Thursday, July 18, 2013

Let's try something new.


UH men's volleyball head coach Charlie Wade is in his final year of his contract and while he kept his team from missing the playoffs this season, it's been a while since we seen the Yuval Katz days where the Stan Sheriff Center was rocking and averaging 5,000 fans a match.

It used to be a fun fast pace version of volleyball but now it seems boring and leaves you unsatisfied after the match win or lose. The way the men spike the ball it seems impossible for more rallies during the game. It's like serve, bump, set and SLAM!

I think its time financially to drop the men's volleyball team in UH athletics. If AD Ben Jay wants to see feesible sports, it should be the world's sport SOCCER(futbul).

We have a women's team which is great. Even though they have been down  the past few years they still drew great crowds at Waipio Soccer Stadium. Now i'm not sure if it is free to watch the match but when they finally complete the T.C. Ching complex in Manoa, they should charge an adult general admission fee for the matches and I guess free for the keiki(children). I mean think of all the boys and girls that play organized youth soccer on Oahu and think of how much they would love to go see a match and think about playing for Hawai'i one day.This is the same deal with baseball.. All the little leaguers love to watch UH baseball since we can't go see a major league game here in Hawai'i.

Bringing a men's soccer program to UH would make a lot more sense than men's volleyball. Yes both sports are played in Hawaii high schools but with soccer that brings a much popular sport which will bring in our Asian neighboring markets to sponsor the team and maybe bring in an upcoming Asian soccer star to play for UH.

The schedules between the two sports are the same, 20 games. The roster amount the same, 20 players. Since there are way more college men's soccer teams than men's volleyball, it would not be hard to schedule and of course be in the Big West Conference with our eight other conference members.

So please shut down the men's volleyball program, research if its doable financially to have another men's program and bring this program  to fruition.

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Hey Arnold!

Title was based on the TV cartoon show not really randomly yelling out someone's name.

Although we can talk about University of Hawaii's men's basketball coach Gib Arnold and his initial talks with athletic director Ben Jay about extending his contract after 2014. Arnold is entering season 4 and I can't help but wonder why Jay should extend his contract for more than two years. I think since Jay hasn't been here a full academic year and haven't seen the men's team play, he should give Arnold not one year but a two year extension and negotiate extending his contract after that in 2015. AD Jay should take in consideration his overall record which at least is over .500(52-44). You can't give a coach a one year extension and expect him to bring in solid recruits because now days unless the recruit is 4 or 5 stars they want to be at a school knowing the coach will be there for a couple of years.

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Love this video.

Slow day just wanted to post my favorite video and bring some excitement in the blog.


Monday, July 15, 2013

Bring back the Hawaiian flag

Photo courtesy: The Mojo Boogie

Players get fired up when they leave the locker room and exit the tunnel. The fans get excited when they see their team run onto the field. Last year UH did several things that I thought was good and some things that actually dulled the mood.

First, they walked out of the tunnel without the inflatable Hawai'i helmet with the smoke coming out of it. That was a bummer. It's seems more intimidating when they suddenly appear from the smoke. Then they walk out in rows of five or six arms locked to each other and walking as a team in unison. That was cool but I think players get more fired up when they run out then walk out.

Then in another game they just walk out and do the haka right out of the tunnel. I think they should do that after their pregame warm-ups. Hey if the fans don't come in early to see it so be it. It's more for the team anyway.

So I would suggest to bring back the inflatable helmet or something new that they can walk out of and of course bring back the smoke. Have the cheerleaders and UH band crowd the side and play "Hawai'i 5-0"Lastly have the team captain of the game or someone who earned it to go in the front of the pack,wave the Hawaiian flag and run out the field.

This is a tradition that we can have for years to come because it shows that the team is playing for Hawai'i.
They are representing us even some of them are from the mainland. Once they commit to the University of Hawai'i they are Ohana for life.

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Ohana means Family right Stitch

Photo Courtesy: Lindys

Ferd Lewis of the Honolulu Star-Advertiser wrote an interesting article about conspiracy theories where UH is pushing to sell all their other sports to the Mountain West Conference. This is a full page picture in the West Region Lindy's College Football Magazine. This magazine is only for football so why is UH putting this type of ad in this type of magazine.

My guess it is purely exposure. Even though it's a regional magazine it is seen in big recruiting states like California. I'm sure other schools do similar types of photos of their student athletes but Hawai'i has that special Hawaiian word Ohana. It's the only Division 1 program in the state so most of the TV,newspaper, radio, etc talk about UH sports. It's that important to our state. It is one of the biggest driving machines in the local economy. A lot of people in Hawai'i jump out of their beds the next morning after a Hawai'i win or drag the whole week after a loss.

