9?) Wrap-Up

Stephen Tsai and Ferd Lewis write:

As one deadline clicked past, the University of Hawai'i set a new one — next Monday — to have at least one of its two remaining football games on the 2007 schedule filled.

...

"For the two contests we are talking to three different schools," Frazier said. He declined to say which schools — or conferences — he is talking to but said at least one of them is a Division I-A member.

So one of them isn't? Gaaaah!

Ferd elaborates in his column.

Would you want a Division I-AA team in the opener when you have three road games and another I-AA team filling the month behind it? Would you be thrilled about playing a non-conference road game — a sixth away game as it would turn out — heading into the teeth of the Western Athletic Conference schedule: Fresno State, Nevada, and Boise State?

Hardly. Yet, either — or both — remain distinct possibilities. Clearly things have long since moved past what is ideal and have gone all the way to desperate. All the way, a Charleston, S.C., newspaper reported, to the point where UH was sending "out mass e-mails to programs all across America" and garnered I-AA Charleston Southern.

Kalani Simpson pretty much sums up the fans' feelings.

I've had a few people tell me that all this waiting is overrated, that this whole schedule scenario has been blown out of proportion, we shouldn't be this worked up about it. OK, valid point.

But it's been Frazier that's made it a big story by the way he's handled it.

For months, he told us he had it all under control. He told us it was all wrapped up, any minute now. He could sign four opponents tomorrow if he wanted. He talked about getting BCS conference teams. By putting it off he could get even better matchups for UH. He told us just trust him, even as time kept passing by and it seemed the evidence was mounting to the contrary.

With every bold assurance (which would eventually fall through, again, and again, and again) he was turning a footnote into 25-point type.

And through all of this, Dave Reardon writes that Frazier may have learned a hard lesson, though maybe a little too late.

Frazier was also asked if he could guarantee a 13-game schedule.

"I ain't guaranteeing anything, based on how people react," he said.

It's a tough job, with everyone looking over your shoulder, and I'm sure it's been very tough for Frazier, trying to reign in all these moving parts, but he's also been guaranteeing and promising things that haven't really been there, hoping everything falls into place by the time the deadline rolls around. Over and over and over again.

Herman Frazier Says...

One more game away, one more game at home.

Just waiting for the away team to get everything arranged on their end.

When will the final final final schedule be released? Hopefully before March 19th.

He just said this on 1420 AM.

And the Saga Continues

Here's part of a just released press release from the UH Athletic Department.

HONOLULU - The University of Hawai'i Athletics Department is awaiting confirmation from a Division I-A non-conference opponent in order to complete the 2007 Warrior football schedule, Athletics Director Herman Frazier announced.

"We were anticipating confirmation today, but university officials have asked for additional time in order to make final arrangements on their end," Frazier said. "Therefore, they requested that we hold off announcing the game, which could be played on one of two open dates. Once that game is determined, it will allow us to finalize the last home date."

Frazier confirmed that UH would host Charleston Southern on Saturday, Sept. 22, at Aloha Stadium and that the Warriors will play seven home games during the 2007 season.

For goodness sake. Don't make promises others can't keep. Well, at least Charleston Southern is confirmed....

Soooo... Ummmm....

Hmmmmm....

No word yet.

The Saga of the '07 Schedule (w/update)

Our journey to a complete 2007 football schedule has taken various twists and turns along the way. Below is a timeline of what's happened so far. Feel free to fill in any gaps via comments or e-mail if you notice anything missing. I'll try to edit, update and/or repost it after the schedule is released.

UPDATE: The final schedule has been released, so I've updated this post as of June 9th, 2007. On the timeline, the update starts from 03-12-2007, if you've already read the first half.

So without further ado, we begin in the winter of 2004...

======

12-04-2004

UH beats Michigan State in a 41-38 thriller at Aloha Stadium. MSU coach John L. Smith starts whining about the loss, which, unbelievably, won't stop for another two years. Chasethedragon, fed up, posts a rebuttal in early 2007.

======

9-10-2005

No return game? The next year, Michigan State beats UH in East Lansing. John L. Smith hints that they won't play UH again in 2007, as contracted.

Smith said: "I'll be there for that vacation. I'm not gonna play that game. We'll just do that vacation part. Can't we just do that? I'd like to come over there and not have to play the game. (But) I'll be there in Nov. 2007."

The contract carries a penalty clause for cancellation.

======

9-12-2006

BY-Who? Dave Reardon writes that UH athletic director Herman Frazier declined an away game, and the possibility of a renewed series of games, with Hawaii's old rival BYU. Instead, Herman opts for a home game with Oregon State to round out the 2006 schedule, and gives a good reason (strength of schedule). But Frazier says BYU is not a possibility for the 2007 schedule either.

