[ UH FOOTBALL ]
Warriors set
for full contact
Let the tackling begin.
Almost everybody loves scrimmages. But Hawaii football coach June Jones and his assistants look at them like the military views live-fire exercises. Jones knows he has to risk an injury or two in order to see what his guys are capable of doing.
"We're going to probably tackle a little bit tomorrow," Jones said after yesterday morning's practice. "We'll probably hold some guys out. We already know what a lot of guys can do, but some of the young kids, we need to get them in there and tackle and do some stuff. So hopefully we'll get through tomorrow positively and then a day off Sunday."
A week and a half into camp, and some of the Warriors are limping. And quite a few more with sore legs did not participate in yesterday's helmets-and-shoulder-pads drills -- they wanted to rest up for the scrimmage.
"We're just trying to get the legs back. We're a little banged up," Jones said. "We're just trying to get back into football condition."
Today's practice starts at 8:30 a.m., with the scrimmage likely beginning around 10:30.
Tackle depth: With Isaac Sopoaga still nursing a sore lower back, UH's depth at defensive tackle is being tested.
Sophomore Abu Ma'afala and senior Keali'i Aguiar have filled the breech well so far. Sopoaga will be ready to play in the Aug. 30 season-opener against Appalachian State, but Ma'afala and Aguiar will likely contribute as part of a five-player rotation, along with Lance Samuseva, the other starter, and 380-pound Matt Faga.
Ma'afala being in the mix for playing time isn't a surprise, since he was UH's third tackle last year as a freshman. But Aguiar, a 6-1, 314-pound Waimea High School graduate, is a well-traveled late bloomer.
He transferred to UH two years ago after stints at McPherson (Kansas) and Dixie (Utah). Aguiar kept moving when he got to Manoa, being shuttled from defense to offense and back again. The last move was last year, and it was when D-line coach Vantz Singletary told him it was go-time -- go harder or go home.
"He told me I needed to step it up, and I finally did," Aguiar said. "I went up and watched film with him one-on-one. Got in with Lance and Lui (Fuga) and learned from them. I bought into the system and finally started believing in myself and my teammates."
Catch of the day: Britton Komine got a step behind the secondary, and Tim Chang lofted a 50-yard pass his way. It came down over Komine's shoulder and hit his fingertips. He juggled it twice before bringing it in.
Later, defensive back Omega Hogan made a leaping grab of an errant Chang pass. It was one of the few interceptions Chang has thrown in 10 days of camp.
Short yardage: Freshman defensive end Ikaika Alama-Francis has been cleared and practiced yesterday. ... Entertainer Henry Kapono (a former UH lineman) and actor Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa made their first appearances of the season at practice. ... Sophomore defensive end Mel Purcell has a hyperextended left elbow and might not participate in today's scrimmage.
