Feature on the UH Coaches’ Skills Camp

About how he attended the Arizona, Nike Elite, and All-Poly football camps but only the UH camp offered a lesson in the ha’a, Punahou QB Kimo Makaula said:
“That was pretty good. It was good to learn our heritage.” (HA)

HA Note: “This camp — for quarterbacks, running backs, receivers, linebackers and defensive backs — runs through Friday. There were about 350 participants, including many of the state’s top prospects, for yesterday’s two-hour session.”

About coming from the mainland for the camp, QB Corey Nielsen (a lifelong Warrior fan) said:
“I love Hawai’i. I can’t get enough of it. My mom went to Punahou, so I’ve got some local ties. To be here, it feels like home already.” (HA)

HA Note: “Nielsen, who will be a senior at Gahr High School, led California quarterbacks with 4,363 passing yards last season. He threw 35 scoring passes. Gahr employs an offense that is similar to the Warriors’ four-wide attack.”

About how he tries to emulate Colt, Nielsen said:
“My grandma taped all of the (UH) games for me, so I’ve been watching. I’m always asking: ‘What’s CB doing this week?’ ” (HA)

About how he’s already attracted interest from several colleges, Mililani RB/WR Taz Stevenson (a 2010 recruit) said:
“I’ve got a couple of years to see my options.” (HA)

About how he learned at the camp, Taz said:
“The drills were good. It’s been fun.” (HA)

Kailua QB Kenny Ellis (6’5″, 225-pounds) signed up for the camp to:
“try to get better at my position.” (HA)

About learning footwork from Nick Rolovich and Jack Rolovich, Ellis said:
“This is really going to help me.” (HA)

Hoping to get UH’s recruiting interest, Ellis said:
“I would like to play for Hawai’i. I’m going to work for that.” (HA)

About committing to UH, Billy Ray (who was at the camp) said:
“It feels good to get all of that stuff off of me. It feels like a whole weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. It’s been an unbelievable experience.” (HA)

HA Note: “Stutzmann displayed quickness — he can run 100 meters in 10.7 seconds — during passing drills, despite not fully recovered from a tight hamstring.”

About how he needs to keep working hard on rehabbing his hamstring, Billy Ray said:
“I have to keep working on it. I want to be ready for the start of the season.” (HA)

About how UH’s camp was comparable to the others he attended on the mainland, Makaula (who has 4 offers already) said:
“The competition is the same. It’s very good.” (HA)

Pearl City incoming freshman Jayden Zadlo discussed why he attended the camp:
“I came here to work on my skills and try to learn things and get better.” (HA)

HA Note: “Zadlo took part in the ha’a, which was taught by this version’s creator, former UH linebacker Brad Kalilimoku.”

About the ha’a at their camp, Rich Miano said:
“This has to be the only camp that does the ha’a. It was pretty good for the first day. Wait until the fourth day. Those guys are going to look like true Warriors. Right now they’re Warriors in training.” (HA)

Colt does not regret returning for his senior season

About how he does not second-guess his decision to return for his senior season, Colt said:
“No way.” (HA)

Colt said that his decision to return to UH:
“never came down to the money.”

HA Note: “But once the rookie that Redskin veterans have come to nickname “McGarrett” got a look at the check and had an opportunity to compare pay days, rides and portfolios with other players, you wondered if there would be second thoughts? After all in the NFL, unlike many other pro leagues, the signing bonus is one of the few things that is guaranteed. For all the gloss of a reported $1.8 million, four-year contract and prospects of a first-year salary of $295,000 and escalation to $555,00 on the fourth year, only the signing bonus is assured. Everything else depends on performance, perception and health. The employment agency can be a ligament — or free agent signing— away.”

Colt said that the 2007 season was worth any financial hit he took for coming back, Colt said:
“What (that season) meant to me, the team and for the state was something. We got to do something tremendous. We were one game away from living the (unbeaten season) fantasy. The team, the love and respect of the fans, meant more to me.” (HA)

HA Note: “A magical time filled with memories that, apparently, money couldn’t buy. And, now, seven months later, a reminder of why its leader had been so special, too.”

Anheuser-Busch will help fund UH Athletic facilities!

About the donation towards their athletic facilities, JD said:
“We truly appreciate Anheuser-Busch Sales of Hawai’i generating funds for UH athletics facilities improvements. They are already a top-level member of our corporate partner program and now they are stepping up to support this worthwhile cause as well. This is just another clear indication of the dedication and loyalty they have for UH athletics.” (HA)

HA Note: “From July 16 to Nov. 30, sales from Anheuser-Busch will help fund improvements to UH athletic facilities. Anheuser-Busch Sales of Hawai’i will donate 25 cents from every case of Budweiser, Bud Light, and Bud Select products sold across the state, in an amount up to $100,000.”

