RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM
UH quarterback Timmy Chang participated in drills during the first UH practice of the season yesterday.
Warriors open camp They look bigger, faster and stronger than in previous years.
in good shape
June Jones likes what he has
Warrior notebook
to work with after a long summer
By Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comThe Hawaii football players came to the first day ready for practice. Now coach June Jones hopes to mold them into a Hawaii football team that can match and surpass the accomplishments of last fall's Warriors, who went 9-3.
After a first glance yesterday -- no, make that a two-a-day double-take -- UH is, indeed, physically imposing and ahead of previous editions in matters of strength and condition.
Consider:
>> Defensive tackle Isaac Sopoaga really does exist, and seems as big as the Loch Ness Monster. The 6-foot-3, 315-pound JC transfer is a prime candidate for first-off-the-bus honors.
RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM
Warriors defensive lineman Isaac Sopoaga participated in drills during the first practice of the season on the UH Practice Field in Manoa
>> Linebacker Chad Kalilimoku, another JC transfer, also made a strong first impression -- particularly on running back John West, whom Kalilimoku flattened with the hit of the day when the coaches allowed some moderate contact in the afternoon session.
>> Safety Chad Kapanui lost 20 pounds, getting himself down to 205 and into serious consideration for serious playing time.
>> Left guard Shayne Kajioka did one of the few things harder than losing 60 pounds. He kept them off, and he will be difficult to dislodge from the starting spot he earned last spring.
"We've been stressing since I got here it's what you do in the offseason," Jones said. "The last couple years (strength coach) Mel (deLaura) has done a fantastic job in there and it shows up."
Around 200 fans, including new athletic director Herman Frazier, watched the first official practice yesterday morning, getting their first looks at new players like Sopoaga, Kalilimoku and wide receiver Jeremiah Cockheran, as well as a peek at veterans coming off injuries like quarterback Tim Chang, defensive end Travis Laboy and running back Mike Bass.
Chang's wrist looked as good as new after surgery and rehab. He graded himself a "C" yesterday, but coach June Jones said Chang "looked sharp" to him.
Laboy, who sat out the past three fall and spring camps with various ailments, was in the thick of things yesterday. With a short haircut and numberless jersey, he wasn't recognizable right away. But Laboy was soon ID'd as the maker of a nifty interception and return.
Chang was the victim, and the defense loved it.
"It deflected off my receiver, but if it makes the defense happy, I'll let them have that one," Chang said, smiling. "We'll let them do all the talking for now."
This is the time when the starting quarterback can joke about his own mistakes, but that will end quickly as kickoff against Eastern Illinois on Aug. 31 nears.
"We're only going to improve as time goes on," added Chang, who is breaking in three new starting receivers.
RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM
Bottom, UH coach June Jones talked to the media after the team's first practices of the season yesterday. At top left, offensive lineman Shayne Kajioka participated in drills. At top right, wide receiver Ross Dickerson pulled in a pass.
Bass missed almost all of spring practice because of a hernia operation. He's been back at full-speed for almost two months, and said he's ready to battle senior Thero Mitchell and West for the lone starting spot.
As per most Jones-run practices, the hitting was limited.
But the slimmed-down Kapanui made the defensive play of the morning when he leaped between a pass and the intended receiver, managing to knock down both with authority.
"He's doesn't look like the same guy," graduate assistant and former safety Jacob Espiau said. "I'm going to have to take him to Sam Choy's now."
Kapanui said he'll take Espiau up on that -- after the season. He wants to maintain what he worked for all summer.
"The coaches wanted me to get down to 205 and I did it. Running, running, running. Diet? I ate one scoop of rice, compared to my four before, no salad. Hard, 'cause my house is rice eaters," Kapanui said. "I'm more fast and quicker I guess. This is the place I want to play, but there's a lot of good guys."
Kapanui is listed behind Leonard Peters and ahead of Keith Bhonapha at strong safety. Sean Butts, David Gilmore and Matt Manuma are the free safeties, in that order -- for now.
"Oh, yeah, there's six guys," defensive coordinator Kevin Lempa said. "Any two of those guys could be the players. There's certain guys who are in position now, but other guys have come back in pretty good shape and are ready to go."
The competition at safety and running back is most likely to cause serious depth-chart juggling. But Jones said during the first week of practice everyone will get a chance to show what they can do, regardless of position.
"The first four or five days we'll look at everyone and give them a chance to compete," Jones said after the day's first practice. "Some of the guys who were on scout teams in the morning will get reps with the first team."
... In 1982, senior offensive lineman Jesse Sapolu was the team MVP as Hawaii went 6-5. Anthony Edgar rushed for touchdowns of 69 and 70 yards in a 45-21 victory over Air Force to guarantee a fifth-consecutive winning year. But Nebraska -- with Turner Gill, Mike Rimington, Irving Fryar and Mike Rozier -- beat the Rainbows 37-16 the next Saturday to end UH's season.
Sapolu, a three-time all-WAC choice, was drafted in the 11th round by the San Francisco 49ers. His 15-year NFL career was highlighted by four Super Bowl rings and three Pro Bowl selections. He was inducted into the UH Circle of Honor in 2000.
Today, Sapolu lives in the Bay Area but visits Hawaii often.
