Warriors excited to get
back on the field

Hawaii football players check in
today and begin preparing for
the upcoming season

If adrenaline were a banned substance, the Hawaii football team would be in serious trouble heading into the start of preseason camp this week.

It was pumping through the veins of the Warriors yesterday when they were asked about checking in today and beginning preparations for a season that starts against USC on Sept. 3 at Aloha Stadium.

"I roomed all summer with (fellow receivers) Jason (Ferguson) and Desmond (Thomas) and none of us could wait 'til fall camp," freshman slotback Davone Bess said. "We're all ready to show the coaches how hard we worked all summer, and how we feel about the University of Hawaii program."

Media covering the Western Athletic Conference, as well as the league's coaches, predicted UH will finish third in the league. But no one is giving the Warriors much of a chance against the two-time national champion Trojans.

"We want to prove everybody wrong when the season starts," Bess said.

Safety Leonard Peters is reporting for his fifth and final camp.

"It went by fast," he said. "For me, it's more exciting because this is my last year. When I was a freshman, guys like Nate Jackson, Jacob Espiau, they told me to enjoy everything about college football because it was going to go fast. Now I believe them. I can't wait to strap on the helmet and pads."

The players will attend meetings today, have their heights and weights measured and undergo physical exams. At the end of the day, they'll settle into their cots at the "Motel Manoa" -- the UH dance studios they'll call home the next two weeks.

"To me, I'm used to that because in high school we camped in the gym," Peters said. "It's no biggie to me."

Peters is among 10 returning starters, and close to a lock to retain his starting free safety position. Most of the other 104 players invited to camp are in open competition for playing time and starting spots.

"I can't wait. I've been looking forward to (camp)," said sophomore slotback Pat Olchovy, who is competing with Ryan Grice-Mullen and others at Y back. "I got up to 180 pounds and I feel a lot stronger with the same quickness."

The highest-profile competition is at quarterback, where second-year freshman Tyler Graunke goes in with a slight edge over sophomore Colt Brennan by virtue of Graunke's year as an understudy to Tim Chang (Brennan is a transfer).

"The first game's just a month from (yesterday). We're all just working hard and ready to go," Graunke said. "All the guys have a chance to make a difference, the whole offense is young except the offensive line. We just have to step up and show we're ready."

Brennan echoed the common emotion: excitement.

"Right now I can't even sleep I'm so excited. It's finally here, and I feel so intense and motivated. I'm ready to get out there and put on the pads and be in that atmosphere, the camaraderie with the fellas."

Practices open: Tomorrow's first practice begins at 4 p.m. Much of the 2-hour session will be taken up by the Warriors' 220-yard (10 times) conditioning test.

They practice from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday and have Sunday off. Practices, at the lower campus grass field, are open to the public.

Weems not on roster: Junior walk-on receiver Marcus Weems was not invited to preseason camp. He might return to the team once school starts and the 105-player roster limit is lifted.

Weems played in three games last year, catching one pass for 6 yards against Idaho.