Nick Rolovich came prepared to prod the University of Hawaii football team through the opening practice of fall camp.
Nick Rolovich came prepared to prod the University of Hawaii football team through the opening practice of fall camp.
Inspired by a book on leadership given to UH coaches by athletic director David Matlin, Rolovich — who famously presided over the team’s spring “Festivus” scrimmage in a tuxedo and top hat and had an Elvis impersonator accompany him at the Mountain West Conference media days this week — conducted Thursday morning’s workout with a 60-inch shepherd’s crook in hand.
“There’s two sides,” he explained, raising the curved upper portion of the staff, “there’s this side, which is used to help the sheep or just to let the sheep know you’re there, and there’s the bottom, which is the rod. That’s the discipline part of it.”
Turned out Rolovich didn’t need the sharp end of the stick much during a crisp 21/2-hour session, the first of 26 practices leading up to the Rainbow Warriors’ Aug. 26 season opener at UMass.
“I wanted so bad for that to be an ugly, sloppy, lazy practice,” Rolovich told the assembled media, “but credit to the assistant coaches and the players and what they did over the summer and their hunger is still there. They have more to prove.”
Just over seven months removed from a Hawaii Bowl victory and two days after being tabbed to finish second in the MWC’s West Division, the Warriors reported for camp with heightened external expectations and greater internal comfort with the system following a 7-7 inaugural season under Rolovich.
“The understanding and the trust that we all have in one another, the trust we have in the schemes, it makes Day 1 feel like Day 20 of last year,” junior receiver Dylan Collie said. “I don’t think we got to where we are today in all of fall camp (last year).”
Rolovich noted big plays on both sides of the ball during a practice highlighted by several deep connections to the receiver corps while the defense countered with interceptions in 7-on-7 and team periods.
“It was a lot of fun, we’re competing,” junior quarterback Dru Brown said. “Obviously, the first day it’s going to be kind of wishy-washy, but I think the overall energy and competition was great. Offensively just have to clean up little things, but that’s how it’ll be on the first day.”
The back-and-forth left both coordinators —Brian Smith on offense and Legi Suiaunoa on defense — encouraged by the starting energy while providing them object lessons to expound upon in film sessions.
“First day of practice is usually like Christmas morning,” Suiaunoa said. “Guys are excited and the energy is up and everybody’s fired up to go, so it’s easy now. So as far as execution, we’re happy with what we got done. It also gives us a gauge that we’ve got a long ways to go. But it was overall a good day for us.”
While the Warriors return 14 starters (eight on offense, six on defense), Rolovich said attrition at certain positions could lead to opportunities for newcomers early in camp.
Manu Hudson-Rasmussen, a junior-college transfer who enrolled last spring, saw time with the first unit at cornerback as did true freshman Eugene Ford, who came up with two interceptions in 7-on-7 periods.
Brandon Kipper, a 6-foot-6, 270-pound freshman, spent most of his first collegiate practice working with the first offensive line at right tackle.
“There’s not a lot of true freshman that are (on) Day 1 getting some reps with the ones, so I think it’s a great opportunity for him,” Smith said.
“He’s a kid with the mental toughness, the right outlook, that he has the ability to handle that kind of responsibility. For Day 1, he’s swimming a little bit but he’s battling and he’s mentally tough, he’s physically tough. We’re confident in his ability to make that transition.”
In accordance with NCAA rules, the Warriors will work in helmets and jerseys for their first three practices before putting on the pads next week.
“I tell the defense all the time we should be practicing the same way without pads as we do with pads,” Suiaunoa said. “When we get off of the ball doesn’t differ because we don’t have the pads on. We still play with our hands, we get off of the football, our reactions are still the same.”