Warrior football rarin’ to go

The latest installment of "Fast and Furious" is in theaters and, starting on Saturday, at the University of Hawaii football team’s spring practices. 

The two newly hired coordinators — Don Bailey on offense, Tom Mason on defense —  promise fast-paced, attacking schemes. 

"They can hardly stand themselves," UH coach Norm Chow said of his play-callers.

During planning sessions on Thursday morning, Chow said, "we’re so excited to go, we forgot the little details that go along with it."

Bailey brings his style of fast-break football from FCS member Idaho State. Last year, the Bengals averaged a play every 20.6 seconds and 82.7 plays per game; the Warriors’ paces were 22.6 seconds and 76.3 plays. 

The Bengals scored 64 touchdowns in 12 games, and had the FCS’s top passer and No. 11 rusher. 

"We’re not re-inventing the wheel," Chow said, noting many of the Warriors’ concepts — one-back, one-tight-end sets; play-action plays; misdirections — are carryovers from last year’s menu. "We’re just simply tweaking what we’ve done, and we’ve been able to add the things Don brings to us. We’ll see how it all works."

Chow noted FCS programs have to do more with fewer scholarships and smaller budgets. "The staffs have to be a lot more creative," he said. 

"Don brings a certain amount of excitement, a certain amount of tweaks we’re looking for," Chow added. 

There are three quarterbacks in spring practice: Ikaika Woolsey, who started all but one game last season; Beau Reilly, who redshirted after returning from a two-year church mission, and Max Wittek, who redshirted after transferring from USC. 

"Ikaika will take the first rep," Chow said. "He deserves it."

Chow said there is no timetable for setting  a depth chart. 

"Everybody talks about Max Wittek," Chow said. "Ikaika Woolsey is not going to take a step back. Beau Reilly is rarin’ to go as well. That’s the fun thing about spring practice. As I told the players, we install schemes, and we find out who wants to play."

Left tackle Ben Clarke, slotback Quinton Pedroza and running back Steven Lakalaka will be held out of spring drills while recovering from injuries. Wideout Devan Stubblefield, who missed last season because of a knee injury, is listed as a "half" participant. 

John Wa’a will get the first shot to succeed center Kody Afusia, who graduated in December.

Chow said he has coached against Mason several times. Mason was the linebackers coach at Fresno State, and defensive coordinator at Portland State, Boise State and, for the past seven seasons, at Southern Methodist. In 2009, when SMU switched from a 4-3 scheme, Mason studied under Dick LeBeau, the architect of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 3-4 defense and creator of the zone blitz. The Mustangs often blitzed on as much as 70 percent of their defensive plays. 

This is Chow’s fourth year at UH. With the exception of one player, the rest of the Warriors have played only under Chow. 

"I think people, unfortunately, are very short of patience," Chow said. "It takes time to build what you feel like the program to be. We’re going to miss the (players) who played for the previous regime. But you move on, and you kind of have a plan for this, and, yeah, we’re looking forward to it."

Chow said the eight-week conditioning program was successful. After the program ended, UH had a team meeting. 

"You could sense the excitement amongst the kids," Chow said. "They could hardly sit still. We’re excited to go."

THE SCHEDULE

Sept. 3

Colorado

Sept. 12

@ Ohio State

Sept. 19

UC Davis

Sept. 26

@ Wisconsin

Oct. 3

@ Boise State

Oct. 10

San Diego State

Oct. 17

@ New Mexico

Oct. 24

@ Nevada

Oct. 31

Air Force

Nov. 7

@ UNLV

Nov. 14

Fresno State

Nov. 21

San Jose State

Nov. 28

Louisiana-Monroe