Sports Notebook
Star-Bulletin staff
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CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Defensive backs Erik Robinson, Desmond Thomas, and Calvin Roberts ran off the Aloha Stadium field together yesterday.
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Safety Robinson picks a pair of passes
Nothing will prepare Hawaii for Florida's heat and humidity, but that doesn't mean it can't try.
Yesterday's practice at Aloha Stadium, the first of camp, started at 12:30 p.m., the same local start time for the opener against the Gators in 10 days.
There was nowhere to hide from the sun that beat down on the team for the duration of the 3-hour practice, giving it a small taste of what it will be like in Gainesville.
"We're playing at 12:30, and they say it's going to be real hot, so we came out here to play in the middle of the day," safety Erik Robinson said. "We were out there just working for it, getting ready."
Robinson, who's currently backing up Mana Silva at strong safety, led the secondary in practice yesterday. He made two interceptions and could have had more.
The 5-foot-10, 200-pound senior was in position for another pick down the right sideline, but the ball hung in the air long enough for fellow safety Desmond Thomas and cornerback Jeramy Bryant to get to it as well. All three went up for the interception, collided and landed in a heap on the turf. They needed a few seconds to shake off the contact.
"Des was going for the ball. I could have got it, but Des got his hands on it," Robinson said. "Give credit to Des."
Silva enjoyed playing on the stadium turf for just the second time since wearing an Oregon State uniform against Hawaii in 2006, the last time the Warriors lost a home game. He also had a strong practice, finishing with an interception and several break-ups.
"The (turf) is fast. You can make plays a lot better," Silva said. "Coach (Greg McMackin) wants us to make plays and we're just out here doing what he tells us."
Scanning the stadium backdrop, Silva said yesterday reminded him the season is right around the corner.
"You get that feeling to really get your mind right," Silva said. "It's good."
UH sports goes worldwide
KFVE signed a multiyear contract with Hawaii IPTV LLC, Hawaii's global Internet protocol television network, that will allow select UH home games to be broadcast worldwide beginning this season.
More than 60 games, including men's and women's volleyball and basketball, baseball, softball, soccer and football, are scheduled to be aired.
"KFVE has been a proud supporter and partner of UH sports for 25 years," KFVE and KHNL general manager John Fink said in a press release. "It's a wonderful opportunity, through Hawaii IPTV, to be able to give our athletics and athletic programs this kind of exposure outside of the state."
The agreement excludes UH road games and any games blacked out due to ESPN or other nationwide television broadcasts.
For more information, visit www.tvfromhawaii.com.
Short yardage
The 13th annual Pigskin Pigout at Murphy's Bar and Grill is tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. The cost to attend is $100, which goes to Na Koa, the UH football booster club. ... The UH athletics Web site (
hawaiiathletics.com) has unveiled a new look.