Video Interviews With Coach McMackin & Players Following First Spring Practice
HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i Warrior football team opened spring camp with a spirited practice Monday afternoon at the UH grass practice field. It was the first of 15 practices to be held over the course of the next month, culminating with the “Warrior Bowl” on April 25.
“The thing I really like about this team is their work ethic,” second-year head coach Greg McMackin said. “Today we came in and worked on some football things for the first time as a team. We haven't hit anyone yet, that's the next stage, but I really liked the way our defensive guys were running to the ball, the way our receivers were running routes and catching, and the way our quarterbacks were throwing. Our offensive and defensive lineman practiced without pads and worked on first step and looked good.”
First-year assistant coaches Gordy Shaw and Chris Tormey and graduate assistant Mike Smith also took to the field for the first time. Shaw, a 30-year coaching veteran is the new offensive line coach, while Tormey, a former head coach with Idaho and Nevada, is directing special teams, as well as the team's safeties. Smith, a former linebacker with the NFL's Baltimore Ravens, is working with the Warrior defense.
“I really liked the teaching by the coaches,” McMackin said. “The assistants did an outstanding job teaching technique and fundamentals. We have a great teaching group. I'm really excited about our staff.”
A total of 114 players are on the spring roster, including 50 returning lettermen and nine returning starters.
“What we want to do this spring is to get our personality,” McMackin said. “We are an attacking football team and we're going to attack on all three phases. The biggest thing is to set our personality.”
Spring camp continues on Wednesday, April 1 with practice beginning at 7:00 a.m. Practice will be held Monday, Wednesday, Thursday (except April 2), and Saturday at 7:00 a.m. throughout the month of April, with UH holding three special events on the final three Saturdays.
The Warriors will travel to Maui for a practice/intrasquad scrimmage at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 11 at War Memorial Stadium in Kahului. On Saturday, April 18, the UH staff will conduct a coaches clinic before concluding the day with practice from 3:00-5:00 p.m. Spring camp will culminate with “Junior Day” and the annual “Warrior Bowl” intrasquad scrimmage at Aloha Stadium on Saturday, April 25 with festivities beginning at 3:00 p.m.
-UH-