BYU is not a possibility for 2007, he said. Frazier added he hasn't had scheduling conversations with anyone in the Cougars administration since February.

"The only time we talked to BYU is when we were trying to fill our (2006) schedule," Frazier said. "It's an old story."

======

10-10-2006

Excuses. Michigan State gets their lawyers on the case, trying to weasel their way out of their contracted 2007 game, as John L Smith hinted at in '05. As Dave Reardon reports:

"Playing a 13th game that late in the season would interfere with school too much," (MSU associate athletic director John) Lewandowski said. "We'd rather have a game at the front end of the schedule."

When the NCAA voted last year to allow an additional game (12 for most teams, 13 for those playing a game in Hawaii) beginning this season, Michigan State added a home game against UAB to the start of its schedule before Big Ten play.

"It's just Michigan State ... has been whining and crying. All of a sudden they came up with the excuse of a 13th game," Frazier said yesterday, on the Bobby Curran radio show.

Why add a 13th game if you're gonna complain about playing a 13th game? In any case, nobody at UH seems worried...

"If I want to sign four games tomorrow, I can sign four games tomorrow," Frazier said.

... though Stephen Tsai suggests that it may be time to ask for help.

Nobody’s pointing fingers in this situation. There are a lot of circumstances, mainly who would want to play against a Colt Brennan-led football team? But time is running out, season-ticket holders need to be billed in April, and maybe — just maybe — it’s time a little kokua is sought.

...

“If Herman says it’s my job (to schedule), I’ll do it,” (UH head coach June) Jones told reporters at yesterday’s news conference.

It’s time Frazier asked.

=======

10-27-2006

Announcement Planned. Dave Reardon writes that Herman Frazier will make an announcement regarding the 2007 schedule in the next two weeks.

======

10-29-2006

The Price of Success. Ferd Lewis fears that the Warriors' 2006 offensive explosion might scare away potential 2007 opponents.

"I mean, with the way we've been playing lately, I don't think anybody is going to want to come out and play us next year," said UH quarterback Colt Brennan said after tossing five touchdowns for the fifth time in six weeks and the Warriors (6-2) claimed sole possession of second place in the Western Athletic Conference at 4-1. "Especially here, at home."

...

...you hope UH is sitting on a stack of signed, sealed and already-delivered contracts for next season and just hasn't gotten around to publicizing it.

The wish is that it is faxing those contracts out and closing those deals in a hurry. ... That Frazier's contention that closing out the schedule will "be a piece of cake" holds true.

======

11-01-2006

Farewell, John L. After yet another disappointing season, Michigan State decides not to retain John L. Smith. Unfortunately, MSU does decide to retain John L's desire to chicken out of the 2007 UH game.

======

11-07-2006

No Division I-AA Teams. June Jones tells Dave Reardon the 2007 schedule is pretty much set.

Athletic director Herman Frazier has the four unannounced opponents on next year's schedule arranged, Jones said.

"About two and a half weeks ago and he assured me that he's about got things pretty much lined up," said Jones, who added that all the opponents will be Division I-A teams.

He declined to name the schools.

"I'll let him break it to you," Jones said. "I think that a couple of them might be on the road."

Excitement mounts.

======

11-12-2006

Okay, Maybe One. Herman Frazier tells Dave Reardon that negotiations with Michigan State is holding up the non-conference schedule, but not to worry:

"It will fall into place," Frazier said.

He said he is in contact with schools that want to play Hawaii, but did not disclose the names. He did say Louisville called him last week to schedule a 2007 game, but Frazier declined because it would be at Louisville.

"If I'm going to do that, I might as well play at Georgia," Frazier said.

He said he wants to schedule a "marquee" team. When asked to define "marquee," Frazier said "top 20."

Frazier said his plan is to schedule a "big-time anchor on the back end," meaning Thanksgiving weekend or the first week of December (most likely at home), then a "decent team on the front end," and a I-AA team.
...

"To have a schedule is not the issue. What I'm trying to do is go after a certain mix. Otherwise I could have the games. We hold out until we get the best deal going. That's how we do it. I'm going to do what's best for us," Frazier said. "Now, at the end of the day, I'm gonna fill it all up, one way or the other. But that's not a problem, because I know just what's out there. I can go get a schedule tomorrow, but it's not the optimum schedule."

======

11-22-2006

Question From Tsai. Stephen Tsai asks:

If UH already has four opponents lined up, as officials hint, why not announce at least two of them? That would give hope to UH fans and still give the school legal claim to the money owed from Michigan State. I mean, there really are four teams lined up, right?

======

12-24-2006

Question For Tsai. Stephen Tsai writes about the big question on UH fans' minds.

