Cal Lee is officially the Defensive Coordinator

Crediting his Dad (91-year-old Thomas Lee Sr.) for his success, Cal Lee said:
“The best coach I’ve had is my dad. You know how you hear parents, after a game, saying you have to do this or that? He wasn’t like that. He never raised his voice. He wouldn’t be critical of the coach or the plays. I think I enjoyed football when I was young because he made it fun. After the game, you never thought about whether you won or lost. He made sure we were all upbeat.” (HA)

HA Note: “Lee said his father taught him an approach that he now shares with his UH players. Thomas Lee emphasized visualizing every scenario before every play. A baseball right-fielder, for instance, needed to think about where he would throw the ball in specific situations.”

About how the visualization technique helps, Cal said:
“It really helped. What do we tell the kids now? ‘Know the down and the distance.’ We always tell them to think ahead about what to do when the play comes to them.” (HA)

HA Note: “It was Thomas Lee’s calming advice that helped his son deal with the agony of victory. Cal Lee was the head coach of a Saint Louis team that had the most dominant run in Hawai’i high school football history. He led the Crusaders to 15 O’ahu Prep Bowl or state tournament championships. He retired as Saint Louis’ head coach to join the Warriors as linebacker coach in 2003.”

About the pressure he had at St. Louis, Cal said:
“I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t any pressure (at Saint Louis). There was. When you win, so many people expect you to win. And when I say ‘expect you to win,’ I don’t mean five, six, seven games. They expect you to go to undefeated. At any level, that’s hard.” (HA)

About how people weren’t satisfied when they won, Cal said:
“Somebody would say, ‘What happened? It was only 20-10.’ And when you lose, it’s like the end of the world for some people.” (HA)

About how the pressure motivated him, Cal said:
“What happens is it makes you continue to try to get better. If you don’t, you will lose, or you won’t have a chance, I should say. Because we were winning, we would keep striving to improve. Tweak this. Tweak that. We couldn’t sit back and say, ‘Let’s do it again.’ It doesn’t work that way. Pressure makes you work even harder than the year before.” (HA)

About another lesson he learned from his Dad, Cal said:
“No matter what is happening, you try to be calm and come across to the players that everything is copasetic.” (HA)

Kainoa LaCount and 4 JC WRs commit to the Warriors

About committing to the Warriors, 6′7″, 290-pound LaCount said:
“I was ready to come home already.” (HA)

HA Note: “Also joining the Warriors are: Jovonte Taylor, a wideout from Los Angeles Southwest College. Ryan Henry, a slotback from West Los Angeles College. Craig Bell, a wideout from Cerritos (Calif.) College. Dustin Blount, a slotback from Compton (Calif.) College. All five will have two seasons of UH eligibility.

LaCount had signed with Oregon State as a Kailua High senior. But he did not meet the NCAA eligibility requirements for an incoming freshman, and opted to attend College of the Canyons. LaCount shed 50 pounds — “It’s good weight now,” he said — and increased his strength. LaCount visited Syracuse and Kansas State, and also received an offer from Washington State.”

About how he missed Hawaii, Kainoa said:
“I miss the people (in Hawai’i) and the weather. Right now it’s 46 and windy; the wind chill is in the 30s.” (HA)

Out of his options, LaCount said:
“Home sounded the best.” (HA)

HA Note: “His older brother, Kahai LaCount, is a former UH lineman. He said he will earn enough transferrable credits by the end of May, and will move back to Hawai’i shortly thereafter.

Taylor, who is 5 feet 9 and 185 pounds, is expected to provide a speedy threat at wideout. Last year, he earned the California title of “Fastest Man in the State” when he ran 100 meters in 10.47 seconds at the Community College State Championships in San Mateo. He has been clocked at a sub-10.4 in the 100. Last season, he caught 33 passes for 499 yards. He averaged 29.2 yards per kick return, racing twice for touchdowns.”

About Taylor, his father David Taylor said:
“He’s a very considerate team player. He loves the game, and he’s an excellent player.” (HA)

Taylor’s Mom Maggie said that she always knew her son:
“would be a football player. He started really young. He has a good arm. He could throw it pretty far.” (HA)

About her son going so far away, Maggie said:
“At first I was surprised. But I’m glad he’s going to Hawai’i. It’ll be a very interesting experience for him.” (HA)

HA Note: “She also said his name is pronounced Jo-VON-tay.”

HA Note: “Henry, who has three years to play two seasons, is 5 feet 9 and 156 pounds. Although www.Scout.com listed his 40-yard dash at 4.37 seconds, Henry said he consistently runs 4.5 seconds.”

About how he wants to improve his 40-yard time, Henry said:
“I plan on bringing that (40 time) down before the season.” (HA)

About how UH lost all 4 starting WRs, Henry said:
“the receiver situation is perfect. I get a chance to come in and compete and work hard for a starting job.” (HA)

HA Note: “Bell is 6-1, 188 pounds and can run 40 yards in 4.41 seconds. He has fully recovered from surgery to correct a torn anterior cruciate ligament.”

Even though his ACL surgery was 18 months ago, Bell said that:
“a lot of schools didn’t offer me (a scholarship) because of it.” (HA)

Taking motivation from the snubs in recruiting, Bell said:
“I’ve got a chip on my shoulder now. I’m going to play hard. Everything is good for me now.” (HA)

HA Note: “Last season, Blount, who is 5-8 and 175 pounds, caught 74 passes for 1,103 yards and seven touchdowns. His average of 7.4 catches per game ranked third in the California Community College Athletic Association”

About how he is prepared for the haka, Bell said:
“We did a lot of the haka at Cerritos. It gets you amped and bonds you as a team. The one we do here is a little easier than the one at Hawaii, so I’ll have some learning to do.” (HSB)

HSB Note: “Bell is among four junior college receivers who orally committed to UH after visiting Manoa last weekend. The Warriors need an instant fix of pass catchers, since all four starters won’t be back. Bell is fully qualified, having earned an associate’s degree last semester. He said he plans to arrive in time for the first semester of summer school.”

Bell said that:
“playing at Hawaii has always been kind of a dream. So when Coach Mack (Greg McMackin) and then (quarterbacks) Coach (Nick) Rolovich came down here looking for me, that felt great.” (HSB)

About UH’s struggles in the Sugar Bowl made him want to go to UH, Kainoa said:
“When I saw the Georgia game, the Sugar Bowl, it kind of hurt seeing that game, and it made me want to come home. I’m ready to come home.” (HSB)

HSB Note: “LaCount was a two-year starter at College of the Canyons (Calif.) after graduating from Kailua High School and originally signing with Oregon State. He is a prototype offensive tackle who can conceivably step in to start at either side.”

About how he is more comfortable at LT, Kainoa said:
“First year I was on the right, second year on the left. I feel more comfortable on the left now.” (HSB)

About going to UH, where his brother Kahai and cousin John Estes play, Kainoa said:
“I really wanted to go somewhere comfortable. It helped talking to my brother, and I know a lot of the guys. He told me (to) go wherever it makes me happy. My cousin is happy I’m coming.” (HSB)

About how Rolo sealed the deal with him, Kainoa said:
“Kansas State has a real good program and coaching staff, nothing against them. I like everything about them and I was ready to go until Hawaii called again.” (HSB)