So i'm going to take the logical approach on this advertisement and say they are showing potential recruits not only in football that there is a special bond you will grow with the university, the community of fans and the state.

As for putting all our teams in the Mountain West we would feel like we are solid as a athletic program, but would feel like traveling in the old WAC and take two to three charter flights to Laramie, WY. As on today and probably the next ten years, Hawai'i will NEVER get in to the Pac __ Conference. It's either stay as it is now or send the football team to be independent. Let's concentrate on winning in all sports and the resume will speak for itself when we go another round of college football musical chairs.

Saturday, July 13, 2013

Vegas here I come

It's been 18 years since I last seen a UH vs UNLV game in Las Vegas. I was too young to gamble and at the time was begging my parents to take me. They first thought about it because of my age and how Vegas is called Sin city for a reason. But my parents love to travel to Vegas and gamble. They convinced themselves they would take turns watching me while the other parks their behind in front a Wheel of Fortune slot machine. So we booked with Panda Travel and flew on Hawaiian Airlines.We stayed at the California hotel with thousands of Hawaii fans roaming Fremont Street. It was a sight to see. Tons of people with back then Kelly green shirts partying up after a 58-30 win at San Boyd Stadium. Of course I went with my parents who are die-hard fans as well.

Well today I'm much older, finished college and have a decent job. I feel like I should give back to my parents and treat them to a trip to Vegas to see UH play UNLV on October 12. I went through Panda Travel which has so many packages to choose from and decent prices too. So I bought three tickets and I feel like a kid again waiting for that day to come. To actually fly to another state, attend a game on the road with thousands of UH fans again it seems so nostalgic.

Friday, July 12, 2013

New and reused facilities in Manoa

I've been saying this to my father every time we look out from the parking garage on the lower campus. They should use Les Murakami Stadium to make a football stadium.

Right now UH is in their first phase of T.C. Ching complex by building a concrete grandstand by the mauka(mountain) side of the field. This will be a great facility for Track and Field, Soccer and Sand Volleyball. It is scheduled to be completed this fall.

That's great! Now if UH really and I mean really wants to build an on-campus stadium, then the only logical place to put it is where Les Murakami Stadium currently sits. Now people are saying just build up on T.C. Ching Field but looking at the space around the field they would have to really make the stands steep and that will feel like hiking up those Diamond Head stairs.

I think they should use Les Murakami Stadium as the end zone stands and build grandstands on both sides. Also a short connected end zone seating where the outfield fence is. There is enough room to have a full size college football field there. The field is level so they don't have to dig or flatten the land. This is the part of reusing facilities in Manoa. Depending if Hawai'i wants bleachers instead of all seat then I could see the capacity of the stadium to be at least 30,000 with room for expansion. With only to replace the field and build two sideline grandstands the cost for the stadium should be half of what they are estimating to build a new Aloha Stadium. The range would be around $100-150 million. Can you imagine the view most fans would have on the mauka side of the stadium. Sunset over Diamond Head and the Waikiki skyline. It would be the best view of any college stadium in the country.

Now you're thinking what about the baseball team. Well there is enough room by the grass practice fields to build a more modern and efficient baseball stadium.  P.K. Park on the campus of the University of Oregon comes to mind. It is a beautiful facility with about 3,500 capacity and an all FieldTurf playing surface except for the pitcher's mound. The cost was $30 million.

Ok finally the BIG question(s) Parking and Traffic. Well AD Ben Jay suggested to build more levels on the current parking structure and I agree. I mean if they can do that to Ala Moana Shopping Center why not at UH. They would also need to find places around the island like malls to agree to have fans park at a designated area and take a shuttle to and from the stadium.Park and Ride I think they call it same idea. For all the tailgaters out there they could make an area where you can have your BBQ's. It won't be tailgating but at least you can have a get together have great food and enjoy the game after.

Ben Jay is right. The students need to stay on campus to practice and compete in games. The student body will be more involved like they are at the basketball and volleyball games because they are on campus. They can study first then go to the game or at least not have to travel so far and waste time where they could be studying.

I know this won't happen anytime soon because there isn't much $$$ support in the community but once they find a private donor they need to have a plan and pounce at it.


Thursday, July 11, 2013

Welcome to 'Bowbloggin!!!

I'm your host blogger Brandon. I will be covering most of University of Hawai'i athletics as much as I can. This is an open blog so anyone can share their opinions on UH sports, the State of Hawai'i, this blog, etc.
I hope you will enjoy it and support all of UH athletics. If you have passion for Hawai'i then you must bleed GREEN!