As a first-year head coach, Nick Rolovich started each University of Hawaii football player with a blank slate. But Rolovich wasn’t about to sign a blank check.
After extensive research, Rolovich awarded football scholarships to receiver Makoa Camanse-Stevens and long-snapper Noah Borden.
“Everyone I talked to said those two are great people,” Rolovich said. “They both contributed, no doubt, but they’re good people who do things right. They go to class, they do everything they’re supposed to do. We can’t have enough of those type of players.”
Even though Camanse-Stevens and Borden played as first-year Warriors in 2015, they count toward the 2016 recruiting class.
“They make our team better,” Rolovich said.
Borden completed a two-year church mission in May, then worked at FedEx during the summer to pay for his tuition and school expenses last fall semester.
“I had enough money for that last semester,” Borden said. “I used up all my savings. It’s a huge blessing (to get a scholarship). It’s a big path-changer for my whole life. If I didn’t get the scholarship, I wouldn’t have been able to stay in school.”
After joining the Warriors in August, Camanse-Stevens set a goal of being an impact player and earning a scholarship. He developed into a trusted slot receiver and secret option passer. Although the previous staff intended to award him a scholarship, after the coaching change, Camanse-Stevens said, “I wasn’t expecting one. That’s how the cookie crumbles.”
But Camanse-Stevens said he believes holdover coaches Chris Naeole and Abraham Elimimian were helpful in his evaluation.
“A huge shout-out to them, and to Coach Rolo for giving me a scholarship,” said Camanse-Stevens, who has practiced at tight end this spring.
Manoa makes big plays
During Tuesday’s scrimmage-like session, defensive end David Manoa tackled a running back twice for no gain and sacked the quarterback … all in the same series. Bouncing between outside linebacker and tight end the past few years, Manoa appears to fit at end in the Warriors’ new 4-3 defense.
“The reason he’s making plays is he’s up there (in the football offices) studying videos and plays all the time,” defensive coordinator Kevin Lempa said. “He wants to learn. He really wants to be a good football player. He’s become that on the football field. Every day he makes a big play.”
Defensive line coach Legi Suiaunoa praised Manoa’s diligence, noting, “he works extremely hard.”
Manoa said his improved run defense can be traced to better identifying his keys. “It’s been a big help,” Manoa said.
Rolo gets “Romo’d”
Every so often, UH’s defense will yell, “Rolo,” during a team drill.
“Every time they yell it, I say, ‘What?’” Rolovich said.
At a previous school, Lempa copied a blitz scheme after the one a team used against the Dallas Cowboys.
“We used to call it ‘Romo,’” Lempa said, a reference to Dallas quarterback Tony Romo. “When we came here, we changed it to ‘Rolo.’”
“I’m very flattered,” Rolovich said.
