HSB Note: “Word we’re getting is that whoever gets the new contract for the Aloha Stadium swap meet will not be allowed to hold it on Saturdays of University of Hawaii home football games. Stadium officials won’t say anything, but a big announcement on this is expected as early as next week.”
Archive for July 10th, 2009
No swap meet on Warrior game days!
July 10, 2009UH leads in the recruiting for DT Lawrence Lagafuaina
July 10, 2009About how UH is ahead in his recruiting right now, Aiea DT Lawrence Lagafuaina said:
“I’d love to be a Warrior.” (HA)
HA Note: “But he stopped short of making a firm verbal commitment. That could come after he takes a recruiting trip to the Manoa campus.”
HA Note: “Lagafuaina’s stock is rising because of his size (6 feet 1, 315 pounds) and athletic ability (he plays basketball for Na Alii, and is one of the state’s top competitors in the shot put).”
About how Lagafuaina was on the varsity even during his freshman year, Aiea coach Wendell Say said:
“He was mature for his age. We expect a big season from him.” (HA)
HA Note: “Lagafuaina has strong ties to UH. His cousin is Maa Tanuvasa, a former UH defensive tackle. Aiea’s defensive coordinator (Mika Liilii) and defensive line coaches (Nalei Cox, George Noga and Ed Ripley) are all former UH players. Lafafuaina said he has received scholarship offers from Washington, UCLA, UNLV and Wyoming. He has drawn interest from California and Oregon State.”
http://warriorbeat.honadvblogs.com/2009/07/10/uh-leads-competiton-for-top-d-lineman/
Jeff Sydner is Centurians #21
July 10, 2009About how he rarely called for a fair catch, Jeff Sydner said:
“I didn’t like to fair catch, it defeats the purpose. Who wants to go back there and waste a play by fair catching when you’ve got a chance to make something happen? Hawaii in general, the fans, everybody just wanted big things to happen. They came to those games to see big plays and big things and I felt like that’s what I was there to do. I never wanted to short the fans anything.” (HSB)
HSB Note: “Sydner’s elusiveness as a returner and versatility as a slotback added up to 4,137 total yards, good for third on the program’s all-time list. His 82-yard punt return against Maine in 1990 remains the second longest in UH history and he held the record for punt return yardage until Chad Owens passed him in 2004.”
About how he never feared getting hit hard on a return, Sydner saidL
“I always had the mentality of you’re going to get hit, that’s part of the game. Contact is part of it. Sometimes that’s the best part of it. In order to play that game and play it to the level that it’s supposed to be played at, there has to be a part of you that is just sacrificial. That’s what I enjoyed about it.” (HSB)
About how he wasn’t sure if he wanted to go all the way from Ohio to Hawaii for college until he talked about his options with Columbus East head coach Doug Smith, Sydner said:
“I’m like, ‘Coach, what can I do from out there?’ He told me, ‘Jeff you can do whatever you want to do from out there. Your talent’s going to take you where you need to go.’ ” (HSB)
About where his elusive moves came from, Sydner said:
“Some of the things you can’t even explain. A lot of my stuff used to come when I’d be resting or have down time and you just visualize things happening. If you visualize something happening, chances are there’ll come a time when that opportunity presents itself and you’re probably going to act off instinct.” (HSB)
HSB Note: “In Hawaii’s 1990 blowout of BYU, the day Ty Detmer won the Heisman Trophy, Garrett Gabriel hit a wide-open Sydner across the middle for a touchdown. Sydner then flipped the ball to an official, and hit the Heisman pose, sticking out his right arm while cradling an imaginary ball in his left.”
About the Heisman pose he struck during that BYU game, Sydner (who was later teammates with Detmer with the Eagles) said:
“We were riding pretty high at that point. It wasn’t an insult or a slap in the face. He definitely deserved (the Heisman), he played head and shoulders above the rest that year. … But you know how competition is … ” (HSB)
About leaving a year early for the NFL, Sydner said:
“I just felt like I was ready and you have to take your chances when you can. I didn’t want to look myself in the mirror and say, ‘what if.’ That’s the way I live my life to this day.” (HSB)
HSB Note: “These days, Sydner is an operations manager for Lowe’s in Baton Rouge, La., and another Sydner will soon be looking to make a name for himself on the field. Jeff Anthony Sydner, the oldest of his three children, will be a sophomore receiver at Seven Lakes High in Katy, Texas. He’s also the proud dad of Christian, 11, and Sydney, 10.”
About how attending UH prepared him well for life, Sydner said:
“My experience in Hawaii was one of a kind. It has so much to do with why I am who I am today. It was good prep for life.” (HSB)
http://www.starbulletin.com/specialprojects/09/centurions/20090710_sydner_big_on_punt_returns.html
Warrior commit Sean Shigematsu went to the All Poly Camp to get noticed
July 10, 2009About receiving a scholarship offer from the Warriors, Sean Shigematsu said:
“I was honored because I’ve been a pretty big fan.” (HSB)
HSB Note: “Kapaa coach Kelii Morgado said Shigematsu (6-foot-5, 230 pounds) will start at right tackle and play some defensive end in his senior season.”
Morgado said that Utah State had shown interest in Shigematsu before he attended the All Poly Camp, but:
“UH was what he wanted. He went (to the camp) knowing it was a big opportunity and did a great job. The good thing is he doesn’t have to play the (recruiting) game in the fall. He can focus on his academics and football.” (HSB)
Shigematsu said he entered the camp looking to:
“get an eye-opener on what was out there.” (HSB)
About how he went to the All Poly Camp to try to get a chance to play college football, like his father (Delroy) did at UNLV, Shigematsu said:
“That was the main thing, get some exposure and follow in my dad’s footsteps.” (HSB)
About how he could grow even more than his 6’5″ height now, Shigematsu said:
“The doctor said I’m still growing. He’s got a real good base and he has the frame to carry more weight.” (HSB)
