SYDNEY >> In a land where the steering wheel is on the right side and temperatures are measured in Celsius degrees, the University of Hawaii football team was prepared for changes.
Just before the Rainbow Warriors boarded the airplane for Australia the past Saturday ahead of the season opener on Friday (Hawaii time), head coach Nick Rolovich told the players: “Look, something is going to happen that’s different, that’s going to change, and we’ll need to fight through it. I don’t want to hear any complaining. We’ll get through it together.”
The first test came on Tuesday (Hawaii time), when the Warriors were forced to practice in heavy rain that turned the grass practice field into two-finger poi.
“A lot of people put in a lot of work to organize this thing,” Rolovich said of that scheduled practice. “There was nowhere we could have gone that late. We just had to get some work done.”
Strength/conditioning coordinator Bubba Reynolds eased the way, ordering the just-jump-in method that swimmers use when they face a chilly pool. After rolling in the mud to open that practice, the Warriors were fine the rest of the way.
“They didn’t complain,” Rolovich said, “and that’s a good sign for this football team.”
Defensive tackle Zeno Choi said: “That’s part of the game. We have to adjust to everything and everywhere — weather, climate changes, the field, crowds.”
Because the forecast called for more rain, the walk-through session at ANZ Stadium on Wednesday morning (Hawaii time) was canceled. The Warriors were re-booked for that afternoon — at a field-hockey stadium.
The turf was unmarked for football. The Warriors used the 10-yard chains to mark off distances with cones. There were hockey goals at each end of the field. The AstroTurf appeared to be from The Brady Bunch’s backyard. There even was a suspicious spectator — spy? — who had to be chased away.
“We’re Rainbow Warriors,” cornerback Jalen Rogers said. “We overcome adversity and obstacles.”
The Warriors were able to adhere to a practice schedule that was used occasionally last year. Most teams have regular practices two days before a game and then a light walk-through session on the game’s eve. Rolovich decided to have the walk-through session on Wednesday (Hawaii time) and a heavier practice on Thursday ahead of Friday’s game.
“They’ve been going through training camp and a long plane ride and hard practices,” Rolovich said. “It’s good to get their legs back. If (Wednesday Hawaii time) is the last day you do anything hard then it’s 48 hours of bed sores before you play.”
Quarterback Ikaika Woolsey said: “I like it a lot. When you go light (the day before a game), you don’t have the momentum going into (game day). I like that idea of taking it slow (two days before a game) and then going heavier (the next day). It builds momentum.”
Defensive coordinator Kevin Lempa said he has never had a practice schedule like this. But he indicated this will help him make late changes, if necessary.
“We’ll see how it goes,” Lempa said.
