KHON2 Sports

Former UH coach Nick Rolovich lands new job at Nevada

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:40:50 -1000

Former University of Hawaii quarterback and offensive coordinator Nick Rolovich has found a new job in college football.

Nevada football coach Chris Ault announced today that Rolovich has been hired as to offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Wolfpack.

"I am pleased to have Nick join our staff. I've had the chance to watch him grow as a player, quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator," Ault said. "He is a young gun who coached and coordinated the best passing offense in the country. It was clear to me and my defensive staff this past year he is not afraid of change as he introduced the Pistol formation to the Hawaii offense. And they didn't miss a beat."

In a press release, Nevada says Rolovich spent a wildly productive four-year run at Hawai`i, where he directed one of the top passing offenses in the nation. He was the quarterbacks coach all four seasons and spent the last two years as the Warriors' offensive coordinator.

"I am very excited to be part of a program that I am very familiar with and for which I have a lot of respect," Rolovich said. "It feels great to be at a school with a history of high offensive production and putting points on the scoreboard. I'm here to learn, teach and win."

Rolovich was not retained by new UH head coach Norm Chow.

NFL Commissioner: Pro Bowl could be dropped altogether

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 14:59:32 -1000

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says he is disappointed in the quality of last week's Pro Bowl and changes must be considered, perhaps even dropping the game altogether.

Speaking on ESPN Radio, Goodell says this year's Pro Bowl wasn't "the kind of football we want to be demonstrating to our fans, and you heard it from the fans, the fans were actively booing in the stands."

Goodell made his remarks on Sunday, hours before the start of the Super Bowl.

Goodell has spoken to the NFL Players Association about his disappointment, adding, "We are going to either have to improve the quality of what we are doing in the Pro Bowl or consider other changes, or even consider eliminating the game if that is the kind of quality of game we are going to provide."

The AFC won the game 59-41.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

West side fighter Max Halloway takes on fight of career Saturday

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:38:58 -1000

Imagine a fighter making his UFC debut against one of the top contenders in his division, and doing so on less than a month's notice.

That's what Hawaii's own Max Holloway is attempting to do Saturday in Las Vegas.

He'll face off with the fifth-ranked featherweight in the world, Dustin Poirier on the under-card of UFC 143.

Holloway, a 35-to-1 underdog, is looking to "shock the MMA world".

Less than 2 years into his pro-career, 2009 Waianae Graduate Max Holloway has reached the mecca of MMA.

Now, through his four professional fights, Holloway fought under the name "little evil" in respect to his idol, the legendary Jens Pulver.

However, a proclaimed man of faith, the former Searider did not want to send children the wrong message. Instead, he decided to instead use a name that he's been linked to for years.

He's now known as Blessed when he fights. However, Holloway's blessings go much beyond his in-cage identity - in early 2012 Max witnessed the birth of his son Rush, marking what he calls the greatest day of his life.

Holloway will be the first to tell you, this week marks the first steps on his stairway to career success.

But with a ninth-island showdown against one of the division's best fighters in his octagon debut, the pride of the Leeward side is prepared to make a statement.

The wait will soon be over: Holloway and Poirier will face off tomorrow Saturday at 3 p.m. Hawaii time, live on FX, Oceanic channel 554.
oceanic channel 554.

National signing day in college football

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:38:19 -1000

Today was national signing day in college football, the first day that high school and junior college recruits could put their collegiate commitments in writing.

The University of Hawaii and new head coach Norm Chow received 18 letters of intent today.

Chow proclaimed that the true evaluation of this class of recruits won't come until a few years down the road, but did express pleasure in the group he and his coaching staff put together in about a month's time since taking over the program.

This morning, The Pacific Island Athletic Alliance held its annual signing event.

Thirty-six prep standouts in a variety of sports put the "ink" on their respective letters..

As for the gridiron guys, The University of Hawaii came away with two signatures from this group, both among the top-10 in local prospects according to www.rivals.com.

Liha Sai, offensive lineman out of Kamehameha-Kapalama, was the first to give his verbal committment to new University of Hawaii head coach Norm Chow.

And Punahou running back Steven Lakalaka signed with UH after initially leaning toward UCLA.

Kamehameha safety Taylor Taliulu signed with Washington State.

He verbally committed to Wazzu previously but de-committed this past weekend to declare he was headed to UH.

This morning though, he went back to the Cougars.

UH signs 18 recruits on National Signing Day

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:10:56 -1000

Wednesday was National Signing Day in college football...the first day that high school and junior college recruits could put their collegiate commitments in writing.

The University of Hawaii and new head coach Norm Chow received 18 letters of intent today.

Chow proclaimed that the true evaluation of this class of recruits won't come until a few years down the road...but did express pleasure in the group he and his coaching staff put together in about a months time since taking over the program.

Wednesday morning, the Pacific Island Athletic Alliance, held its annual signing event. 36 prep standouts in a variety of sports put the "ink" on their respective letters

As for the gridiron guys...the University of Hawaii came away with 2-signatures from this group both among the top-10 in local prospects according to rivals.com.

