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After Wednesday’s detailed 2-hour practice — the first on its grass practice field since the start of the season — the Hawaii football team prepared to depart on what head coach Greg McMackin described as a "very important" road trip.
Saturday’s game at Louisiana Tech is the Western Athletic Conference opener for both teams.
The Warriors, who are 2-2, will be playing their third road game in four weeks. The Bulldogs are 1-3, with each game decided by a possession, including two in overtime.
It will be a reunion of sorts. Louisiana Tech head coach Sonny Dykes, McMackin and UH defensive coordinator Dave Aranda used to be on the same Texas Tech coaching staff.
"We had a lot of fun," Dykes said.
Aranda, who was a graduate assistant at the time, recalled Dykes’ hospitality.
"I would always hang out at Sonny’s house," Aranda said. "He would be real gracious to the GAs. He would buy us a hamburger if we had nothing to eat. He would take us over to his house. He was always entertaining."
McMackin said the focus will be on the game. He said he wanted to practice on the grass field to "just rest our legs a little bit. I think if you’re on turf all of the time, it wears you down a little bit."
The Warriors will practice at the University of Houston’s indoor facility tonight, then have a walk-through there Friday. The team travels to Louisiana on Friday afternoon.
"We’re looking forward to playing hard for four quarters," McMackin said. "We want to start off right in the WAC."
UH takes route 64 on road
Limited to a traveling roster of 64 players, the Warriors had to make a lot of "tough" choices, McMackin said.
For the first trip, the Warriors carried two kickers and two long snappers. This time, Tyler Hadden is the only place-kicker.
"Hopefully, everything will be good," Hadden said.
Beau Yap was the backup to long snapper Luke Ingram on the previous trip. This time, Yap is listed at defensive end, his natural position. Yap is one of 16 freshmen making the trip.
Chauncy Winchester-Makainai, who missed the first four games because of a knee injury, will compete as a right tackle, splitting time with Levi Legay. Winchester-Makainai was the No. 1 right guard exiting training camp. That position is now shared by Andrew Faaumu and David Lefotu.
Right slotback Miah Ostrowski won’t play because of a dislocation in his right foot. Brayden Torres-Keohokapu is his roster replacement.
"Come on, it’s my first trip, I can’t explain in words the excitement," Torres-Keohokapu said.
Although he appeared to be out of the rotation while recovering from hamstring ailments, he said, "You have to keep working. I kept working."
Brandon Leslie, who was inactive for the first three games because of a concussion, is on the roster as a free safety.
Injuries to defensive tackle Haku Correa and defensive end Desmond Dean opened spots for defensive ends Siaki Cravens and Craig Cofer.
Cravens was medically cleared last week after recovering from patella surgery.
Cofer, a sophomore who transferred from a junior college in July, has been brought along slowly. He has impressed coaches with his strength (360-pound power clean) and ability to play the run-heavy side.
Defensive line coach Tony Tuioti and Cofer met this week to discuss a development plan.
"He said in this process, it’s all about the journey, not the destination," Cofer said. "Putting in the work this year will make next year and the year after that much better."
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