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DAVID G. MCINTYRE / SPECIAL TO THE HSA
Hawaii quarterback Dru Brown (19) in the second half against Michigan. The Michigan Wolverines beat the visiting Hawaii Rainbows 63-3 in their game in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
University of Hawaii football coach Nick Rolovich today named Dru Brown as the starting quarterback for Saturday’s Mountain West Conference opener against Nevada at Aloha Stadium.
Rolovich said senior Ikaika Woolsey, who started the first four games, will be the No. 2 quarterback.
Rolovich praised Brown’s “consistent improvement. He got better and better and better within the offense.”
Rolovich said Brown’s reserved personality “took a little longer for the guys to get to know him. All they see is how he works. He’s here to play quarterback and go to school.He’s not worried about much else.”
Brown agreed, saying, “I came here knowing I wouldn’t be able to see everything I would see on vacation or what not. But the bottom line is I came here to get a degree and play football as long as I can.”
Brown, a sophomore, moved to Hawaii in late June after attending College of San Mateo (Calif.) for a year.
Woolsey was told of the quarterback change in a meeting this morning.
“I want to play, but that’s the decision they made, and I have to keep moving forward from there,” Woolsey said. “I’m only one play away from playing. I have to keep focusing and getting my mental reps.”
Good move…..Brown represents the future and IW represents the past and failure…….let Brown get the experience …win or lose………
I’ve wanted to see Dru start, too, but let’s not dis Ikaika. He’s had to adjust to so many different OCs during his UH career that he really hasn’t had a fair shot. He’s put together some excellent scoring drives against 1st team defenses, so we know he has the talent. As Cbvierra, below, says, we can’t put all the blame on Ikaika’s shoulders. Football is a team sport, and when all the parts aren’t clicking, success is difficult. We shouldn’t count him out just yet. Most of the season is still ahead of us, and we’ll more than likely need him to step in and make some big plays. At those times, I think he’s going to make the most of his opportunities. Go Bows!
good point. Why kick someone when they’re down.
Isn’t it contradictory to expect big plays from Woolsey coming in as a backup when the reason for him losing the starting job is because he’s not capable of making big plays, much less enough good plays?
Mahalo Kimo … well put …
LIVE ALOHA / PLAY WARRIOR / DEFEND THE ROCK … GO ‘BOWS !!!!!
With all the different OC’s he couldn’t find one that he would fit in with? I like the change at least Rolo didn’t wait all year to do this. Who knows Ikaika might be better getting in off the bench. I’m excited again.
Happy that Brown is getting the start. Ikaika has always been a team player and a class act. I applaud the guy and all of his efforts he’s given to Warrior football. I feel bad for him, but it’s Brown’s time to get a shot.
JJ started Senior QB Robinson the entire year despite the future QBs being on-roster. The result was 9-4 in season 1 and going 3-9 the 2nd year under JJ. Each situation plays out differently. Woolsey had more experience at the start of the season but there is some benefit to observing the offense run from the sidelines. Brown has now earned the starting spot so it is time for him to execute. GO RAINBOW WARRIORS!
Robinson played because he actually was a good quarterback. Don’t insult him by comparing him to Woolsey.
Ikaika has had many years to improve. But always the same excuse. It’s now Brown time and I’m all for it.
it’s about time……………
Norm would have never done this! Let’s Go Bows! Let’s Go Bows! Let’s Go Bows!
norm who?
ABNORM.
norm’s not home…
The CROOK who claims to be a good (Fnutting) coach
Good call. Brown’s time has come. As for Woolsey, stay focus and keep pressing.
Woolsey said. “I’m only one play away from playing. I have to keep focusing and getting my mental reps.” Braddah I think you definitely more than a play away from starting again. It’s not about one play, but interceptions, incompleted passes, not moving the team offensively or falling apart when squeezing `okole.. We need a QB that when he runs unto the field, there isn’t a collective groans coming for the stands, PPV watchers and radio listeners. Sorry IW, be the man and move yourself to the back of the line. You had your chance and now let someone else take this team further that you will ever. Sorry but just stating the fact.
One play away means Brown can get hurt on any play, so he (IW) must be ready to step in at any time. But I also would like to have seen another young QB named No. 2. as a move to build for the future. Time to move on.
Ikaika is being a good teammate. Everyone wants to play, and no one likes being demoted. The factis he has to stay ready. Things happen in the game, and you might be the next man up. Good luck to Dru and the whole team against the Wolfpack. Should be a good game, see you guys at the Stadium. I’ll the guy in Section C with the large diet Pepsi and the bag of peanuts I snuck in. Come say howzit.
CheeseBall as in Packer Cheese?
Go Bows, Go Pack (Green Bay)
see ya saturday
Get ready Aaron you’re up next.
Finally!
GREAT move coach ! Switch it up if its not working, good job.
good
Wow.. I did not think the coaching staff would make this change. A breath of fresh air.
Aloha Rainbow Warrior Fans, I am excited to see Dru Brown getting a shot at starting, He will know it will be a different tempo and mindset playing against the starters but I feel he has the skill set and the only way to learn is to jump in the FIRE. As IW, I believe he is a very gifted athlete, I also feel that us fans need to calm down a little and not put the entire blame on this young man. He is only 1 of 11 men on the field. Football is a Team Sport so he can not be blamed, we can fault him for his development in becoming a good QB, if I am not mistaken he was recruited as an Athlete. Some kids have the “It” Factor and some don’t, consistent coaching could have helped this young man, the question is how does a player get better? Good coaching, that has been something that IW and many of his teammates did not receive over the past 4-5 years. I always believed that IW would be a better Slotback or even a good safety. Remember the 92 team? UH had a local kid at QB on the team that had a lot of records at Kahuku High, once at UH it was clear that QB was not his calling. After a few years of trying he moved over to Defense, Blaine Gaison is another gifted athlete played QB and became a good DB. It would be interesting to see IW play some D
Well said, Cbvierra. You’ve pretty much said it all — and then some.