Kiha Sai, an offensive lineman out of Kamehameha-Kapalama...was the first to give his verbal committment to new University of Hawaii head coach Norm Chow. And Punahou running back Steven Lakalaka signed with UH after initially leaning toward UCLA.

There were some surprises.

Kamehameha safety, Taylor Taliulu signed with Washington State. He verbally committed to Wazzu previously but de-committed this past weekend to declare he was headed to UH. Wednesday morning though he went back to the cougars.

Gov. Abercrombie salutes NFL flag football champs

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:27:20 -1000

Honolulu – Governor Neil Abercrombie will honor Hawai'i’s own NFL Flag Football National Champions – "808 Boyz" – with a proclamation recognizing the team’s come-from-behind victory that culminated Jan. 14 at the NFL Flag Football National Tournament of Champions in Florida. The team consists of seven boys, ages 9-11, from Palolo.

This is the first Hawai'i team to win the NFL Flag Football National Championship. The 808 Boyz became a major upset when they fought back from 6th seeded position, beating out the defending national champion team from Florida in the semi-finals and overcoming a team from Cincinnati in the finals.

A half-hour television special featuring action from the national championships will air April 1 on ESPN and April 15 on ESPN2.

Pro Bowl scores big with ratings

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:42:27 -1000

Hawaii was on full display during last night's Pro Bowl, and millions of TV viewers had a front row to see it.

According to preliminary ratings numbers, more than 12.5 million people tuned in for AFC's 59-41 victory over the NFC

That's down slightly from the 2011 Pro Bowl, which was seen by 13.4 million viewers.

This was the final year of the contract for the Pro Bowl in Hawaii. The NFL continues to negotiate with the state, about holding future games here at Aloha Stadium.

As contract expires, many hope Pro Bowl will stay in Hawaii

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 16:52:29 -1000

Pro Bowl tailgaters at Aloha Stadium were thankful for the winds Sunday.
It was hot, which is also great for publicity, and it's one of the reasons Pro Bowl fans point to in hoping that the game returns to Hawai'i next year.

It's the kind of fun where you'll stand in line, not knowing who's signing autographs up front.

And although the Pro Bowl is no stranger to Hawai'i, there's always something new happening with the game.
For the first time, players on the field can "tweet" during a game, that is, use Twitter.

Although for many fans here, it wasn't so much about the tweets as it was teams.

Take "Raider Nation," a tailgating section decorated in Oakland Raiders fashion by "Raider Joe" of Royal Kunia.

But although "Joe" is a big Raider fan, he welcomes fans of other teams to his tailgating party. He admits that he didn't meet half the people there until that day.

"Melissa and Carrie - I met them this morning. My nephew Chris from Maui, Skipper from, louisiana," he says. "What I do is share the aloha to everyone from the mainland because their first time, we have to share what we have inside to them, let them know this is what we have."

Yes, sunshine helps sell the state, plus a $4 million fee the state pays the NFL to host the game.
The Hawai'i Tourism Authority says the Pro Bowl generates about $28 million in visitor spending and more than $3 million in state tax revenues.
The game reaches more than 13 million viewers, but it's the aloha that matters here.

"The atmosphere, the people, the excitement, so many things to do here, so much fun to be had it's endless, endless possibilities," said D. Washington, who is visiting from Washington, D.C.

If the Pro Bowl left the state?

"Host it and I'll come back, if not, I won't go," Washington says. "This is the reason, the Hawaiian experience, that's why you want to go to the Pro Bowl, everyone knows the pro bowl belongs in Hawaii....you cannot beat Hawaii!"

Whether we'll see a Hawai'i 2013 shirt, it's not yet known. The contract expires with this game.
But the NFL and state, say negotiations are ongoing.

NFL cheerleaders visit with kids at Kapiolani Medical Center

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:29:14 -1000

NFL cheerleaders were not rooting for football players today.

Instead they paid a visit to Kapiolani Medical Center this afternoon to meet with children being cared for at the hospital.

"So I just want to be here to show everyone some southern hospitality from Tennessee. And just show them how we are in our community at home. We go out in the community almost every week to do things like this. Its nice to get all the teams together to share that with Hawaii since they don't have a football team," says Brooke Bailey, Tennessee Titans cheerleader.

Players can use Twitter at Pro Bowl

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:49:35 -1000

KAPOLEI, Hawaii (AP) - The NFL is relaxing its social media policy and allowing players to tweet before and during Sunday's Pro Bowl.

The NFL on Wednesday said it will set up a computer on each sideline where players can use Twitter.

Mobile devices will not be allowed during the game.

The players can also tweet from their phones before the game and at halftime.

The existing policy bans players from tweeting 90 minutes before games all the way until they fulfill their postgame media obligations.

NFL officials say the Pro Bowl experiment is not being considered for the regular season or playoffs.

The players will be tweeting with the hashtag #ProBowl.