In the last few weeks, I'm asked the same question: Did UH fill any of its four football openings for next year?
The questions aren't coming just from fans. UH coaches, players, players' families, recruits, prominent boosters, and Aloha Stadium officials are among those who have asked.
Three fathers of prominent UH players yesterday expressed their amazement over the lack of progress. "All we need to do is go 9-0 next year," one of them said.
Nobody seems to have an answer.

======

12-28-2006

USC? Louisville? Stephen Tsai writes that USC may be an '07 opponent, and though Frazier initially turned Louisville down (see above), they may be back in the picture.

...I got a call from a UH official yesterday telling me that UH was seeking to play USC in the 2007 opener. At home.

...

And then I get this voice message from USC athletic department spokesman Tim Tessalone:
"We received a query from ESPN about the possibility of playing that game. Very preliminary talks. We haven't even addressed it here and don't plan to address it for a while. I would tell you it's probably 50-50 at best that something like this would happen. It's way, way premature to go down that road."
ESPN also is supposed to be helping to see if a road game against Louisville can be arranged.

======

01-05-2007

Eastern Washington On. Eastern Washington, a D-IAA team, is tentatively, unofficially added to the schedule.

======

01-12-2007

Close. Dave Reardon asks Herman Frazier about the status of the schedule.

"Close."

That sums up where Hawaii athletic director Herman Frazier says he is with finalizing this fall's football schedule.

The Warriors have three open dates to fill, but where some would see the situation as a last-minute scramble, Frazier says the flexibility allows for bigger-name opponents and national television exposure.

"Obviously for me to be holding out this long, it has to be BCS conference schools," Frazier said yesterday. "The reason we've held out on our schedule is because we can get better teams and there are more people assisting us, like ESPN, the WAC and the other conferences.

"If I had all the dates filled, the flexibility goes away because we can't change (the opponent). But we're talking about mostly home games."

Excitement mounts again.

======

01-18-2007

MSU Issue Resolved, Announcement Planned. Herman Frazier talks to Dave Reardon, saying the MSU situation has been resolved.

Frazier has said legal issues with Michigan State have hampered his ability to complete and announce the Warriors' schedule.

...

"ESPN, in conjunction with the WAC, will release (a schedule) in either the first or second week of February," Frazier said. "It will include all of our conference games. We will (release the nonconference schedule) at the same time or earlier."

======

01-19-2007

Washington Added. The Washington Huskies from the PAC-10 are added to the 2007 schedule. June Jones and Warrior fans are optimistic.

“We’re very excited about playing a quality Pac-10 team like Washington at home this season,” June Jones, UH head coach, said. “Tyrone Willingham is a first-class coach and person and he’ll have a very competitive team next season, so we’ll need to be ready. In regards to the rest of the schedule, I know Herman has some exciting things in the works, so it will be great to see it all come together.”

======

01-20-2007

Optimism. Stephen Tsai hears good things:

We're hearing UH will announce another 2007 opponent from a BCS school, maybe as early as next week.
Also, Brigham Young and UH remain in talks about playing in a series of games.

BYU back in the mix as well? Excellent.

======

02-02-2007

Thanksgiving. While the WAC and Hawaii tries to work around each others schedules, Ferd Lewis writes that Frazier may have a big out-of-conference team lined up for Thanksgiving weekend.

UH athletic director Herman Frazier said he expects to fill the Nov. 24 opening "probably before next weekend."

The Nov. 24 date came open when Michigan State withdrew from its 4-year-old commitment to play at Aloha Stadium.

Frazier said he has been trying to land another Big Ten team to fill that spot and had talked with Wisconsin, among others. "One of the Big Ten teams we were working on even had one of their associate (athletic directors) out here looking at the hotels," Frazier said. "At the end of the day, that's probably not gonna work."

======

02-13-2007

Announcement Planned. Optimism is again in the air as Ferd and Stephen report:

The University of Hawai'i should be able to announce its long-awaited football schedule this week, possibly as soon as tomorrow, and will immediately tie it in with a stepped-up season ticket campaign, school and conference officials said yesterday.

While Michigan, and it seems USC are no longer options, it's looking like the long-awaited schedule is mere days, if not hours away from being announced.

======

02-16-2007

Announcement Delayed. A mere three days after everything seemed on track once again, Stephen Tsai writes:

It does not appear the final football schedule will be announced anytime soon. At least two more weeks is the word we're hearing.

Okay.

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02-17-2007

Announcement Delayed Indefinitely. Not sure if these are the same officials who said the schedule would be announced this week, but Ferd Lewis writes:

It is apparently anybody's guess when the 2007 Western Athletic Conference and University of Hawai'i's football schedules will be announced, officials said yesterday.

@#&%!

======

02-18-2007

What's Going On. Stephen Tsai hears all sorts of things, including UH being in talks with a Division I-AA team from South Carolina, Michigan still possibly being on the table, USC most likely off the table........