Proud to be able to help UH Athletics, Chad Hoffmeister, Anheuser-Busch Hawaii VP and GM said:
“As a proud platinum-level corporate partner of UH athletics for many years, Anheuser-Busch sales of Hawai’i encourages Warrior fans across the state to ‘Get in the Game’ and continue their tremendous support of UH’s athletics program.” (HA)

Feature on Tony Tuioti

About coming back to Hawaii to work with Mack, Tuioti said:
“I look at (McMackin) as a mentor. So when the call was made for me to come out here it was a no-brainer. So I’m just excited to be here and be able to help out and be a part of a program that I love.” (HSB)

About leaving Vegas after spending 3 years settling in there with his wife and 6 kids, Tuioti said:
“It was tough to leave. But the only thing that would bring me back home was to be able to work for the alma mater, especially to be able to work for Coach Mack.” (HSB)

HSB Note: “Tuioti’s hiring as the Warriors’ director of football player personnel was officially announced yesterday and, though much of his first day of work was spent helping out at the UH Skills Camp, his primary duties will be coordinating the Warriors coaching staff’s recruiting efforts and monitoring academics.”

About his duties, Tuioti said:
“(The coaches) have an eye for what they want. It’s working closely with Coach Mack, organizing everything for them as they go out and start recruiting. There’s a lot of things just to try to make the job as seamless as possible for the coaches to allow them to do what they need to do. The big thing is to communicate with the kids. We want to keep all the local kids at home. Coach Mack expressed that time and time again, that Hawaii is the No. 1 base for us.” (HSB)

HSB Note: “Tuioti played at UH from 1996 to 1999, enduring the 0-12 season in 1998 and celebrating a WAC co-championship the following year. He stayed with the program as a graduate assistant for two years and later became the head coach at Kalaheo High School, leading the Mustangs for three seasons. He then moved to Las Vegas – where both his parents and the parents of his wife, former UH volleyball player Keala (Nihipali), live – and served as defensive coordinator at Silverado High School last season.”

About Tuioti, Mack said:
“Tony is the perfect person for this position. He’s coached in Hawaii, California and Las Vegas and has a lot of ties with Samoa and Hawaii. Recruiting is the lifeblood of what we do here and his leadership and direction will help us in that area.” (HSB)

About how Mack was concerned that he would miss not being able to coach players on the field, Tuioti said:
“That was one of (McMackin’s) biggest concerns, because he knows as a coach it’s kind of hard to not be so hands-on now. I understand what my role is in this program. I’ve always been a team player, and just to have the opportunity to work with Coach Mack and work with all the other coaches is a blessing. I’m just excited to be back. I’d come back to do anything, even if it’s to water the grass.” (HSB)

HSB Note: “Tuioti coached three highly regarded players at Silverado who will be in the sights of recruiters from across the country, and attracting those types of players to Manoa is part of the challenge Tuioti is looking forward to.”

About recruiting players that other schools have as priorities also, Tuioti said:
“You have to be able to go out and win recruiting battles, kids that have offers with other schools. We have to win those. We’re going to try to raise the bar and be competitive. The biggest thing is winning solves all problems with recruiting. The more we win, the easier it is for us to recruit and get people to come here. My job is just the organizational piece and creating a structure for our coaches to make things a lot easier for them.” (HSB)

Article about Billy Ray’s Commitment to UH

About how Billy Ray committed early to UH, reflecting how recruiting has become so much earlier than when his son Craig played, Billy Ray’s father Bill Stutzmann said:
“The whole process has changed from when Craig played,” said Bill Stutzmann, the father of the duo. “Now the recruiting’s pretty much done when the kids are in their junior year. Before it was the senior year was big, now it’s the junior year.”

HSB Note: “When Craig Stutzmann announced his intention to sign with Hawaii the day after his final high school game, his November commitment was considered pretty early by 1997 standards.”

Billy Ray said about his Oregon State, Washington State, Washington, Colorado, and Notre Dame offers:
“I can put that stuff away now and keep them as souvenirs.” (HSB)

About not having to worry about recruiting during his senior season, Billy Ray said:
“It feels great to get that load off my shoulders. I feel a lot more comfortable now.” (HSB)

Mentioning the new facilities coming to UH about helping his decision, Billy Ray said:
“(It wasn’t) a tough decision, UH had everything I wanted. The coaches, they’re getting new facilities here soon, the offense, the atmosphere.” (HSB)

About how Billy Ray was much more relaxed after making his commitment, Bill said:
“Honestly, I could see the change in him (Monday) night. He was more relaxed – all the hard work and sacrifice paid off.” (HSB)

About working with Billy Ray while he was growing up, Craig (who is basically UH’s WR coach now) said:
“I always wanted him to be better and have him set his own path. He’s gone to the same schools as I did, but he’s his own person. He’s a special kid and he’s a great student.” (HSB)

About how Craig worked with Billy Ray, Bill said:
“Craig at times is hard on him, but in a positive way. There were little things that he taught Billy other kids don’t really get because Craig went through it.” (HSB)

Proud of his brother for planning his high school program so that he could graduate a semester early and enroll in college early, Craig said:
“To make a decision like that four years ago, that kind of commitment makes you proud as a brother. That’s a pretty mature decision for someone that age.”