Maa Tanuvasa wants his son to play for UH

HA Note: “Maa Tanuvasa Jr. is the son of the Circle of Honor member. He also is 11.”

About his son, Maa Sr. said:
“He’s a defensive end. He’s pretty big for his age.” (HA)

About how he wants his son to play for UH, Maa Sr. said:
“Right now, we’re making sure he grows up all right and is a good person. He can go anywhere he wants. But we’d definitely want him to go to here. My wife doesn’t want him to go anywhere else.” (HA)

About how Maa means “rock” in Samoan, Maa Sr. said:
“He’s the Pebble.” (HA)

http://warriorbeat.honadvblogs.com/2009/07/01/iosefa-to-grayshirt/

UH Football made $3.2 million last season, women’s basketball lost over $1 million

HA Note: “UH completed its 2008-09 fiscal year yesterday and based upon unaudited figures as of May 31, football is expected to turn a $3,169,500 million profit while women’s basketball is forecast to lose $1.05 million, according to the school.”

About how they can increase revenue in their 6 revenue-producing sports (football, men’s and women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s basketball, and baseball) to eventually break even in 2011:
“If our ticket sales grow those (deficits) are something we can start to whittle down quickly. It is something we definitely expect to work toward very hard.” (HA)

HA Note: “Women’s basketball will have considerable room for upside growth after its worst season, on — and off — the court. The Rainbow Wahine sustained the most losses (8-23) in their 35-year history and had a shortfall of $1,025,000, based upon taking in approximately $32,000 with expenses of $1,057,000, according to UH figures. UH officials have said they believe that with the possible exception of the 0-12 football team of 1998, it could be the biggest financial loss sustained by a UH team. Figures for 1998 were not immediately available. In addition, UH is counting on the enthusiasm generated by the hiring of new coach Charlie Wade to help return men’s volleyball to profitability. Until three years ago the program had managed a surplus. In its 1990’s heydays, men’s volleyball had even managed a reported $400,000 profit.”

HA Note: “Women’s volleyball was credited with turning the second-largest profit, $303,500, while men’s basketball topped expenses by $117,000.”

http://sports.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090701/SPORTS02/907010357/1312&template=UHSports

Feature story on Nick Rolovich, Star Bulletin #30 in UH Football history

HSB Note: “He knows he is remembered fondly — and rightly so — for his masterful work in the 2001 season, when he improbably emerged for a second chance and led Hawaii to a 9-3 record, including 8-1 as a starter. His 20 touchdown passes over the final three games of the season (Miami of Ohio, Air Force, and BYU) is a school record not even Colt Brennan could break. He ranks ninth in UH total offense (4,201 yards) with just 14 games played for his career, and his 300.1 yards per game is third only to Brennan and Tim Chang.”

About how he struggled with UH’s offense when he started in his first season at UH, especially since he didn’t work his hardest to learn the offense, Rolo said:
“The offense as a scheme humbled me. I didn’t have very good discipline as far as priorities, how I spent my time. First time away from home, got a little wild. I was lucky I came back, and I think by being benched in 2000, helped me understand that that wasn’t going to get me anywhere if I wanted football to continue for me.” (HSB)

About how he hid his hurt over his struggles, Rolo said:
“I think I’m extroverted anyway, but inside I was, I guess. hurting is the right word. I’d become friends with a lot of the guys, and I felt like I’d let them down. I thought I’d let Coach June (Jones) down. You know, I think if I’d prepared better I could have at least given a better performance. I was disappointed in myself, really.” (HSB)

HSB Note: “He swore to earn back his coach’s trust, and that of his teammates. He put in time in the film room in the early mornings, leaving notes for Jones that if he wanted to watch film with him, he’d be there. But Rolovich mentally prepared himself for life beyond football. By 2001, he was ready to become a firefighter, following his father and several others in his family. Only the attacks of Sept. 11 nixed his scheduled firefighter’s test, when UH’s road game at Nevada was delayed.”

About starting after Timmy Chang was injured after UH’s 3rd game of the season, Rolo talked about how they started his first game losing 17-3 to SMU at the half, Rolo said:
“We were on the road, and the first half wasn’t really good. I remember Chris Brown grabbed me when we walked into halftime, telling me how everybody believed in me, and I’d better get my stuff together because they knew I could do it.” (HSB)

HSB Note: “Rolovich then began what would become a recurring theme: second-half heroics that galvanized the state. The Warriors came back to beat the Mustangs in overtime. When No. 18 Fresno State picked him off on back-to-back balls the next game, he knew the defense would come through for him, and it did. Rolo shook off his struggles for the game-winning “Jumpball to Lelie” play in the corner of the end zone with 13 seconds left to beat the Bulldogs 38-34. His confidence and knowledge of the offense grew with each contest. By the time the Warriors squared off against the then-unbeaten BYU Cougars in the season finale, everything was perfectly aligned. He could see things develop before they happened. The difference: This time it hadn’t come easy. It was a result of those early hours in the film room. A result of time spent with the likes of Lelie, Brown, Thero Mitchell, Craig Stutzmann, and Vince Manuwai to go over each game immediately after it ended. A result of countless pizzas bought for his offensive linemen — one for each 300-yard game in a win.”

