StarBulletin.com

Warriors move closer to opener


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POSTED: Monday, August 24, 2009

Classes begin this morning on the Manoa campus, and so does the next phase of the Hawaii football team's preparation.

The Warriors closed fall camp with a scrimmage Friday and a light walk-through on Saturday, and have 10 more practices to prepare for the season opener against Central Arkansas on Sept. 4.

“;Now we'll get into strategies and game plans and working on our first ballgame,”; UH head coach Greg McMackin said. “;Everything (in camp was) fundamentals, getting them to play right, techniques.

“;We've got our whole package we're going to use, and we'll pick things or add things as the season goes on that are specific to that (opponent).”;

Along with the start of school, awaiting the Warriors this week are:

» New faces: The roster expands on the first day of school, with the invited newcomers expected to contribute primarily on the scout teams.

» A new depth chart: The coaches met over the weekend to review the footage of Friday's scrimmage to further define the depth chart as they begin honing the repetitions in practice to those on the top lines.

» A night out: The Warriors are scheduled to practice at Aloha Stadium on Thursday night in a closed session to get a feel for playing under the lights.

» A return to the routine: Other than the Aloha Stadium practice, the team will get into their regular-season rhythm of 7 a.m. practices and afternoon meetings sandwiching classes.

“;It's really important that they get into their routine of going to classes and we'll get into a normal routine practice-wise,”; McMackin said.

The 19 practices of fall camp included four sets of two-a-days and two scrimmages, a 7-on-7 period primarily for receivers and defensive backs and last weekend's 11-on-11 period. The defense controlled much of the action in both, although starting quarterback Greg Alexander sat out the last scrimmage as the coaches looked to determine his backup.

The depth chart lost two projected starters entering camp. Receiver Malcolm Lane decided to redshirt and linebacker Brashton Satele suffered a season-ending shoulder injury.

Women's clinic Wednesday

It was back in McMackin's first head coaching stop that his wife, Heather, decided the women and girls involved in the Aloha (Ore.) High School football program could use an education in the game.

“;It was clear to us that a lot of the moms and sisters and girlfriends really didn't understand the game, and we thought it would be more fun for them if they had more of an understanding of what was going on,”; Heather McMackin said.

After taking the clinic to their various stops, the McMackins brought it to Hawaii last year with the first Hawaii Wahine Football Clinic, which drew close to 500 women and girls.

This year's event is set for Wednesday at the Stan Sheriff Center and is designed to educate participants on basic strategies and techniques. Doors open at 6 p.m., with the clinic to start at 7 p.m.

The clinic will begin with Greg McMackin addressing the group on game preparation. The seminar then moves to Ching Field, where the UH assistant coaches will go over techniques used on the field.

Pre-registration runs through today and costs $10. The fee at the door is $15 and includes a manual and refreshments.

More information is available at HawaiiAthletics.com or by calling 956-6508.

Short yardage

Last week's Murphy's Pigskin Pigout raised close to $100,000 for the program. Proceeds go to the Ben Yee Summer School Scholarship Program for UH Football.