The Hawaii football team’s makeover began with a wardrobe change.
The night the Warriors’ 2012 season ended, quarterbacks Taylor Graham and Ikaika Woolsey removed their redshirt labels.
Both were held out of games last season — Graham, in accordance with NCAA rules, because he transferred from Ohio State; Woolsey to develop — and now both will be used extensively during spring training.
Graham is expected to take the first snap in quarterback drills for the opening spring practice on March 20.
The UH coaches insist the competition is open and the No. 1 quarterback’s job has not been decided. But they want to see Graham and Woolsey in more situational drills after they practiced mostly with the scout offense in 2012.
"We know what Sean (Schroeder) and Jeremy (Higgins) can do," UH coach Norm Chow has said. "We want to see what Taylor and Ikaika can do."
Schroeder started 11 games in 2012; Higgins started against Air Force.
"I’ve never been afraid of competition," said Schroeder, a Duke graduate who joined the Warriors in June. "It’s a good thing. It’s only going to make our team better. Every position should have competition. It’s going to make everyone push to get better and improve."
This past week, the Warriors had an NCAA-approved workout in which pads, contact and footballs were not allowed. For Graham, even the pantomime was a welcomed performance.
"It was good to be with the guys and lining up again and starting to think like we’re playing," Graham said. "Going through the process — the mental process of it all — what could be better?"
Graham transferred last year after newly hired Ohio State coach Urban Meyer implemented a new offense. There were other personal reasons, which were detailed in a petition to the NCAA seeking to allow Graham to transfer without redshirting. The request was denied, and two ensuing appeals were rejected.
Graham made the most of the fall semester, portraying the upcoming opponent’s quarterback in practices against the No. 1 defense and bonding with fellow Warriors.
"A year learning the offense from Coach Chow has been great," Graham said.
When Chow was UCLA’s offensive coordinator, he tried to recruit Graham to Westwood. Soon after Chow was named UH’s head coach in December 2011, Graham announced he would transfer to UH, essentially becoming Chow’s first Warriors recruit.
It appeared Graham was born to be a quarterback.
Former NFL quarterback Kent Graham remembered seeing his son as he drove up to their house after practices.
"When I would come home in the afternoon, he would be in the driveway working on his three-step drop, his five-step drop," the father said. "He probably was 10 years old at the time. He always had the love and desire to play the position. I noticed that at an early age. It’s like shooting basketball. Do they go out and shoot by themselves or do they only want to do it with you? He was one who seemed to have the desire to want to do it by himself."
Taylor Graham, who is 6 feet 5 and weighed about 235 pounds at the end of last season, said he spent the offseason trying to "trim down" while building strength.
"I’m trying to get faster," Graham said.
As for his role, he said, "I’m ready to go up there whenever they call me."
Schroeder has spent the offseason working out and working to get healthy. He was hit more than 120 times last season.
"Just a few," he said, smiling.
He probably suffered at least two concussion-like incidents, as well as a sore back that made it difficult to tie his shoelaces without wincing.
"It’s been kind of a weird offseason for me," Schroeder said. "I’m trying to get bigger and stronger and all of that stuff, but I’m also trying to get healthy from the effects of the (2012) season so (the discomfort) is not lingering during the spring and the season."
Schroeder is sporting a more playful side this year. He proclaimed this to be "Mustache March." Except for the facial hair, the Warriors are seeking a clean start.
"Obviously, it wasn’t what we all hoped for last season," Schroeder said. "But I think there’s renewed energy around here. I think guys are excited to get the bad taste out of their mouth from last season. We’ve always stayed together, even through the rough times last year. It’s something we can build off."