Game Day: UH vs Charleston Southern

Stephen Tsai has a game day preview breaking down the offense, defense and specialists for both UH and CSU. Here's an excerpt about the UH defense:

It is hoped Falemalu's persistence - "motor," in football parlance - will make him an effective weak-side pass rusher. The Warriors need the boost; they have on sack this season. Defensive coordinator Dave Aranda has emphasized not blitzing more, but blitzing better. Aaron Brown, Richard Torres and Jeramy Bryant are capable zone-dog blitzers. A better pass rush should help the secondary, which has zero interceptions this season.

Here's last night's Chawan's Cut, which includes game previews from KITV, KGMB and KHON.



The Star-Advertiser has some info for those going to the game.

Tsai writes about the studying that the players do before the game.

Miano, whose Warriors play Charleston Southern today, said there might be a correlation between good play and good study habits.

"To be honest, the guys who are starting usually are the guys who have the best grades," Miano said. "This was a few years back, but the (NFL) teams with the most degrees were the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts. Those were the teams that were the most successful at the time. When you are focused, when you are doing the details of your assignments -- and anticipating nuances and checks -- you're probably going to be successful. Smart teams win football games."

David Shelton of The Post and Courier talks to CSU coach Jay Mills about tonight's matchup.

"Hawaii has always been recognized for being able to throw the football and for offensive excellence," Mills said. "We have tremendous respect for their offense, but we really feel we are facing a more complete team this time around. They are still very productive offensively, but they are very good defensively and very sound on special teams. They play very hard. They're not a finesse team by any means."

Joe Ferrer of Ka Leo previews the game, and highlights Kamalu Umu's previous stint with CSU.

Jillian Burmeister of Ka Leo profiles Vaughn Meatoga.

"My mom always said to never be satisfied. Whenever I had a good game she always told me you could have worked harder," Meatoga said. "It brings back the point that there is always room for improvement."
He honors his mom at every game.
"Every time I make a play I point up to the sky for my mom," he said.

And Ferd Lewis has another big wet kiss for former athletic director Herman Frazier.

CSU's deal, valued at upwards of $250,000, is, in some ways, as good as nationally ranked Wisconsin got in 2005 and was originally contracted to get last year. It is on a par with what Navy received last year with a bigger traveling party.

Not only is UH contracted to provide the buses to take the Buccaneers to and from the airport, practices and games, but, according to the contract, "Pearl Harbor, Hanauma Bay and possible luau," too.

You may recall that Frazier had lollygagged on putting the 2007 football schedule together and then suffered some reversals. At one point he was looking at three openings on a 13-game schedule with less than seven months before the kickoff of Colt Brennan's much-anticipated senior season.

The Buccaneers called with an interest and were willing to take him off the hook for one of those games -- but at a price.

Herman Frazier -- the gift that keeps on giving.