UH coaches to decide
on Sunday’s spring
game format

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By Paul Arnett
Star-Bulletin

The University of Hawaii coaching staff meets after this morning's final spring practice to determine the format for Sunday's football scrimmage at Cooke Field.

It will resemble the first two scrimmages in some ways, but will not begin with the scripted 12 running plays designed specifically for the defense. There may be some other situation formats added, such as plays in the red zone, but it will be more like a game than the other scrimmages.

"We'll use the chains for first downs and we might try to score if the offense moves the ball inside the 20-yard line," Warriors associate head coach George Lumpkin said. "If our offense isn't able to drive into the red zone, then we might have some plays set up at that end specifically for that.

"We're going to meet as a staff to determine how many plays we're going to run. The players are going to be involved in a lot of interactive games with the fans before the scrimmage. So, they're going to be out there a long time. We'll probably play it by ear some."

The gates open for the spring challenge at 4 p.m. Tickets will be sold in advance and at the gate, but you can save a dollar on each ticket if you purchase them before Sunday. Kickoff for the spring game is set for 5:30 p.m. so it doesn't interfere with the UH baseball game which begins at 2 p.m.

UH head coach June Jones said Tuesday that the marketing department had done an outstanding job setting up the show, which ends with the spring game at around 6:30 p.m. Hawaii has run 54 plays in the two previous scrimmages and will probably remain in that ballpark.

"We may run the top offense against the top defense, we'll see," Lumpkin said. "We may also have the No. 1 offense go against the No. 2 defense and the No. 2 offense face the No. 1 defense. That's something we'll discuss on Thursday.

"I think you'll probably see more of the younger players than the guys at the top of the depth chart. We have a good idea who the top players are. They may be in the spring game for a series or two, but our goal right now is to get a look at as many players as we can. That's what spring is all about."

Jones update

Jones said Tuesday that he might try to do a little chipping and putting to see if he can get his golf game in shape before the summer. UH offensive coordinator Wes Suan said Jones was dreaming, but that he was glad to see the head coach up for the challenge.

These days, Jones gets up early to undergo physical therapy for the injuries he suffered a month ago in a one-car accident on the H-1. He will not attend Sunday's spring game and is hopeful he'll be able to come to work next month.

"By getting out of the hospital early, I know that it has helped me," Jones said. "I'm trying to relax and trying to do some things to help me get back into a more normal routine.

"I think I lost about 20 pounds, but I've gained 10 of it back," Jones said. "I haven't weighed 180 since I was 16 or 17 years old. I hope to be back to 205 in three weeks. I'm eating four times a day. If I feel like it, I'm going to try to chip and putt some."

Injury update

Safety Jacob Espiau will probably not take part in Sunday's scrimmage to allow his sprained shoulder to heal completely for fall camp. A member of the UH medical staff said the coaches don't want to do anything to aggravate it further.

The senior injured it last week after making a diving interception. It wasn't as serious as wideout Kanale George, who dislocated his shoulder and will be sidelined at least eight weeks.

Defensive end Travis Laboy returned to practice yesterday for the first time since suffering a flu-like virus. His blood tests were negative. He should be able to play in Sunday's spring game.

Wideout Clifton Herbert also should be back. He had an ankle sprain in last Saturday's scrimmage. Fellow receiver Tafiti Uso is still slowed by a shoulder problem, but should be up for Sunday.