======

02-23-2007

Announcement Scheduled. Stephen Tsai writes that June Jones has been told:

athletic director Herman Frazier is set to announce a complete 13-game schedule for the 2007 football season. Jones said he was told the announcement probably will be made Tuesday, when Frazier returns from a trip to Philadelphia. Jones said Frazier did not tell him which three teams will be added to finalize the schedule.

Excitement mounts...

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02-25-2007

Fo Real? Stephen Tsai reiterates:

June Jones said he has been assured — for real, this time — that a 13-game schedule has been finalized.He said he's been told seven of the 13 games will be played at Aloha Stadium.
That means two of the three to-be-announced games will be at home.
Despite being pressed for details, the administrators did not give Jones the names of the final three opponents.
But Jones said a final schedule must be close to being announced because he was asked to approve the art for the schedule poster and cards.

Excitement mounts! For real this time.

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02-27-2007

Eastern Washington Out. And the schedule's still not done, but we're definitely close, as Dave Reardon writes:

UH officials had said the Warriors schedule would be announced this week, as early as today. But athletic director Herman Frazier was not expected to return until late today from a personal-reasons visit to his hometown of Philadelphia.

One nonconference game might be against Charleston Southern, a Division I-AA school in South Carolina. Charleston Southern would replace Eastern Washington, with which a deal could not be finalized after EWU officials said last month it was all but done.

...

UH coach June Jones said he'd heard "through the grapevine" that the Warriors schedule, at least of nonconference games, would be released today.

June Assured Again. Stephen Tsai writes:

Jones has been told by two UH athletic department officials today will be the day the remaining non-conference opponents will be identified.
We'll see.

I don't like Tsai's last comment...

======

02-28-2007

Announcement Delayed Again. Stephen and Ferd write:

Plans to announce the University of Hawai'i football team's 2007 schedule did not materialize yesterday, yet another delay to the campaign to launch ticket sales.

...

Sports information director Lois Manin said UH will not announce its schedule — even the non-conference portion — until the WAC schedule is released. She said she hasn't been told if Frazier has completed the schedule.

Great.

======

03-01-2007

There Is No Schedule. Stephen Tsai reports Herman Frazier has admitted that the schedule is not complete.

He admitted the 2007 football schedule was not complete and that he was having difficulty filling it.
He said it in public (during the Circle of Honor induction ceremony) and gave a plausible reason (the Warriors' success was scaring off potential opponents).
And, despite the difficulty, he said he would continue to work until the schedule is complete. He said it has changed 22 times in the last 90 days.
It was an honest assessment — the sort that was needed for months, maybe during all of Frazier's tenure here.

So where do we go from here?

======

03-04-2007

WAC Moves Ahead. Ferd Lewis writes that the WAC will probably finalize the conference schedule without waiting for Hawaii, as Hawaii's out-of-conference options dwindle.

A potential top 10 team was lost as a possibility last week when Wisconsin announced an Oct. 20 game with Northern Illinois. UH also has an Oct. 20 opening and had talked to the Badgers concerning a game — home or away.

In previous weeks, UH had been involved in discussions with Michigan and Nebraska about possible games, but both have filled their schedules.

======

03-08-2007

Charleston Southern Confirmed. Ferd Lewis writes that D-IAA Charleston Southern will be playing UH, and also dishes out some doom and gloom.

Will the University of Hawai'i football team play a second Division I-AA opponent or a non-conference road game in the middle of its Western Athletic Conference football schedule this year?

Either loomed as a possibility yesterday...

======

03-09-2007

Announcement Scheduled. The WAC releases the conference schedule, and Herman Frazier promises an announcement regarding the non-conference schedule.

In his statement, Frazier said, "I realize that fans have been anxious for the schedule to be released. However, due to many factors, this has been a difficult process and I've been working diligently to put together a non-conference schedule that is in the best interest of the football team and our fans. I appreciate the patience of all parties involved and I look forward to announcing our remaining 2007 non-conference opponents on Monday."

======

So will the schedule actually be announced on Monday, or will there be yet another delay? If the remainder of the schedule is finally announced, will it be a happy one? We'll find out soon, or maybe not, in our next episode of The Saga of the '07 Schedule....

UPDATE (6-9-2007): With the schedule finally finalized, below is the rest of the saga as updated on June 9th, 2007.

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03-12-2007

Announcement Delayed Again. After stating the previous Friday that he looked forward to announcing the rest of the non-conference schedule on Monday, Herman Frazier instead issues a press release to announce another delay:

The University of Hawai'i Athletics Department is awaiting confirmation from a Division I-A non-conference opponent in order to complete the 2007 Warrior football schedule, Athletics Director Herman Frazier announced.