About how their team came together in 2001, Brian Smith (the starting center) said:
“That’s all part of what made the 2001 year so special. The comraderie that built amongst the team and the friendships that were made. That’s what ended up being important, and that’s where players ended up playing a lot harder for each other. That’s where having Rolo as a leader really made that 2001 year possible.” (HSB)

HSB Note: “Rolo tagged UH’s hated rivals for a school record eight touchdowns (another mark that survived the Brennan era) and 543 yards in the 72-45 blowout. In the process, he put an exclamation point on a season that went a long way toward creating Hawaii’s own bowl game. Though touchdowns over a three-game span aren’t tracked as a record, an NCAA record-keeper said Rolo’s 20 TDs in the last three games ranks among the highest all-time.”

http://www.starbulletin.com/sports/sportsnews/20090701_Rolo_stepped_up_instead_of_staying_down.html

Ryan Mouton signed a 4-year, $2.4 million deal

About his contract, Ryan Mouton said:
“I’m happy.” (HA)

HA Note: “Tennessee Titans 3rd round pick, Ryan Mouton agrees to terms on a four-year contract that is worth just over $2.4 million and can escalate to just over $3 million by hitting certain milestones.”

Happy with Mouton’s contract, Mouton’s agent Kenny Zuckerman said:
“This just caps off a successful post-season by Ryan. He went from a projected free agent and a blip on the NFL radar to a top draft pick and it wasn’t easy. He missed a couple of games during his senior season, pulled his hamstring at the East-West Shrine All-Star game, aggravated the same hamstring at the combine and did the same at Hawaii’s pro day. In fact, he never completed a 40 yard dash healthy. However, with his tremendous upside and great character he was able to overcome all of these obstacles and still maintain to elevate his draft stock. I’m really proud of him and he deserves it!” (HA)

HA Note: “Nearly $1 million is guaranteed. Mouton is assured $675,000 in a signing bonus and the NFL mininum of $310,000 in first-year salary. “

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20090630/BREAKING02/90630107/Former+UH+cornerback+Mouton+agrees+with+NFL+s+Titans

Colt talks about his progress as an NFL QB

RS = redskins.com

Asked for his goals this season, Colt said:
“My goal is to get better in practice, understand the offense more and act more like a starting quarterback. I have to have an attitude that, if I’m called upon, I can do the job. It takes a lot of work. You’ve got to put in the time in learning the playbook and you’ve got to be a leader. When it comes time for preseason, I want to have four great games and I want everybody to step back and say, ‘Wow, look how much the kid has grown from last year.’

When it comes time for the regular season, I just need to be ready because you can never predict anything. I want to be ready so that, if I’m called upon, we’re not going to be taking a step back. It’s going to be, ‘Let’s go have fun with this new kid under center.’ ” (RS)

Asked if he can take the top backup QB job away from 14-year vet Todd Collins, Colt said:
“Todd is a tough guy, and he kind of has a little bit of Brett Favre in him. You can tell that he still has a lot of youth in him and he still has a burning desire to play. For me, I have to come out here and do all I can in practice. Ultimately, I think it’s going to come down to how we perform in the preseason.” (RS)

Asked how he views the competition with Collins, Colt said:
“I think it’s a healthy competition. He’s always there and if I need help, he will help me. That’s just the way he is–he’s a good guy like that. When I first got here, he was a vet who would poke fun at you here and there, but now in my second year he has definitely opened up a bit.” (RS)

Asked what he can do to help Jason Campbell excel this year, Colt said:
“It’s about pushing Jason to be a better quarterback. It’s about Jason knowing that other quarterbacks on the roster are ready to come in if there’s an injury. Considering all the things that have happened this offseason, I think you can see Jason is much more driven that he was last year. I think last year he was trying to get comfortable in this offense. This year, you can tell he’s got a lot more determination in what he wants to do and what he wants to become. In this league it all comes down to what happens on Sunday. For me, I don’t know how much Jason and Todd will play in the preseason, but I know I’m going to play a lot. I think if I can have another good preseason, it will put me in the driver’s seat for people to continue to recognize me as a starting quarterback in the NFL one day.” (RS)

Asked how he views his competition with Chase Daniel, Colt said:
“I think it’s just about me growing right now as a quarterback, not taking any steps back and continuing to push forward. All four of us get along and we are all good guys to each other. It’s pretty healthy competition. I’ve got to continue to improve. I’m a much better quarterback than I was last year and I’m on the verge of being a much better quarterback with every practice that goes by.” (RS)

Asked what Jim Zorn has taught him to help him adjust to the NFL, Colt said:
“Coach Zorn works on my feet continuously. He feels that once I get my feet straight, that will put me on the right rhythm and allow me to time out this offense better. He is always pushing me, and at the same time he is always there to work with me and tell me what I’m not doing right. Coach Zorn was an NFL quarterback once, and he has been a quarterback’s coach for a long time in this league, so you know that he is the right guy you want to listen to.” (RS)

http://www.redskins.com/gen/articles/Colt_Brennan_Q___A_42441.jsp