HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i Warrior football team kicked off fall camp, Thursday afternoon, with the first of 29 practices leading into its nationally televised season-opener against Colorado, Sept. 3 at Aloha Stadium. Kick-off is 30 days and counting.

 

Head coach Greg McMackin began his fourth fall training camp with tremendous anticipation. A total of 103 players took the field for the first day of camp, many of whom participated in voluntary workouts during the summer.

 

“It's real exciting to get back out here,” McMackin said. “Just watching where the guys are physically and mentally, I'm really proud of these guys and the coaches. There's a great attitude out here, there's great leadership, (and) I thought it was a good first practice.”

 

The Warriors enter this season as the preseason Western Athletic Conference favorite, in this their 33^rd and final season in the league. UH shared the WAC title with Boise State and Nevada last year after going 10-4 overall and 7-1 in conference.

 

McMackin's assessment of the team was positive after the first day.

 

“I think we've improved our speed and I think we've improved our depth so for the first day, we're going in the right direction,” McMackin said. “We've got to learn our packages, work on our techniques and fundamentals and just learn how to play together.”

 

In what has become an annual tradition, the team will be housed in a make-shift dormitory at two spacious dance studios in the athletics complex during fall camp. The team will stay at the studios for the next two weeks prior to the start of the fall semester.

 

With only two starters returning on offense, every practice is important as starting jobs for all five offensive line positions; three of the four receiver spots, and lone running back position are up for grabs. Quarterback Bryant Moniz and wide receiver Royce Pollard are the only returning starters, although both are preseason all-WAC selections, and Moniz has been mentioned on the watch lists of the top player and quarterback awards.

 

On the flip side, the core of last year's defense returns led by all-WAC linebacker Corey Paredes and defensive tackles Kaniela Tuipulotu and Vaughn Meatoga. Paredes ranked 14^th nationally in tackles a year ago and is a nominee for the Lombardi and Butkus awards as the nation's top defensive player and linebacker.

 

The Warriors will conduct its first practice in shoulder pads on Saturday and will have single practice sessions for four of the next five days (Sunday off) until next Wednesday, when they begin two-a-day practices.