"We were anticipating confirmation today, but university officials have asked for additional time in order to make final arrangements on their end," Frazier said. "Therefore, they requested that we hold off announcing the game, which could be played on one of two open dates. Once that game is determined, it will allow us to finalize the last home date."

Frazier confirmed that UH would host Charleston Southern on Saturday, Sept. 22, at Aloha Stadium and that the Warriors will play seven home games during the 2007 season.

Well, at least we know Charleston Southern is officially confirmed... and it sounds like the Division I-A opponent is very close to finalizing the deal. So good news delayed?

======

03-13-2007

Deadline Set (?) Stephen Tsai and Ferd Lewis write:

As one deadline clicked past, the University of Hawai'i set a new one — next Monday — to have at least one of its two remaining football games on the 2007 schedule filled.

Athletic director Herman Frazier, who a week ago announced yesterday afternoon as the deadline to complete the 13-game schedule, said he wants to have the Warriors' seventh home date done in time for the planned March 19 kickoff of the season ticket renewal campaign.

While it may sound like a new deadline, Herman seems a little non-committal about the whole thing.

Frazier was also asked if he could guarantee a 13-game schedule.

"I ain't guaranteeing anything, based on how people react," he said.

A lesson learned?

======

03-14-2007

Lamentations. Ferd Lewis laments the possibility that there may be TWO I-AA teams on the schedule.

But, two I-AA opponents, should it come to that, would really be watering down the schedule, a disservice to the players, fans and bowl eligibility. Doubly so if one of the I-AAs ends up the season opener.

Frazier maintains that some, including Michigan, open with a I-AA opponent (Appalachian State). But the Wolverines also have Notre Dame, Penn State and Oregon in that first month, not Charleston Southern, too.

The spin out of UH would remind you New Mexico State is playing two I-AA foes. But, really, do you want to put UH in the same category with the Aggies, who were 0-12 just two years ago and have been struggling to beat somebody, anybody, ever since?

Here, booking two I-AAs will be taken as a sign of desperate straits. Not the best of advertisements heading into what should be a banner season ticket sale.

Elsewhere the perception will be worse: that UH was trying to pull a fast one and was afraid to play another team of note. Not the kind of message you want to be deduced while pushing a quarterback for the Heisman Trophy or campaigning for a place in the Top 25.

Please let it not come to that.

======

03-19-2007

Deadline Passes *crickets* As season tickets go on sale, another deadline, perhaps not technically a deadline but a dream, passes. Stephen Tsai writes:

Just returned from UH, and the football coaches are resigned to a schedule with (at least) two Division I-AA opponents.
One coach joked the Warriors would open against OD.
OD?
Open Date.
Asked about the opener, a UH safety said: "I think we're playing Madden that day."

Nooooooooo.

======

03-20-2007

You Gotta Be Kidding Me. Things seem so dire, Dave Reardon floats the possibility that there may be THREE I-AA teams on the schedule.

If the Warriors can't find two more Division I teams, they'll be left with a schedule including at least two I-AA teams, and maybe three, to fill a 13-game schedule.

"That's the worst-case scenario," Warriors coach June Jones said, referring to the possibility of playing three I-AA teams. "We need to have 13 games, to me. We lose money otherwise."

Luckily, we're just waiting on word from one I-A school to fulfill that 13th game...

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03-23-2007

You Gotta Be Kidding Me II. A second division I-AA team, Northern Colorado, surfaces as a possible UH opponent.

The Bears went 1-10 last year, their inaugural season in the Big Sky, after moving up from Division II.

...

UH already has a I-AA opponent, Charleston Southern, on Sept. 22.

UNC has been seeking a season-opening opponent since its game with Air Force was canceled. The Greeley (Colo.) Tribune reported the cancellation was because the Bears did not offer enough scholarships to meet the minimum level that would have allowed Air Force to count the game for bowl eligibility purposes.

I'm pretty sure this is just a set-up for an elaborate April Fools Joke.

======

03-25-2007

Frazier Speaks. Perhaps feeling the heat from the fans and the media, Herman Frazier gives an in-depth interview to Dave Reardon, admitting that mistakes were made.

"I think what people need to understand is we're not making any excuses in not getting (the schedule) done in a timely manner," Frazier said. "There have been mitigating factors all the way through the process. As we kept trying to close a deal, other things would happen that opened it up."

Frazier said he has worked with "24 different scenarios" regarding the schedule, going back to last fall.

...

"We may have gotten a little bit greedy," Frazier said.

"I miscalculated, because at the end of the day, too many people were involved in it, because somebody wanted to do this, and somebody wanted to do that," Frazier said, citing the involvement of ESPN as a matchmaker in situations involving up to four teams at a time.

"When we were talking about six home games vs. eight home games, I should've just knuckled down and done it myself."

Frazier said he could have booked a 2007 schedule late last year that would have included Texas A&M and either North Carolina State or Texas Tech, all on the road. Louisville on the road was also an option.

