From the Ching athletic complex bleachers, Larry Price had a front-row view of the evolution of the Hawaii football program.

"Look at all of the equipment on the field," said Price, pointing toward the sideline as the Warriors practiced on Thursday. "Look at all of the water jugs on the field. When we played, we didn’t have a field."

Price, the right side of KSSK’s highly rated "Perry and Price" morning radio show, is a former UH player who went on to become the football program’s first NCAA Division I head coach.

At the end of Thursday’s practice, Price was summoned to the team huddle, where it was announced he would serve as honorary captain for the Warriors’ game against Lamar on Saturday.

Head coach Norm Chow said there will be other honorary captains for home games this season, but he wanted to make sure Price was the first.

"I’ve always admired what he’s done," Chow said. "He’s a rough, tough guy who has done a lot of things."

Price attended Roosevelt High; Chow is a Punahou School graduate. In Price’s version: "Norm was a big star. I was a little weenie."

Reminded that Chow was tall for an Asian-American, Price said: "He’s still tall for an Asian."

Chow recalled that his older brother Mike and Price were UH teammates. "I thought some day I’d play for the University of Hawaii, too," Chow said.

Instead, Chow went to Utah. But he and Price remained in contact through the decades.

In 1974, Price’s head coaching debut was against Brigham Young. LaVell Edwards was BYU’s head coach. Chow was a Cougar graduate assistant. UH won that game, 15-13.

"Now LaVell has a building named after him and I spin records on the radio," Price said. "I didn’t make out on that deal."

Price recalled an era when the UH coaches worked in portable buildings on what used to be known as "the Quarry." When it rained, he joked, the offices "would float down the highway."

Price said he is impressed with the developments. The Warriors have both a grass and an artificial-surface field on which to practice. The locker rooms are scheduled to be renovated. The offices already have undergone a makeover.

"It’s been a steady improvement," Price said. "It’s been slow but sure."

He said the Warriors’ admission into the Mountain West Conference "is a blessing. I’ve never been a fan of the WAC (in recent years)."

He has been a season-ticket subscriber since 1965. His seats at Aloha Stadium are in the covered area at midfield.

"I’ve learned when you get there, it could be dry and when you leave it could be soaking wet," Price said.

He also has fond memories of coaching.

"There’s an old saying you die three times when football is your life," Price said. "The first time is when you quit playing. The second is when you quit coaching. The third is when you actually die. I’ve got one more to go."