Hawaii takes an attitude to the altitude

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. >> The University of Hawaii football team was a spitting image.

The thin air at Colorado Springs — situated more than 6,000 feet above sea level — causes dryness. During Thursday’s practice at an area high school, the Rainbow Warriors compensated with frequent hydration breaks. Several players spit on their hands and gloves to improve their grip on the football.

“I’m a habitual spitter,” slotback Dylan Collie said. “I kind of dry quickly.”

Quarterback Dru Brown often licks his thumb before taking the snap, in the same manner as a reader moistening a finger to turn a page. Brown said it is a technique intended to help his thumb’s grip, even when the game is played at sea level.

The Warriors appeared to have no problems with the high-altitude elements ahead of Saturday’s game against Air Force at Falcon Stadium. They ran double huddles to maximize the number of plays during the 90-minute practice. This week, the first- and second-team players received an equal number of reps.

“Everyone who is on this trip should be ready to play other than Cole,” coach Nick Rolovich.

Cole McDonald, a freshman quarterback, usually runs the scout offense in home practices. He was added to the 64-player travel roster.

“He ran the scout team very well,” Rolovich said. “We wanted to give the defense the best look we can give them while we were here.”

The Warriors were oblivious to the chilly temperatures. The mercury dropped to 48 degrees near the end of practice.

“I don’t think the cold bothered them,” said Rolovich, who wore shorts.

They also were not distracted by the three deer that wandered near the practice field.

Rolovich said the Warriors’ conditioning drills kept them fit to handle the breath-taking effects of high altitude.

Rolovich said he received this text from former UH coach Dick Tomey: “If you come in shape, you’re ready to fight through it. If you’re not in shape, it can hurt.”

After practice, strength/conditioning coordinator Bubba Reynolds required the players to run width-of-the-field sprints.

The linemen ran six 53-yard sprints. The other players ran six 106-yard sprints, each in 24 seconds or quicker.

During one leg, defensive tackle Zeno Choi yelled that they were “mongoose hunters.” As the legend goes, Rolovich once set up a trap during a pig-hunting outing but inadvertently caught a mongoose.

“No comment,” Rolovich said, smiling.

But Rolovich did share another suggestion from Tomey. “Coach Tomey said that 28 years ago, he got information that you shouldn’t eat as much and you should drink more (water),” Rolovich said. “We don’t need to be gluttons. We need to get what we need and get on the hydration and go.”