Loading ...APR … Falemalu
By Dave Reardon
Posted On: May 3rd, 2008 10:59AM
We’ll know for sure on Tuesday when the NCAA releases the numbers, but as we reported yesterday, Greg McMackin has been told the Warriors won’t lose any football scholarships this year. However, other sources have told me they expect a loss of one scholarship. If the APR rating of 925 that coach was told his team would receive is accurate, then there should be no scholarship lost.
Troubling, though, is the loss of one, or especially, two basketball scholarships (and baseball may lose 1/2 of one, we were told). Since basketball has only 13 scholarships, the loss of two is a huge percentage of what’s available. And it could create a very awkward situation where a scholarship would have to be taken away.
The APR formula penalizes schools when athletes transfer, even if they’re in good academic standing. UH coaches in the past have tried to help place student-athletes at other schools who can’t make the starting lineup or are unhappy for other reasons.
Also, if we’re interpreting the rules correctly, UH would lose APR points for Davone Bess and Ryan Grice-Mullins leaving a year early for the pros — even though Grice-Mullins was one of a record 32 football scholar-athletes honored by the school the other night for strong academic achievement.
It’s not going to be all bad news … UH track and field coach Carmyn James said we can expect four UH sports to come out with perfect APR numbers, including indoor and outdoor track and cross country.
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I’ll be covering the OIA track and field championships at Mililani today. One of the reasons I like covering high school track is I get to touch bases with UH football recruits. Today I’m looking forward to meeting Kahuku’s Paipai Falemalu. The future UH linebacker leads the discus after the trials.
Also, sophomore Sarah Clapp of Kaiser has been winning every time she runs this year, even though she is new to track and distance running. She was the top qualifier in the 800 meters by more than five seconds on Thursday, and has a chance to triple if she runs the 1500 and 3000 also. She’s the daughter of Carl Clapp, the UH associate AD.
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UPDATE: Falemalu was overtaken in the discus, but placed in both weight events. Clapp nearly tripled, but was edged at the tape in the 800. It’s her first track race that she didn’t win (only started competing in the sport this year). She broke the meet record in the 3000 meters. Zhane Santiago, the star of the girls meet for winning Kahuku, is the daughter of Louis “Keala” Santiago, who was a hard-nosed football player at UH and is now one of the best track and field coaches in the state. Jon Santos, a Mililani assistant track coach and former standout receiver, still hopes to get his associates and transfer to UH in time for spring camp in 2009.
Hey Dave!
Paipai Falemalu is, I believe, the grandson (although could be his father) of a former Farrington High student also named Paipai Falemalu, whose son played for Kahuku back in the 80s. We used to work together with the most senior Falemalu at Gentry Homes back in the day and we also played softball together. Honestly,I’ve never seen a human being hit a softball as far either right- or left-handed. At about 6-3, 230 pounds, he could also scrap with the best of ‘em - just a heck of a natural athlete and competitor. I did not want to face him whenever I made an error at shortstop!! Fact is the senior Falemalu took up trap shooting, and went to I believe Las Vegas one year. He was also a natural at that, and kicked some mainland butt in a tournment up there - it was freezing and he won the tourney shooting in his slippers!
If this UH recruit Falemalu is anthing like the Paipai Falemalu I knew, watch out. We’ll have a bigger, faster, stronger, and if it’s possible, nastier Blaze Soares on our hands.
And it doesn’t get much better than that.
Mahalo, Manoa Mist..you are correct that is my grandson, and my son did play for Kahuku, matter of fact..PJ had his #42…also a little tidbit…Randall Okimoto, Farrington’s head coach is my godson, so in Hawaii Nei…we all “ohana”…Pai
Mahalo Manoa Mist…yes it is my grandson, and my son did play for Kahuku…wow…Gentry Homes…trapshooting…those were my glory days…now its his “time to shine” also just a little note…Randall Okimoto, Govs Head Coach is my godson…so in Hawaii Nei we are all ohana…Pai
So whats the scoops on Falemalu, Dave?
Of the topic. Nice words on Devon as reported by the Palm Beach Post…
Here’s the url:
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/dolphins/content/shared-blogs/palmbeach/miamidolphins/
Excerpts:
He liked what he saw from this weekend’s crew, especially some of the 30 undrafted rookies in camp. “Several people impressed us … with the way they worked, with what they did and their athleticism,” Sparano said. Sparano did mention Hawaii receiver Devon Bess, who stood out among all the undrafted players this weekend.
One of them did stand out - Hawaii WR Davone Bess. He didn’t get drafted despite catching 108 passes last season and scoring 41 TDs in his college career. Bess (5-10, 195) is a little small and a tad slow (4.63 in 40), but he catches everything thrown his way. He made the best catch of the day, a diving grab on a down-and-in route thrown by Henne.
Naville City Paper on Jason Rivers:
Url:
http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/news.php?viewStory=59963
Excerpts:
IMPRESSIVE: Undrafted rookie receiver Jason Rivers showed good hands, as Fisher was quick to point out when asked. “He had 285 catches in college, so he can catch the football,” Fisher said.