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With the game plan in place for Saturday’s football opener against Colorado, Hawaii worked on the pregame Wednesday.
Following practice, the Warriors went through their haka routine. Defensive end Paipai Falemalu was the choreographer.
Falemalu had a similar responsibility last year, when he succeeded strong safety Richard Torres.
“This year, I guess nobody wanted to lead us,” Falemalu said. “I still hold the torch of leading.”
The Warriors are using the routine Falemalu and Torres learned when they were Kahuku High students. That Maori haka was first taught by two students who moved from New Zealand.
“It talks about perseverance and pushing through,” Falemalu said.
There were few mistakes.
“It’s a lot easier because a lot of guys know it from last year,” Falemalu said. “Everyone is pretty involved.”
Stutzmann has sore wrist
Left slotback Billy Ray Stutzmann, who was bothered by a tight hamstring during most of preseason training, has a sore right wrist.
But Stutzmann does not consider the injury to be serious, and he vows to play against Colorado.
“I want to be safe with it,” he said, “but it’s fine. When I’m out there, I don’t think about it.”
Stutzmann, a sophomore, succeeds Greg Salas, who is now with the St. Louis Rams.
“It’s been too long,” Stutzmann said. “Ever since the end of last season, I’ve been waiting for this season to start. I’m ready to go.”
Back to practice
Right guard Chauncy Winchester-Makainai, who missed two workouts because of flu-like symptoms, resumed practicing Wednesday.
Winchester-Makainai and Andrew Faaumu split reps at right guard.
Faaumu is the signal-caller on punts.
Defensive end Tavita Woodard, who underwent foot surgery two weeks ago, is expected to miss the Warriors’ first three games.
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