The Hawaii coaching staff will host a talk-story session with coaches tomorrow at the UH athletic complex.

“Most clinics are people lecturing to everybody,” UH head coach Greg McMackin said. “What we want to do is have an open two-way exchange.”

The event will be held at the second-floor dance studios. Each of the UH coaches will have a “station” that includes a chalkboard. Guests can move from station to station to discuss football strategies, techniques and trends.

“We want to have a relaxed atmosphere,” McMackin said.

The $20 fee includes beverages and snacks, such as hot dogs and sandwiches.

Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. The event runs from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

For details, call 956-6508.

Corners shaping up

Near the end of yesterday’s practice, the Warriors ran the “Oklahoma” drill, a 3-on-2 challenge in which a running back has three tries to gain 10 yards. Cornerbacks John Hardy-Tuliau and Tank Hopkins represented the defense.

On the first play, Hopkins made a diving tackle of running back John Lister. On the second, Lister floored Hopkins.

“I got the worst of it,” Hopkins said. “It’s cool. We’re having fun.”

Hardy-Tuliau said: “Short-term memory. That’s what you need as a corner.”

Hardy-Tuliau and Hopkins have made an impact this spring as successors to cornerbacks Jeramy Bryant and Lametrius Davis. Hopkins redshirted last year while recovering from a pelvic injury. As a freshman in 2010, Hardy-Tuliau started in the linebacker-safety hybrid position known as quarter.

“For me, it’s a comeback,” said Hopkins, who declared himself physically fit. Hopkins and Hardy-Tuliau recorded two of the Warriors’ five-fastest times in the 20-yard dash last month.

Hardy-Tuliau was recruited as a cornerback, but emerged as an effective pass defender and blitzer as the quarter. He said the quarter often plays tight coverage on underneath routes, a skill that is transferable in a cornerback’s bump-and-run schemes.

“We’re playing more aggressively at corner this year,” Hardy-Tuliau said.

Associate head coach Rich Miano, who coordinates the secondary, said: “They have great speed and great quickness. They can tackle. They’re smart. There’s nothing I don’t like about them.”

Facing the challenge

Since joining the Warriors as a walk-on in August 2007, every day has been a quarterback challenge for Shane Austin.

This spring, Austin, who has three career starts, had to ward off competition from David Graves and Cayman Shutter to serve as the primary backup to No. 1 quarterback Bryant Moniz.

“You’ve got to go into this game at a high level or you’re not going to make it,” said Austin, who was awarded a scholarship in 2009. “Every year, you have to come out fighting. You can’t go through the motions or you’ll be seeing the bench a lot more.”