Hawaii’s uniform collection will take time to develop
DENIS POROY/ SPECIAL TO THE STAR ADVERTISER)
Hawaii coach Nick Rolovich says there is no rivalry trophy for Fresno State, but he would prefer a screwdriver trophy if they ever create one.
That double-click was the Inbox opening for this week’s question-and-answer session regarding the University of Hawaii football team.
Question: Why do the Warriors have only one home uniform? How much does it cost for one uniform?
Answer: “Would I love to have a home uniform and an away uniform and a couple options and a couple helmets?” coach Nick Rolovich said. “I’d love to.”
But each uniform costs about $350. Painted helmets run about $400 apiece. Take those numbers, multiple them by 120 or so and …
“There probably are other needs that can be taken care of than extra uniforms at this point,” Rolovich said.
Another sartorial challenge is that in recent years, each set of new uniforms came in a unique style. That made it difficult to mix and match wardrobes.
“Part of our issue is not being consistent with our uniform,” Rolovich said. “That’s kind of affected our ability to build our uniform collection.”
Rolovich said that issue will be resolved during the offseason.
Rolovich said he also has started a fund, through Na Koa booster club, to pay for new helmets.
Q: Regarding delay-of-game penalties, can’t the coaches call timeout from the sideline before they happen?
A: Yes, they can. But while setting up for a field goal on the Rainbow Warriors’ final drive against Boise State, according to Rolovich, “I don’t think they deserved a timeout. If we don’t have the field-goal team ready, we should bring more attention to it. I could have called timeout. But I said: ‘Screw it, we’ve got Rigo (Sanchez as the kicker).’ I don’t think 5 yards was going to make a difference in that case.” It did not. Sanchez converted from 35 yards.
Q: Is the Australian lineman still committed to UH?
A: Eneasi “Ernie” Kavapalu, who is 6 feet 7 and 310 pounds, remains a solid commitment for the Warriors.
Q: Would UH consider bringing back the routine of announcing the starting defensive players during pregame introductions?
A: It was considered for this year, but it was decided to go with the entrance currently used.
Q: Why do the receivers run routes short of the first-down marker on third- and fourth-down plays?
A: Rolovich said the routes are “built the way they are” and cannot be changed “depending on down and distance.”
Rolovich added a certain amount of post-catch running is factored into each play. “You don’t have to throw the ball over the first-down marker, you need to get the ball over the first-down marker,”Rolovich said.
Q: Why doesn’t UH use a two-back offense?
A: The Warriors actually are often in a two-back set with a running back and fullback. Rolovich said the staff has “talked about” pairing two running backs in the backfield.
Q: Any chance UH will go with the run-and-shoot offense in the near future?
A: “Did anybody watch the second half of San Diego (State game)?” Rolovich said. The Warriors, who were in four-receiver sets most of that game, were intercepted four times.
“I don’t want to live in that world right now,” Rolovich said. “Look through the conference. Nobody’s doing it. Look through college football. There are not a lot of people doing it. It’s becoming a power league. We’re like an anomaly with three receivers on the field.”
Q: Is the defensive line the main emphasis in recruiting?
A: “It’s an emphasis, I don’t know if it’s the main emphasis,” said Rolovich, who also is seeking defensive backs and offensive linemen.
Q: What leadership traits does Rolovich look for in players?
A: Rolovich said the leadership characteristics are: 1) doing things right, 2) maintaining core values, and 3) determination. “You look for guys who love football and want to go to school, and not guys who are waiting for this to end,” Rolovich said.
Q: Any chance of bringing back Keith Bhonapha, a UH alumnus, former Boise State recruiting coordinator and current Washington running backs coach?
A: Zero. Nada. The big doughnut. Bhonapha earns $280,000 annually, works for a head coach who is in line for a 10-year extension, and aspires to coach in the NFL.
Q: Does UH have enough December graduates to target mid-year recruits?
A: “We do,” Rolovich said.
Q: What will UH need to beat Fresno State this week?
A: “Not turn the ball over, be much more efficient on offense, and eliminate penalties,” Rolovich said.
Q: What are the thoughts about creating a trophy for the winner of the Fresno State-Hawaii game?