IW can be in on the “double pass” plays
Why?
That’s actually a plausible idea. Line him up in the slot. He has speed enough to run with the ball after the catch. Or throw a lateral and throw it down field.
You guys do realize that Woolsey’s lack of passing and scramblng ability is part of the reason that he’s being benched? For all of you who insist over and over again that he’s athletic and/or speedy. What have you been watching the last three years?
ox is right no speed and not a great thrower on the run.
Hooray ! Rolovitch has got a pair.
Kinda small ones, don’t you think? UH wasted four games of not developing QB(s) for the future with game results that totally wouldn’t have been any worse with someone other than Woolsey. Valuable games to truly evaluate Dru and Aaron and see if they measure up. Instead, we got almost four games of bad QB play, as expected.
No matter, the big thing is he made the change. No time time to worry about hurting anyone’s feelings. It’s a business and the coaches need to secure their jobs.
Tough decision, congratulations to Brown. Woolsey will be a great backup, ready to rumble. Go Bows!
If Woolsey was a terrible starter, which he was, what changes to make him any better as a backup? A quality backup is someone who can come in and pick up the team or continue the momemtum. Woolsey doesn’t fit that description. What UH need to establish is a backup who will benefit the program for not only this year but also the next. Isn’t part of the improvement process to establish more quality depth on the team? That doesn’t happen with Woolsey as 2nd string.
“OXASS” … PLEASE STATE YOUR REAL NAME AS I’D LIKE TO SEE IT AS AN APPLICANT THE NEXT TIME THE HC @ UH OPENS UP … I’D LIKE TO SEE IF YOUR BRAIN AND MOUTH CAN PUT UP … ‘CUZ YOU SURE AS HELL WON’T SHUT UP !!!!!
🙂
So this is what comes out of the mouth of a guy who couldn’t see how bad Woolsey is? Is there anything to what I said that you actually want to dispute. Wait, aren’t you the same guy who admitted last week that Woolsey shouldn’t start and actually had him BELOW at least three other guys?
I think Brown represents a more uptempo, vertical, down the field approach that Coach Rolo envisions. IW is more suited for option/read plays, not necessarily a pocket passer, but he is an athlete with skills that may be useful in certain situations, so he still is valuable. Good luck to Brown and as usual, Go Bows.
Wish the Warriors luck. Sad that IW had soooo many changes in coaches over his time. Not saying he is the answer, but I think he is getting a reasly bad rap from so many “fans”.
ESPECIALLY FROM “OXA$$”
Tell me one instance where I was wrong about Woolsey’s abilities.
Could you please repost what you wrote last week where you had Woolsey way down the list of replacement QBs? Or you conveniently forgot about that?
What do we have to lose?
At least DB has time to grow and correct potential mistakes. IW has a few years to do that but still making most of the same mistakes. He is not learning. Could be because of all the coaching changes he had but that is how things work out. Sad to say but just have to move on sometimes. Good luck to all of them.
This decision was not rocket science. Still, some coaches make it appear so. Better late than ever for Rolo, now lets see ROLO spread the field to take advantage of young Dru Brown’s talents.
We all saw this coming, some later than others, but it was inevitable. Given that Woolsey has proven to be inadedequate in everyone’s eyes now, the only remaining question is “why have him as backup”?. As a fifth (or sixth?) year senior, what he has to offer is not much more then what Aaron will offer if Dru falters. And I say this having never seen Aaron take a snap as a QB because it doesn’t matter. If needed, give Aaron a shot because he’s still coming back, unless he decides not to. If Aaron fails then bring in Mcdonald or some other guy who’s coming back. There’s no going back, only preparing for the future and, sorry for Woolsey, but he’s not part of that planning.
Warrior fans, like myself, wanted a desperate change at starting quarterback. Coach Rolovich made the common sense decision to start Brown. For his backup, I had hope Aaron Zwalen (spelling) would be his backup.
Rolo did not mention if there will be some new faces on the defensive line where the problem lies.
Problem w/ the DL is lack of size … #99 Zeno Choi plays his heart out but at this level of play a 275 lbs DL is very small …
808ASS, you should state your real name so that everyone would know when you put in your name to be the next DC. But I already know your lack of brain but all mouth won’t put up. HA HA HA!
Children, this is not the place to discuss Trump/Hillary.
Won’t matter unless the Defense improves and from what Lempa is saying, I don’t think it will. When you are last in the Nation in defense you obviously have a lot of things to change, and just trying to get the reserves to start isn’t what needs to be done.
Very true. Something just doesn’t look right. Either they are very tired, or for some reason, they just don’t have the “killer instinct” you’d expect, from at least a few of the players. I’m not sure what the answer is. I would suggest that they lay off the chest bumping so often. Put that energy into the next play, and be READY!!
Like Rolo said going in to the games the players are not thinking they’re going to win they look like more like they hope to win.
Be careful what you wish for. Look what happened since Coach Mac got fired. The Mac attackkkkk… You outta know by now.
Yeah, but almost everything looks good when the patient is on a death bed.
Gee, bows coulda been 4-0 if the qb switch was made earlier.
Bows 4-0 if we had a different QB, I don’t think so, have you seen our defense or lack-there-of? Whatever medical mj you’re smoking, please share, cause it must be some potent stuff!!!