But he wanted to hold out for more home games.

"In November we could've done it. Do I regret it? Now, yeah. I need a game," Frazier said Friday.

And despite all this, Herman still has hope:

Still, he said he remains optimistic for a full 13-game schedule in 2007.

"We never said it would be a 12-game schedule," Frazier said. "We've got options."

Options are good. Let's do this!

======

04-03-2007

The Fans Get Involved. Stephen Tsai writes that the fans have gotten involved in trying to salvage the UH football schedule.

After reading the posts that Mississippi State might be available for a game on Nov. 3, I called the school.
Quick recap: MSU and Jacksonville State are scheduled to meet Sept. 22. But a team dropped out of JSU's league, and after the schedule was reworked, JSU is now double-booked for Sept. 22.
Update: An MSU spokesman said as of right now, the plan is the MSU-JSU game will be played. But there's a feeling that JSU will indeed try to get out of it. The MSU spokesman said MSU has had no contact with UH at all. But told that UH is seeking a game for Nov. 3 — which is an open date for MSU — the spokesman said MSU would definitely be interested. He said he would talk to the higher-ups.
Our good friend Robert Kekaula notified June Jones, who said he would call the UH athletic director.
So thanks to SportsBow and the others for the nice find. Jones is very appreciative.

This is amazing in many ways. Makes you proud!

======

04-04-2007

News from Northern Colorado. It appears that Northern Colorado thinks they'll be playing UH this season.

The University of Northern Colorado football team will head to play the University of Hawaii in Honolulu for its season opener on Sept. 1.

Players were told at the end of practice on Tuesday and came off the field and into Butler-Hancock Sports Pavilion shouting "we are going to Hawaii" and talking among each other about the trip. Neither UNC nor the University of Hawaii have made an official announcement.

Even though it may seem too late to be an April Fools Joke, I'm still holding out hope. After all, these are the same people putting the schedule together.

======

04-18-2007

It Was Worth a Shot. The potential Mississippi State game is a no-go.

MSU announced its 2007 schedule today.

Gardner-Webb replaced Jacksonville State, which had a conflict, on the Sept. 22 spot on the schedule.

Hawaii, he said, was one option.

“Herman Frazier, their athletic director, and I had three or four telephone calls and exchanged several e-mails,” Templeton said. Ultimately, State wanted to stay with a 1-AA foe, and also didn’t want to play a 1-A foe on Nov. 3, which was the date Hawaii had available.

Who knows what might've been if I-AA Charleston Southern wasn't scheduled for 9/22. In any case, great effort by all.

======

05-17-2007

It's Not a Joke. As Herman Frazier gets prepared to answer questions regarding facilities, travel, the schedule, etc. from state legislators, Division I-AA Northern Colorado, is confirmed as the SECOND I-AA team on UH's 2007 schedule. And there's still one more opening. Frazier reassures the fans.

"I realize we still have an open date on our schedule and that time is of the essence," Frazier said. "I want to assure everyone that I am doing everything I can to secure another game and I will not close the door until I have exhausted all of our resources."

======

05-18-2007

Bonus for the Fans. Herman Frazier states the eventual 13th game would be a bonus for season ticket holders.

Frazier said he would like the 13th game to be played at Aloha Stadium. If he were to secure that eighth home game, season-ticket holders would be charged for seven games.

The potential eighth home game would be "a bonus for our season-ticket holders, those people who stepped up to help us," Frazier said.

He wouldn't say something like that unless he was confident a 13th team could be signed. Excitement mounts.

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05-21-2007

Informational Briefing. Herman Frazier appears before the state legislature and answers all sorts of questions about all sorts of things. He also sets a new deadline in regards to the schedule.

Frazier revealed that the drop-dead date for UH to add a 13th game to its 2007 football schedule is the end of this month. He also vowed to complete the 2008 schedule by the end of the summer.

Soon.

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05-23-2007

No OSU or WSU. Ferd Lewis writes that Oregon State and Washington State turned down UH's offer to play them in 2007.

"UH contacted us, but we just can't do it," said Steve Fenk, OSU sports information director. "I think given different circumstances — like the end of the season or maybe earlier in the year — we'd really be interested."

...

WSU spokesman Rod Commons said the Cougars, "do not want to (give up) our bye weekend in the middle of the season. Our staff feels strongly we need that midseason break."

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05-31-2007

Drop Dead Day #1. Herman Frazier, who told the Legislature that today would be the drop dead date for adding a 13th game to the schedule, instead issues another press release, pushing the date back.

"We have two Division I-A schools considering proposals that include an ESPN telecast at Aloha Stadium," Frazier said. "If neither accepts the offer, we will play a 12-game schedule. I'm mindful of the May 31 deadline I set earlier this month, so I wanted to provide our fans an update. However, the teams considering our offer are not operating on that same deadline.

