University of Hawaii wideout Isaiah Bernard did not have a senior moment last year.
In the week leading to the Rainbow Warriors’ regular-season finale, Bernard was not on the senior-walk list, then he was added to it, and then his name was deleted. It also was a mystery whether Bernard would return to UH in 2017 or transfer.
Bernard admitted it was confusing, but now he is firmly a Warrior competing for playing time at wideout. “A door opened for me,” Bernard said. “It’s good that Coach (Nick Rolovich) trusted in me, and got me back on the team.”
Bernard provides speed and experience. In 2015, his first UH season after transferring from Glendale Community College, Bernard played in 12 games, starting six and catching 21 passes for 219 yards and a touchdown.
He entered his senior season competing at right wideout. “I knew Marcus (Kemp) was in front of me,” Bernard said. “I knew it was going to be hard. I tried my hardest to get out there.”
If he did not play, he figured, “I have a whole year to train and get better and come back and help the team.”
Because he did not participate in any games, he was able to use that as a redshirt year to extend his career. “No one knew I was redshirting,” Bernard said. “They all thought I was going to senior night.”
Bernard apparently did well in offseason conditioning. “I can’t wait for the season,” Bernard said. “I still have to keep grinding and see what happens.”
Dale relishes his ring
Two years ago, Elijah Dale was the top running back for a City College of San Francisco team that won the 2015 national championship. But Dale suffered a PCL tear in his left knee in the regular-season finale, making him unavailable for the playoffs and that title game.
“I actually got in for the final play, where we took a knee,” Dale said of the championship. “My coach threw me a bone. I didn’t carry the ball at all.”
Dale was upbeat about the circumstances, cheering for understudy Namane Modise, who rushed for 251 yards in the title game. “I was happy to see him play because he worked hard all season.”
Of his injury, Dale added, “there was no bittersweet. It was all sweet. And we won a ring and a title.”
Rolovich, who played and coached at CCSF, still has close ties to the school. Dale learned there was a roster spot available at UH for a preferred walk-on. Dale joined the Warriors in January.
Dale, who is 5-10 and 210 pounds, has received significant reps in spring training.
Tom gets medical OK
Nic Tom was set to contribute as a speedy slotback in 2016. But he experienced additional discomfort in his left hip, which was dislocated a year earlier when he was a Kaiser High senior. While the dislocation was resolved, medical tests showed a tear to his labrum. While he did not need surgery, intensive rehabilitation meant he would redshirt as a freshman.
He said he received medical clearance in early February.
Tom said he kept fit with upper-body exercises. He also received tips from slotbacks John Ursua and Dylan Collie. He said he is working to improve his speed. Tom was a multi-skilled athlete who played slotback, wideout, defensive back and quarterback at Kaiser.
