Heart of a Warrior Part 1

Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xDOUb1q4YI

Brian Kajiyama was born with cerebral palsy, which stripped him of his ability to speak and confined him to a wheelchair. However, his affliction has never been an impediment for the Hawaii native. Instead, it has propelled him to break as many barriers as possible. As a boy, he dreamed of playing football for the University of Hawaii Warriors. And while he knew this would never happen, Brian did become the team's biggest fan. By the time he was a student at the university, he was not only at every home game but every practice, rain or shine, sitting in his wheelchair on the sidelines. Everything changed for Kajiyama in the summer of 2005 when a new coach for the Hawaii defense, Jeff Reinebold, noticed Brian watching practice and introduced himself. Reinebold and Brian developed a deep friendship and soon Brian was helping the Warriors prepare scouting reports on their opponents. In 2007, Kajiyama was named a graduate assistant football coach for the team by then-head coach June Jones and helped the Warriors go on to become the only undefeated team in Division I in the 2007 regular season. When June Jones and Jeff Reinebold accepted coaching positions at SMU in Dallas, Brian, now a doctorate student, thought he would continue as the teams graduate assistant. All of that changed this fall when he was removed. Includes interviews with Brian's Mother Grace Kajiyama, Coach Jeff Reinebold, Coach June Jones, Quarterback Colt Brennan, Long Snapper Jake Ingram, and Coach Greg McMackin.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Brian
• Kajiyama
• Hawaii
• Warriors
• UH
• Manoa
• WAC
• Honolulu
• Oahu
• surf
• Aloha
• stadium
• university
• college
• football
• coach
• NCAA
• 2008

[bluedawg4285]

A real coach doesn't need a title.

[uhfan24]

well sorry thats not gonna happen and if you paid any attention GA doesnt have the work coach in it

[bluedawg4285]

Update: McMackin opened his big mouth again with his anti-homosexuality remark.

Is it time to replace him yet?

[bluedawg4285]

The way McMackin said it shows he's a jerk. He said "he was never a coach", speaking about Brian.

Here's hoping someone replaces McMackin at Hawaii in the near future.

[eagleviper7]

actually i`ve met brian and reinbold.Reinbold is my uncle his wife(my autnty)is out right now but his son (kekoa) is my best friend

[eagleviper7]

Jeff and Brian are both the definition of "a class act." AMAZING.

....it's not that people "think" McMackin "pushed him aside"..the video speaks for itself, McMackin DID demote Brian, and he should be ashamed.

[thewitness236]

great, even better put together than the CBS story but... I'm ashamed that ESPN would put a spin on this story. The country should be celebrating BrianK's courage but instead people are left thinking that Coach Mac has pushed him aside. Props to Coach Reinebold wish him the best at SMU.

[coltb4heisman]

nice