A: It doesn’t appear likely after a trophy was created for the UH-UNLV rivalry. “People were upset,” Rolovich said. “I don’t care. But when my 7-year-old daughter designs a trophy when I ask her to, I think it’s beautiful.”
After recalling an incident in Fresno in which a screwdriver was found on the UH sideline — thrown or dropped? — Rolovich said: “I’d love to have a screwdriver trophy. I’ll bring one. I think you can carry one on the plane.”
12 responses to “Hawaii’s uniform collection will take time to develop”
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Trophy?
Uniforms?
How about new coaches who know what they are doing? Guess none of them learned a thing watching the HS football playoffs, instead of focusing on their own game, they go to the stadium to watch a winning team! Ha!
Heh?
Get a life fool.
I would add my questions to Coach Nick Rolovich:
(1) In your anger (well intended), you had the benches removed in the Boise State game. Instead of removing the bench, why not “clear the bench” of all young and future Warrior starters including the scout team all warming the bench and place them in live game condition? The blowned out score against our Warriors was building even at the end of the third quarter. I would had hoped you removed most of the starters starting in the fourth quarter and replaced them with those warming the bench. I say this because you mention in the news that the starters showed no motivation to play. If that was so, take them out immediately. I do not mean putting those replacement with one minute or three minutes left in the game….put them in the whole second half or forth quarter.
(2). I always love the “Run and Shoot offense”. You were part of it, most especially the 77 points scored against BYU at Aloha Stadium. So it was very disappointed to hear that “you do not want to live in that world now.” Very hopefully you will recruit the right quarterback like Colt Brennen, Timmy Chang and of course yourself to run the Run and shoot in the future. An offense that lighted up Aloha Stadium scoreboard and brought excitement to our Warrior fans…
(3). Any chance of you hiring your former Warrior Coach June Jones as your Offensive Coordinator? Most Warrior fans just don’t think Brian Smith is suited for the Offensive play calling.
I had to look twice and click when I saw this headline. As someone who supports the football program by a $50 per semester enforced donation, I would offer that every time they get a post-season bowl bid, they might be allowed to purchase a new uniform.
That might be a nice compromise to what I was going to say. UH is NOT the University of Oregon who has backing from Nike’s Uncle Phil and has a new uniform for every game. I say same helmet and pants, and only the jersey color changes from home dark to away white. Let’s start WINNING some games before we think about multiple uniforms.
win a game and all this bull goes away
blackmurano:
1) coach rolo intended to motivate the team, not throw in the towel and give up. there is a reason the starters play and the reserves are on the sideline. to be fair to the team you have to play the players who give the team the best chance to win, that is why the starters play.
2)football is an ever evolving game. listen to the ones who are closest to the game.
3)stop living in the past! do you see Kapolei playing in the open final game? no. did SMU become a regular top twenty five team? no. june jones is good system coach but not a great coach. get over him already. he has found his place coaching at Kapolei.
coach rolo is a perfect fit for the university of Hawaii. keep building the program the correct way coach rolo!
June Jones is out of the picture as far as UH is concerned and so be it but as you mentioned a “systems coach”perhaps but he won games and filled the stadium. I’m sure money wise that would keep someone happy at UH. There was a lot of criticism about Chow not having D1 head coaching experience but is there a coach on UH staff that does? Maybe UH is being out coached ?
Its going to come down to the end of season evaluations. Coaches that are poor performers should be gone. Players that are doing the dog should be sent packing as well. Rolo owes no loyalty to Chow’s poor recruits that are not living up to their expense.
Run n Shoot had 3 times more yards passing than running in the San Diego game. It also won’t work when your QB telegraphs his passes and doesn’t go through his progressions. Dru wasn’t a starter but since he started our Opponents must have picked up on that so that would explain why in the last 4 games he hasn’t been as effective.
my question would be play calling, will roll start taking over play calling duties? it seems at times that the plays are called like norm chow, 1 pass n 3-4 runs in a row, complete a 45 yard pass ok lets run the ball 3 times in a row to throw them off, if the pass is working stick to it, a lot of questionable play calling