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HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i football team began the third year of the Norm Chow era with the start of fall camp, Monday, August 4, as the Rainbow Warriors prepare for their season opener against Washington later this month.
 
Chow, who enters his third season with renewed optimism despite coming off a 1-11 campaign in 2013, was pleased after the first practice on the grass field. The team appeared faster and stronger due to the new NCAA rule which allows schools to conduct a summer weight-training and conditioning program.
 
"It was terrific, I thought the effort was there, we are obviously a lot stronger thanks to the off-season conditioning," Chow said. "It was fun, I know it was fun for the fellas. It got warm so we had to slow things down.  It's not like the old days where you came into camp to get into shape, they're already in shape. It's exciting, there's a lot to look forward to."
 
The Rainbow Warriors return 16 starters, including multi-purpose player Scott Harding, who is an early nominee for the Paul Hornung Award, given to the nation's most versatile player.
 
"The boys were really looking forward to the first session and it was a good one, everyone was really happy with how it went on both sides of the ball and it was a positive start," Harding said. "We're definitely more in shape than last year that's for sure. (Strength coach) Gary Beemer did a great job with the guys over the summer, everyone's feeling good and looking good, but it changes a lot over the next few weeks."
 
Among the five new additions to the coaching staff this season is defensive coordinator Kevin Clune, who spent the past five seasons as linebackers coach at Utah State. Clune was also impressed with the camp's first practice.
 
"It was fun," Clune said. "It was good to be out there.  It was about time (to hit the field). Now it's time to start hitting. It won't be real till those pads come on, but the returning guys did a good job, they had their assignments down pretty well.  I was pleasantly surprised by the new guys and how much they knew today. Tomorrow is an important day. Everyday we're out here it's an important day. Until August 30 we need to keep stepping forward."
 
One of the question marks entering camp is the quarterback position where senior Jeremy Higgins and sophomore Ikaika Woolsey exited spring practice bracketed atop the depth chart. Woolsey, who took majority of the first-team reps on Monday, is also battling for the starting spot with returnee Taylor Graham, who started three games last season, and newcomer Beau Reilly.
 
"It's tough to judge out here but we'll see, I liked the effort (of the quarterbacks)," Chow said. "Ikaika took the first reps but we'll make a decision soon enough. We need to make a decision because the rest of the team needs to know who their leader is but we'll make it when it's the right time to make it."
 
Woolsey added, "It's always an exciting moment, putting the pads on, putting the helmet on and just playing ball because at the end of the day that's what we love to do, all the hard work in the summer and in training it pays off today. Competition breeds excellence and that's what I enjoy and all the boys know that. We're all battling for one position but we do what we can to help each other out."
 
The receiver position will also feature several new faces as the Warriors need to replace key players including starters Chris Gant and Keith Kirkwood.
 
"I thought (freshman) Devan Stubblefield looked good today, (redshirt freshman) Keelan Ewaliko looked good, guys have to step up," Chow said. "We moved Quinton Pedroza to the outside and we have Scott Harding coming back so we're fine there."
 
With the team expected to don pads later this week, intensity will rise as competition grows fierce for several starting positions on defense. Key positions at linebacker and defensive line will need to be filled.
 
"We won't do anything else until the hustle is right," Clune said. "We build everything else on that. We're trying to figure out what the best matchups are for us, the best groupings. We're going to have competition all the way through camp."