Gerke, 08 Schedule, WAC, WitP, BRS

Stephen Tsai talks to new UH assistant coach Alex Gerke.

"I tell you what, you can't beat this place," said Gerke, who joins the Hawai'i football team as an assistant coach in charge of running backs and offensive linemen. "It's so surreal just to be here. I've always felt this was the Shangri-La of coaching. This is a great place to be a coach. The people here are all outstanding; very friendly, very humble. The community is excellent. The program has great players, and a great tradition. Why am I fortunate to be here? All of the above."

Cindy Luis writes about Gerke.

"He loves coming to Hawaii," McMackin said, "and we're happy we can make it a little more permanent. He's exactly what I'm looking for in a coach. Besides his experience, he really cares about players. He's going to really complement our staff and be a great addition."

The article also lists the 2008 schedules for all the WAC teams.

Ferd Lewis writes about ESPN's influence on this year's scheduling, and perhaps who they see as contenders for the WAC title.

The defending Western Athletic Conference champion University of Hawai'i football team has been cast in a spoiler role for 2008.

The release of the WAC schedule yesterday sets the stage for what ESPN and the conference apparently hope will be a Nov. 28 championship showdown between Boise State and Fresno State on the blue carpet in Boise.

They just don't know the big monster that awaits!

KGMB's Liz Chun has a rundown of the schedule.

CFN's Pete Fiutak has a 2008 WAC spring preview. Here's an excerpt on UH.

Spring attitude... Enjoy being the underdog again. After a year of being in the spotlight and in the weekly national consciousness, Hawaii will be under the radar compared to Fresno State and Boise State. Opening the season at Florida isn't going to help matters, and following up a date with Weber State with a trip to Oregon State could make for a rough start. Whatever. The team has to focus on getting better for the WAC season and being a contender again for a conference title. Able to use the no one respects us line, the motivation will be there.

Thanks to Mario, who sends this mention of Colt Brennan in an NFL "draft risers" article from The Red Zone Report.

After a disastrous Sugar Bowl was followed up by a weight-draining stomach virus and another disastrous performance at the Senior Bowl last month, Brennan’s stock was in serious nosedive mode.

The only place Brennan had to go was up at the combine, and that’s exactly what he did, with a performance in the throwing drills that showcased his accuracy - and renewed confidence. Whether or not that (and the 20 pounds he put on) catapulted him back into the first day remains to be seen, but he’s certainly pushed himself back in that direction.

In some Warriors in the Pros news, Travis LaBoy is now a free agent, and will be meeting with the Browns and the Saints today. And here's a quote from 49ers GM Scot McCloughan, who talks about Isaac Sopoaga.

Q: After re-signing Isaac Sopoaga, where do you plan to play him?
A: Ice can play a couple of positions for us. He played mainly nose last year, but he also has the ability to play end. With Bryant Young retiring and Marques hitting the market, he could play more end for us next year. A lot will depend on free agency and the draft and the numbers we end up with. He played his most consistent football this year and I think his best football is still in front of him as a nose and an end. He fits the left end more than a right end in terms of what we do, but he could play either.

And finally, Dave Reardon writes about UH offering a scholarship to Billy Ray Stutzmann.

If you like tall, fast receivers, you like Billy Ray Stutzmann.

Greg McMackin and Ron Lee do. UH offered the Saint Louis School junior a scholarship today, according to Stutzmann’s dad, Bill.

It was the second offer of the day for Billy Ray, who also got one from Washington State.

“Coach McMackin was really cool about it,” said Bill Stutzmann, the father. “He said he didn’t want an answer right away. He told Billy Ray to go home and think about it, talk it over with the family.”