Todd Graham Blames Hawaiian Woes Transfer Portal

[ad_1]

Hawaii is a football program in turmoil after allegations of player mistreatment rocked an already hectic season between the penultimate division final and the bowl game called off due to the COVID epidemic. 19. A total of 12 players, including half a dozen starters and two out of three captains, have entered the transfer portal since November.

Head coach Todd Graham, the man at the center of the abuse allegations, however, identified the root cause of the problem: the transfer portal.

Hours after Hawaii defensive star Darius Muasau announced his intention to transfer, Graham and sporting director David Matlin released two statements attributing the exit of players to the transfer portal and nothing more.

The important part of Graham’s statement:

“As a staff, we realized that the transfer portal would bring challenges to our team. The portal has been a challenge for many teams this season. We are disappointed to lose a member of our Warrior family at the transfer portal. We appreciate the contributions they have made to the team and wish them the best for their future. “

While the freedom of the transfer portal may be the reason a dozen Hawaii players have left the program since early November, Graham and Matlin have neglected to explain why. We can have some guesses about this.

Hawaii players don’t seem to like Todd Graham

When players are frustrated that the coaches are in control of their team, it’s hard to get the word out. You may see anonymous quotes or cryptic social media posts. What you usually don’t see are active gamers letting off steam in a public Twitter space, as SFGate documented earlier this month.

Graham’s conduct bordered on abuse when it comes to his players, according to the report. Here are some anonymous quotes given to SFGate on what it is like to play under the direction of the veteran coach, who would constantly insult his players and threaten to take away playing time if questioned.

The story continues

“A lot of players want him fired, especially the starters.”

“I and many others can honestly say Graham killed our love and passion for football.”

“I played for a 1-11 team and never felt like this.”

“I would go so far as to say it’s verbal abuse in the way he talks to guys. … It’s personal. It’s not like, ‘Oh, you gotta be faster.’ He calls guys useless, assholes, and crap.

“He never spoke to me about anything. I never shook his hand.

“This coaching staff has made me lose my love of the game.”

“I had several conversations with my parents last year about quitting smoking, giving up my scholarship and quitting football after playing it all my life.”

“I probably won’t be back this year because [Graham] is still three years old. … It’s not like we have the money to buy it back.

“Most freshmen drop out or try to transfer.”

Graham, who was fired by Arizona State in 2017 after compiling a 46-32 record in six seasons, was hired by Hawaii last year to take over a team that was 10-5 the previous season. . The Rainbow Warriors went 5-4 in their first season under him with a New Mexico Bowl victory.

This season Hawaii was 6-7 and was fifth of six in the Mountain West West Division. His fourth place at the Hawaii Bowl in six years was canceled due to an outbreak of COVID-19 within the team.

Who is transferring from Hawaii?

Among the 12 players to enter the transfer portal (as documented by Rivals) since November 1 are Muasau, the team’s main tackle, as well as starting quarterback Chevon Cordeiro, main rusher Dae Dae Hunter and main receiver Nick Mardner.

Matlin’s statement asserts that the number of transfers from Hawaii is “not unusual” compared to other schools, even in their own conference. There is some truth to this, as one analyst also has another program from Mountain West in Nevada with 12 transfers out. And yet, it is still difficult to call this normal number.

After all, if this number of transfers is the status quo, why publish these statements?

[ad_2]