Which makes you wonder why this deadline was even set at all. Nonetheless, it sounds like good news because teams are still considering offers...

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06-01-2007

New Deadline Set. To the middle of next week.

Frazier said he is waiting for two schools to decide if they want to accept a lucrative offer (around $700,000) to play a nationally televised game at Aloha Stadium.

ESPN and Western Athletic Conference commissioner Karl Benson are trying to help broker a deal.

Frazier said he will give the schools until the middle of next week to decide.

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06-06-2007

Drop Dead Day #2. Oh my goodness. Delayed again:

University of Hawaii Athletic Director Herman Frazier said he has extended the deadline on whether the Warrior football team will play a 13th game to Friday.

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06-08-2007

Drop Dead Day #3. And finally, after months of agony, false starts, endless delays, empty promises, reassurances, anger, denial, sadness and acceptance, it is announced that there will be only 12 games on the schedule this season, with only one game against a BCS conference team and two games against I-AA (FCS) teams.

"After a long and exhaustive process that included discussions with several schools, no team we targeted for a 13th game would agree to play at UH in 2007," Frazier, said. "Therefore, we will play a 12-game schedule this season."

And so there you have it. The saga, as Jim Leahey might say, for all intents and purposes, draws to a close. Definitely not the happy ending everyone had hoped for. A comedy of errors that ended in tragedy. But cheer up, as Herman Frazier puts it:

"It's not the end of the world that we don't have 13 games."

I feel better already.

Tommy Kaulukukui

Wes Nakama writes about the life of local sports and UH legend Tommy Kaulukukui.

Thomas Kaulukukui, a legendary multisport athlete who was the first University of Hawai'i football player to earn All-America honors, died yesterday morning at his daughter's Kailua home.

He turned 94 in January.

"He passed peacefully, surrounded by the love of his family," said his son, Thomas Ka-ulukukui Jr. "You could not ask for anything more."

...

At the Coliseum in November 1935, the 5-foot-4, 145-pound Kaulukukui received a UCLA kickoff three yards deep in his end zone and took it all the way for a touchdown. The Rainbows lost, 19-6, but Kaulukukui's performance impressed legendary sports writer Grantland Rice, who gave him the nickname "Grass Shack."

Rice's praise of Kaulukukui is believed to have led to his being named to the All-American Board of Football team.

Kalani Simpson remembers him as well, and has a great anecdote.

Of all the stories about that great run, maybe this is the best: In the late '70s, Thomas Jr. was helping coach the Kailua JV. He asked his father about the kick return, and Tommy Kaulukukui grabbed a napkin, drew it up. Thomas Jr. told his team the story of that run against UCLA, put in the play. Promised steak dinners if the Surfriders ever scored. That very week, an 88-yard TD.

In eight games, they scored kick-return touchdowns three times.

That play just kept growing through the years.

The way the boy who was too small to play football just kept growing, too.

All the kids that he coached. All the lives that he touched.

"We're talking about services," Thomas Jr. said. "We're trying to find a place big enough."

Read the articles to see how great he was, both on and off the field.

WAC Schedule Follow-Up

Jason Kaneshiro looks at Hawaii's WAC schedule and finds some things that could be "less than ideal" for UH.

» There are no home conference games in September.

» Back-to-back road games at Louisiana Tech and UNLV (Sept. 8 and 15) means spending preparation time traveling back and forth to the mainland, or remaining on the continent and possibly incurring more expenses.

» Playing at San Jose State on a Friday, meaning one less day of preparation for a road game.

» A road game at Nevada in mid-November, meaning the likelihood of poor weather.

» Playing Boise State on Friday after the Nevada game on Saturday, again creating a short week of preparation for a big conference game.

Nah brah, you know what all that is?



Mynahs, cuz!

Yeeeesh. Anyway, the article also has a sidebar saying UH could be on ESPN three times this year.

As it stands now, Hawaii will have three games televised by ESPN. Two of those broadcasts will be WAC games played on Fridays. The first is at San Jose State on Oct. 12 and the second is at home vs. Boise State on Nov. 23. The nonconference home game on Dec. 1 with Washington will also be shown on the cable network.

And maybe more, depending on what games are announced on Monday, and that announcement will happen...



Guaransballbarins!

Eh? Ferd Lewis writes about the schedule and has a few quotes from Karl Benson and Herman Frazier that could be read as being somewhat contradictory.

Conference athletic directors concluded two days of schedule meetings in conjunction with the WAC Basketball Tournament yesterday. Commissioner Karl Benson said, "We've tried to wait as long as we could."

Without mentioning UH by name, Benson said, "There is at least one school trying to finalize their non-conference but we felt it was critically important that we get these games out because there were eight other schools that were ready to move on."

