It was high noon, and Nick Rolovich was in high spirits.

In his first week of spring training as the University of Hawaii’s head coach, Rolovich reunited more than 100 former players for a meet-and-greet with the current Rainbow Warriors, staged a tryout that netted two quarterbacks and two kickers, purchased a drone to video practices, bought a Super Soaker to distract punt returners during drills, implemented a hybrid offense and 4-3 defense, choreographed an April Fools’ Day “massacre,” and taught a boar’s roar that became the team’s unofficial chant.

Oh, and he also wore a helmet to a team meeting.

“It was a great week,” Rolovich said. “Coaching in Hawaii with a good group of kids and a great staff, I’m happy.”

Saturday’s practice was the third this week and the first in full pads. The NCAA prohibits pads in the first two of 15 spring practices. But instead of the layered approach — wearing shoulder pads one day, then adding further wear in ensuing practices — the Warriors decided to break out their Saturday best.

“We wanted to go full pads right away,” defensive coordinator Kevin Lempa said. “Football is played with pads on.”

Rolovich wasted little time initiating contact, scheduling a 5-on-3 battle in which a running back had to navigate past three defensive linemen in a rectangle space. In one matchup, 175-pound slotback Dylan Collie was summoned as the lone back.

“Obviously, I’m not the biggest guy in the world,” Collie said. “I woke up this morning thinking, ‘We’re going to do that drill.’ I didn’t know I was going to be the running back. It was a good opportunity to show I’m scrappy and I’m willing to go in the middle and take some hits.”

Collie scored on his third attempt.

“It’s always exciting that first day in pads,” Collie said. “It takes you back to those times when you’re a little kid and you’re a mix of nerves and excitement and, hopefully, you’re ready to get knocked.”

In practices, quarterbacks wear red jerseys that serve as immunity against being hit. But after being intercepted in a team drill, quarterback Ikaika Woolsey sought temporary status as a defensive player, and tried to chase down safety Daniel Lewis.

“I’m trying to rally the guys around me,” said Woolsey, who praised teammates for their intensity. “Whenever you put the pads on, you come out here and see who can make plays. Anyone can run around with a helmet on, but when it’s time to bang, people show up. The guys did a good job.”

Rolovich said: “There will always be things to work on until this game is no longer in existence. But I like being around this group.”

The Warriors practice three times a week for five weeks this spring. The two weekday practices end at 9 a.m. The Warriors departed Saturday’s practice in the mid-day heat.

“There were a lot of opportunities (for the players) to get frustrated,” Rolovich said. “Every time we saw that as a staff, we said: ‘This is the point where you have to make the choice to keep pushing through.’ And they did. Nobody gave up.”