KEN IGE / KIGE@STARBULLETIN.COM
UH freshman receiver Jason Rivers made a catch at yesterday's first practice of fall camp.
UH practice on
FieldTurf is delayed
Hawaii's scheduled practice at Aloha Stadium on Sunday has been moved to the UH campus because of yet another delay in the completion of FieldTurf installation at the stadium.
"I'm confident it will be done in time (for the first high school game of the season Aug. 23)," NFL turf consultant George Toma said. "But it's not ready yet."
FieldTurf workers returned to the stadium yesterday after the company's work crew left the job site three weeks ago, apparently thinking their part of the job was done. But representatives of the NFL and the state -- two entities paying for the $1.3 million installation -- said FieldTurf was responsible for spreading sand and rubber infill across the surface.
"The icing's on the cake, it just needs to be spread," Toma said.
A FieldTurf representative did not return phone calls yesterday.
The goal posts also need to be erected and the field lined, Toma said.
UH's practice field and Aloha Stadium will be part of an ESPN show about playing fields on Sunday, Toma added.
Finally made it: Better late than never for highly touted defensive back A.J. Martinez.
Martinez, a former Orange County Register back of the year and first-team All-California Interscholastic Federation south division selection for Edison High, was to have been one of Hawaii's prize recruits last season. But a glitch in his high school transcript forced a delay of admission to UH, and yesterday was his first appearance as an official member of the Hawaii football team.
"Oh, man," he said after his first practice. "It was tough, but ... I wanted to come here to Hawaii, and I did, so I'm just happy to be here.
"Just getting back to football was the main thing in my mind," Martinez said. "I couldn't wait to get out here."
Coach runs, too: Defensive backs coach Rich Miano disappointed himself by finishing only eight of 10 of the 220s. But it still wasn't a bad effort for a 40-year-old.
"I told myself if I don't do 10 I'll run with the linebackers next year," said Miano, a former UH and NFL safety.
He did 10 last year.
"It's as tough a physical test as there is," he said.
Bass looks good: You can just tell right away with some guys.
Freshman defensive back Ray Bass came in with big-time speed (4.31 in the 40) and leaping (40.4 inches) credentials. But just a few minutes of punt drills was enough yesterday to tell that Bass is not just a running and jumping freak -- he's also a superior athlete.
"He's the best looking DB we've recruited," Miano said. "Now, whether he turns out to be that remains to be seen, but he is what you're looking for. He looks like the real deal. It just depends how bad he wants it."
Boatner's in: Receiver Lenny Boatner, the freshman recruit who traveled the farthest to get here, had his own cheering section yesterday. His mother, Stacey, and sister Chelsey, also made the long trip from Philadelphia, Miss., to help Boatner get settled in.
Boatner said he was nervous at his first practice, but he didn't seem to have any problems catching passes.
He might be assimilating without even knowing it. Boatner wore what appeared to be a puka shell necklace.
"I don't know anything about that," he said. "I bought this back home in Mississippi."
"Little" Rolo debuts: Another freshman, Jack Rolovich, looked good throwing the ball. The younger brother of former UH standout Nick Rolovich is a bit bigger at 6-3 and 207. He's also got a nice tan already.
"I came out two weeks prior, to meet the guys and start learning a complicated offense," said Rolovich, who bears a striking resemblance to his brother in both appearance and voice.
Catching up with Cal: New linebackers coach Cal Lee didn't have much time to talk after practice; he had to hustle off to run practice for the Hawaiian Islanders, of which he is head coach. The arenafootball2 team leaves for Tulsa for a playoff game today.
"It's a great feeling to be here with the guys and the rest of the staff," Lee said of his first UH practice. "We're just looking forward to working hard and making the most of the season."
Jones' assessment: Coach June Jones said he was happy with what he saw yesterday.
"I was spending time with the quarterbacks and receivers and we're faster and better than we were four years ago, I can tell you that," he said. "Even the new kids. Just having guys who know what they're doing helps the newcomers to see it done correctly."
He said the Warriors, who only did unit drills and some pass-and-catch yesterday, will go without pads again today, and don helmets and shoulder pads tomorrow.
As for the 220 conditioning test, it's the same as every year.
"We'll reward the guys who made the test and the ones who don't will run a little more," he said.
Kalani Simpson of the Star-Bulletin contributed to this report.
