Taylor, Watson, Tryouts, Ching Field, Early Signing Period

Stephen Tsai writes that Jovonte Taylor is back.

Taylor withdrew from classes the past October when he suffered a viral infection.
“I lost 25 pounds, to be exact,” said Taylor, whose weight dropped to 153. “I thought I was dying, man. It was beyond scary. I laid in the bed for 3 1/2 weeks straight. I lost my appetite.”
He returned home to Los Angeles to recuperate.
He said he now weighs 180 pounds.
He also is hopeful of receiving a medical hardship that will allow him to extend his UH career through the 2010 season.

Tsai also wrote that Keala Watson has retired from football.

Former UH defensive tackle Keala Watson is being forced to retire from football.
Watson had a productive career with the Warriors despite suffering from Von Willebrand disorder, a condition similar to hemophilia in which a chemical deficiency does not allow his blood to clot normally.
A blood-clotting medicine enabled Watson to play for the Warriors.
But recent medical tests showed that the medication had diminished efficiency in treating his disorder.

Tsai covered yesterday's UH football walk-on tryouts. Some of the participants were:

Offensive lineman David Garness, an invited walk-on, was raised in Alaska.

Jonovan Santos coaches football, basketball and track at Mililani High School.

Bryant Moniz, who led Leilehua to the state championship game as a sophomore in 2004, was among the candidates. Moniz, who played at Fresno City College, is competing as a quarterback. He wore a black T-shirt with the words: All Bizness.

As a Kahuku High offensive lineman in 2002, Joseph Napeahi was named to the All-State second team. He received interest from Nebraska, Washington and Utah.

Defensive end Aaron Rink attended the tryouts, although his place on the roster is solidified. Rink is 6 feet 3 1/2 and 228 pounds. He is capable of running 40 yards in 4.52 seconds.

The Advertiser has some photos from the tryouts as well as a video from Leila Wai.



Jason Kaneshiro writes about the soon-to-be-completed Ching Field.

The installation of the artificial surface at the former Cooke Field is in its final stages and a formal dedication is tentatively scheduled for Feb. 2.

And with the Hawaii football team hosting prospects over a series of weekend visits this month, the new field gives the Warriors staff something else to show off.

"The recruits look out our windows and see that big Hawaii (logo) out there and the field, and a lot of them have mentioned that," Hawaii football coach Greg McMackin said. "It shows the support that we're getting and I think it helps all the sports. It's really a positive influence on everything."

The grass practice field will now be named Cooke Field.

With Ching Field soon to be completed, Cooke Field will remain a part of the lower campus as the upper grass practice field where the football team practices will be given that designation. It will be the fourth site on campus to bear that name.

And Dave Reardon endorses an early signing period for college football.

People ask me about UH's recruiting class. I tell them check back with me Feb. 4, letter-of-intent day.

Now, if you want to ask me about recruiting, in general, I will tell you this: If college football is truly interested in competitive balance and living up to its lofty ideals, it would install an early-signing period instead of voting the idea down as it did last week.

Making some commitments binding early would make sense and save dollars -- but only for cash-strapped programs, like most college teams including Hawaii.

A leveling concession was made many years ago with the 85-scholarship limit. Those at the top of the pile are wary of anything else headed toward balance. Whatever rhetoric you may hear, never forget this: Balance -- and hence, fairness -- is not the goal of those in power. Keeping the money-printing machine for the BCS humming is.