The University of Hawaii football team reported to the practice field just before dawn intent on leaving its gloomy fall behind.

The Warriors opened spring practice today with a 7 a.m. session on campus, the first of 15 practices spread over the next month.

"I thought the energy was good," second-year UH head coach Norm Chow said after practice.

"The starting point is so much different from last spring, We’re not teaching effort any more. We taught effort last year and we got effort last year. They understand where we’re coming from now so now we just need to get better at everything we do."

The morning workouts scheduled for the spring is a departure from the team’s afternoon routine last year. The spring also offers a sense of renewal as the Warriors look to rebound from last year’s 3-9 campaign.

"Once spring ball starts everyone’s excited for the season, especially coming off a disappointing season last year, everyone’s ready to get it going," senior safety John Hardy-Tuliau said. "Everyone’s hyped."

As expected, sophomore Taylor Graham was first in the rotation at quarterback. Graham redshirted in the fall after transferring from Ohio State and enters the spring as the leading contender at the position.

"We’re getting there," Graham said of the offense’s timing today. "Obviously the first day we have to work the kinks out, but I think we’ll get there."

The Warriors resume spring practice Thursday morning.