Here are this week’s answers to your questions:
Question: Where does Coach Nick Rolovich envision his program being in three years?
YOU WANT ANSWERS TO UH FOOTBALL? JUST ASK
You’ve got UH football questions? We’ll try to find the answers. Submit your questions to beat writer Stephen Tsai either on his popular blog — hawaiiwarrior world.com/category/warrior-beat/ — or via email at stsai@staradvertiser.com. Every Wednesday during football season, Tsai will answer a few of the questions in the print edition of the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
You’ve got UH football questions? We’ll try to find the answers. Submit your questions to beat writer Stephen Tsai either on his popular blog — hawaiiwarriorworld.com/category/warrior-beat/ — or via email at stsai@staradvertiser.com. Every Wednesday during football season, Tsai will answer a few of the questions in the print edition of the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
Answer: “Third year?” Rolovich said. “I want to be a championship football team this year. I want to be a Mountain West champion. These kids have given a lot to our staff and each other. I don’t want to talk about three years. … If they had lost the game (to San Jose State), it would be, ‘Oh, you have one loss. You need the other people (to help).’ Right now, they just need to win one game at a time. Look, crazier things have happened on this island. The mana is strong.”
Q: How do the coaches determine each running back’s playing time?
A: Rolovich said a running back’s usage is “situational and play specific.” Rolovich said Diocemy Saint Juste, Steven Lakalaka and Paul Harris are capable of being used for every play, but one might be a better fit than the others for certain situations. “They all have a different skill set,” Rolovich said. “Game situations are part of it.”
Q: Will the Rainbow Warriors walk down tailgate lane on the South side to enter Aloha Stadium?
A: Rolovich said he prefers entering from the North end zone, where the buses carrying the team reverse down the tunnel leading to the field. The Warriors then walk the length of the field to their locker room on the South side. “The symbolism there, to me, is like you’re loading the gun, putting the bullet in the chamber (by) backing in the buses,” Rolovich said. “I always loved it.”
Q: Is there such a thing as a good penalty?
A: “Here’s a good one: Last play of the game, six seconds left, we’re running a play that we call ‘First Aid,’ and one of the offensive linemen gets beat,” Rolovich said. “It’s good for him to take a holding penalty instead of letting the quarterback get hit. It’s the end of the game, so we can line up and do it again. That’s a good penalty. Sometimes a delay of game on a punt when you’re at midfield can be a good penalty. Sometimes an accidental false start when the clock’s running and you’re up, you get to move the ball back, but you take another 35 seconds off the clock, can be a good penalty.”
He also said a penalty for an accidental face mask “happens, it’s not good, but it’s better than a celebration penalty.” He said an “effort” penalty, like holding, needs to be cleaned up. “There are only a few situations where a penalty is good,” Rolovich said.
Q: Will UH ask the Mountain West to review the excessive celebration penalties incurred in the San Jose State game?
A: No. Rules are rules. “You can’t dance after you score,” Rolovich said. “And you can’t interact with fans in the stands. That’s in the rule book.”
Q: What was wideout Ammon Barker’s celebration dance?
A: It was a dance Barker created during early-morning pass-catching workouts with former UH receivers Duke Bukoski and Ryan Pasoquen. Music played during those workout sessions.
Q: Will wideout/returner Keelan Ewaliko be used on defense?
A: “No,” Rolovich said. “It’s the middle of the season. He’s doing good at receiver. He’s taking care of his ball-security issues. And he’s getting better every day on offense. No.”
Q: Have the Warriors made offers to prospects in American Samoa and Australia?
A: Yes. Rolovich declined to reveal the number of offers.
Q: What’s the biggest challenge in recruiting players from Australia?
A: A major obstacle is how the NCAA interprets an Australian prospect’s transcripts and graduation dates.
Q: Does Rolovich ever reach out to June Jones for advice?
A: “I texted with June at 4 in the morning (on Wednesday),” Rolovich said. “He was up. It was 4:06 in the morning.”
Q: What is the relationship between the Aloha Stadium Authority and UH? Does UH have any say in marketing?
A: Athletic director David Matlin said he and his staff “work with Aloha Stadium on an on-going basis to have a better atmosphere and environment for our fans.”
Q: Can UH ask the business school/marketing to conduct a marketing research study to determine which market(s) pose the best/greatest potential to increase attendance at Warriors football games?
A: “We need to do more of that,” Matlin said. “That’s something, when I first got here, we did. I talked to some people up there. I think we need to re-look at that, especially in how to reach out to millennials and different groups. We need some advice and counseling and expertise in that area. I think a lot of times there are a lot of great resources on campus.”
Q: What are the plans for Saturday’s homecoming game?
A: “It’s a green party,” Rolovich said. “We hope the entire crowd is wearing green. We’ll hire mercenaries from around the state to make sure people are wearing green entering the stadium. And we’ve got some special plan for the alumni. So all the alumni, get a hold of Na Koa and let them know if you’re going to the game.”