Benson said schools needed to begin making charter flight reservations and other arrangements.

In his statement, Frazier said, "Now that we know the WAC dates, we'll finalize our non-conference matchups."

But maybe it's not supposed to be read that way... In any case, none of this will matter anymore sometime on Monday. Have a good weekend everyone.

2007 Conference Schedule (w/updates)

The Advertiser has posted a conference schedule, which the WAC will officially announce later on today (which they did). Here's the schedule, along with some details:

The University of Hawai'i will play Boise State on Nov. 23, a Friday football showdown, for ESPN as part of the Western Athletic Conference schedule to be announced.
It will be one of two Friday dates for UH, which will play at San Jose State, Oct. 12.

...

Sept. 1 — Open

Sept. 8—At Louisiana Tech

Sept. 15—at UNLV

Sept. 22—Charleston Southern

Sept. 29—at Idaho

Oct. 6—Utah State

Oct. 12—at San Jose State

Oct. 20—Open

Oct. 27—New Mexcio State

Nov. 3—Open

Nov. 10—Fresno State

Nov. 17—at Nevada

Nov. 23—Boise State

Dec. 1—Washington

Check out that early WAC road game at La Tech. Check out the road game at UNLV the week after.

UPDATE: The article was updated to include this quote from Herman Frazier:

"Now that we know the WAC dates, we'll finalize our non-conference match-ups and be prepared to release them Monday afternoon," UH Athletic Director Frazier said. "I realize that fans have been anxious for the schedule to be released. However, due to many factors, this has been a difficult process and I've been working diligently to put together a non-conference schedule that is in the best interest of the football team and our fans."

I've learned these past several months not to get too excited about pronouncements of upcoming announcements regarding the schedule, but I got a feeling this is the real deal, finally. So I'm excited once again! Don't pop my balloon!

UPDATE 2: Just to drive the point home, here's another sentence from Frazier to add to the above quote, as taken from the Star-Bulletin.

I appreciate the patience of all parties involved and I look forward to announcing our remaining 2007 non-conference opponents on Monday.”

On MONDAY, people!

Not Necessarily

Ferd Lewis has more on the schedule. I hope this first paragraph is not based on anything he's heard.

Will the University of Hawai'i football team play a second Division I-AA opponent or a non-conference road game in the middle of its Western Athletic Conference football schedule this year?

Either loomed as a possibility yesterday with the Warriors yet to announce their final two non-conference games while the WAC moved closer to finalizing its conference schedule during meetings held in conjunction with the men's and women's basketball tournaments here.

...

A rumor making the rounds has the possibility of UH and Indiana considering the Nov. 3 date, probably in Bloomington, Ind. Indiana's schedule lists Ball State for that date but speculation is the date could become available.

Asked if UH was still considering a Big Ten team, Frazier said, "not necessarily."

We'll find out when we find out. Indiana would be a good road game.

Charleston Southern is HOT! HOT! HOT!

Ferd Lewis (or was it Stephen Tsai?) confirms the Division I-AA Charleston Southern talk . He also writes that the WAC schedule is close to being released. No word on Hawaii's remaining OOC schedule. Ferd also has an outline of what the schedule may be, sometime in the future.

UH's tentative schedule

Sept. 1 — Nonconference opponent tba

Sept. 8 — open

Sept. 15 — at UNLV

Sept. 22 — Charleston Southern

Sept. 29 — WAC opponent

Oct. 6 — WAC opponent

Oct. 13 — WAC opponent

Oct. 20 — WAC opponent

Oct. 27 — WAC opponent

Nov. 3 — Nonconference opponent tba

Nov. 10 — WAC opponent

Nov. 17 — WAC opponent

Nov. 24 — Boise State (WAC)

Dec. 1 — Washington

Stephen Tsai has a quote from the coach regarding Charleston Southern.

"I'm just happy we're playing games," June Jones said.

Slow News Days

Not much news in the past few days, or at least big gigantic world-changing news, like the schedule being released. I think we've been spoiled. Anyway, some tidbits:

Ashley Lelie talks about signing with the 49ers.

Stephen Tsai writes that Kasper Oelund, linebacker from Denmark, has applied to UH.

Remember, Hawaii's Pro Day is in Carson, CA on March 29.

Stephen Tsai has a funny story about Jerry Glanville interviewing June Jones for a position at Portland State.

Here's a scouting report of Ikaika Alama-Francis' from nfldraftcountdown.com.

Here's a fabulous recipe for slow cooker turkey chili.

WAC.tv will have every men's and women's WAC basketball tournament game (excluding the men's championship) streaming live online. You can buy the whole package for $14.95.

And finally, kapoleicoug has put together a Colt Brennan for Heisman video, building up to next year.