LAST IN A SERIES
What came first — the chicken or the Hawaii football team?
When it comes to wake-up calls, the Warriors have been early risers since the start of the conditioning program in January.
When some players had difficulty fitting the workouts with morning classes, first-year head coach Norm Chow came up with a workable solution. He moved up the start of the drills, to pre-dawn.
Miss a class? Report to school at 5 a.m. the next day — and then hold a textbook over your head for half an hour.
When a player missed some meetings, he was cut. After an emphatic appeal, he was reinstated, but put on probationary status for the rest of the semester.
This isn’t your father’s football team anymore. On second thought, maybe it is.
Chow was raised to be responsible, and he made sure the same expectations were placed on his children and players.
"You’re taught that your whole life, to be accountable for your actions," Chow said.
It was why the Warriors were instructed to keep their lockers in a specific order, even though the locker room is restricted to players, coaches and football-related staff members. There are random inspections, with violations printed on cards placed in a player’s locker.
Chow demands the same discipline of himself and his coaches.
While the strict standards appear to have little to do with football, Chow insisted they have everything to do with building a winning program.
"It’s all about responsibility, accountability and trusting one another," Chow said. "When it’s the third quarter, I have to trust you to make sure you do the right thing. And you have to trust that I’ll do the right thing. Everything matters."
The practice is not unique on Manoa’s lower campus. Fred vonAppen used to scold players for littering in the locker room or stepping on the athletic complex’s grass areas to bypass walkways.
June Jones would send home players for missing curfews on the road. Greg McMackin implemented a no-hazing policy by pairing freshmen with seniors.
"It’s our job to set a good example," Chow said.
This past Saturday, the players and coaches sanded and cleaned the football locker room ahead of the painting project during the upcoming spring break.
"It was a chance to bond as a team," Chow said. "We wanted to help make sure we have a nice place to call home."
Spring training opens this week with practices on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
TODAY’S POSITION » QUARTERBACK
Head coach Norm Chow will handle the UH quarterbacks. His pupils have included Jim McMahon, Steve Young, Philip Rivers, Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart. Here’s a look at the position:
» Key losses: Bryant Moniz and Shane Austin
» By the numbers: David Graves has thrown only two interceptions in 103 career passes.
» Top returners: Graves, Cayman Shutter, Jeremy Higgins
» Keep an eye on: Shutter has been so far down on the depth chart he could have been susceptible to the bends. He enters spring training as the No. 2 quarterback, a testament to his arm strength, work ethic and leadership. Plus, the Punahou School alumnus is the only UH quarterback to have won a state title.
» The future: Taylor Graham, a transfer from Ohio State, gets to practice with the Warriors but won’t be eligible to play until 2013.
» Spring work: UH was in contention for a fifth-year quarterback from a BCS school who could have transferred without sitting out the 2012 season. But after evaluating the situation, the Warriors concluded that there is enough talent on the roster. They withdrew from the pursuit. Chow said he is pleased with Graves, who will enter spring training as the No. 1 quarterback, and Shutter. "If we had to line up tomorrow, we’d certainly put those guys at the top," Chow said. Graves completed 57 percent of his passes and emerged as the starter after Moniz suffered a season-ending ankle injury. Graves is an elusive runner, having averaged 10.17 yards after breaking a tackle or eluding a defender on non-sack scrambles. Chow promises the quarterbacks will be better protected. Graves was hit eight times in the regular-season finale against Brigham Young. The offense will now include a tight end and fullback. Higgins, who redshirted last year after transferring from Utah State, and grayshirts Ikaika Woolsey and Justin Alo will get action during the spring.
» Final words: "The most important thing about playing quarterback is to be smart," Chow said. "We have smart quarterbacks."
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