[ UH WARRIOR FOOTBALL ]
THE HAWAII FOOTBALL players are being asked to use their heads these days, in more ways than one. Classes have started, so the Warriors are up early for 7 a.m. practice to begin a full day. Warriors are early
to rise, practice, class
... and bedBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.com"(Morning practice) allows us to make sure everybody's up for class and everybody goes to bed early," coach June Jones said. "They're not only sharp when they come, but it creates some other things that are positive, too."
Still, after practice yesterday, Jones said the Warriors are making mistakes they shouldn't be with 10 days to go before the season opener.
"We're still making some mental errors. The thing you have to do is be mentally sound in everything you're doing," he said. "Even if you know what to do, you still have to do your technique right. All those little things that matter.
"We're just trying to do things mentally correct. The proper technique is what wins."
As for school, freshman running back Brian Daniels said there are adjustments to make academically as well as on the field for first-year players.
"It's way different than high school, a lot better because you have less classes," he said. "It feels good to get practice out of the way early, then you have the rest of the day to concentrate on school and not be thinking about football."
Toma's challenge:
Renowned groundskeeper George Toma has arrived on Maui and begun work on the field at War Memorial Stadium. Toma told KCCN yesterday that the field is in bad shape, but he can "at least put a Band-Aid on it and make it safe" for Hawaii's game against Montana on Sept. 8.Continued use of the field, which Toma said has many barren spots and poor irrigation, makes his job of repairing it more difficult.
"That's hurting us very much," Toma said. "There were four games last week. We started work on Sunday, but we'll have to do some of it over after three more games this week."
Although he said the field is in deplorable condition, Toma complimented the stadium's grounds staff.
"These people are very hard working, they just don't have the knowledge," he said. "We had a helluva day today, but our backs are up against it."
UH athletic director Hugh Yoshida has seen Toma work his magic on the Warriors' practice field.
"We feel confident with George over there," Yoshida said. "With George coming on there's a sense of confidence it will be taken care of."
Wright day-to-day:
Sophomore Gary Wright, one of several cornerbacks battling for playing time, sustained a sprained right knee in practice yesterday and is day-to-day.Starting senior safeties Jacob Espiau and Nate Jackson both returned to full practice yesterday after taking some time off due to nagging injuries.
"The body's still sore," Jackson said. "But you gotta push through it, just really force yourself to play. Football is a game of injury. It's a game of you getting tired and conditioning, but it's also about the drive that keeps you going."
Starting sophomore cornerback Hyrum Peters ran and participated in some drills, but is not fully recovered from a pulled right hamstring.
Walk-on freshman kicker Aaron Barret returned to full duty after a week off with a strained quad muscle.
Props for FSU: Jones said he was impressed by Fresno State's 24-22 victory over Colorado on Sunday, and that it will help the Western Athletic Conference gain respect.
"I thought it was really important. Fresno State's a heckuva football team," he said. "They play Oregon State this week at home and they'll give them all they want, too. In fact, that matchup, to me, is similar to the matchup in the Oahu Bowl (when Hawaii beat Oregon State in 1999). What they do defensively is similar to what we do. So it'll be an exciting game."
Thinking ahead:
No, season-opening opponent Montana does not run the wishbone. But the Warriors defense worked a little against the scout team simulating it yesterday."Today most of the stuff we did is against Montana except when we go against our own defense," Jones said. "We're actually going to look at some wishbone today and tomorrow. Today we were working on some Rice stuff."
After Montana, Hawaii goes to Nevada on Sept. 15 and plays its first game at Aloha Stadium on Sept. 29 against Rice, which runs the option.
Short yardage:
Walk-on freshman offensive lineman Kealii Aguiar is being lent to the defensive line for now. The 6-foot-1, 295-pound former Waimea High School standout will probably return to the offense at some point, offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh said. ... Right guard Vince Manuwai was scheduled to see a specialist for his sprained left wrist yesterday. ... Rice linebacker and special teams star Jeff Vanover will miss the season because of a knee injury suffered last week, coach Ken Hatfield said.
