HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i Warrior football team kicked off fall camp, Thursday afternoon, with the first of 27 practices leading into its nationally televised season-opener against USC, Sept. 2 at Aloha Stadium. Kick-off is 28 days and counting.

 

After leading the team to four wins in the final five games of the 2009 season, Hawai'i, head coach Greg McMackin began his third fall training camp with tremendous anticipation. A total of 105 players took the field for the first day of camp, many of whom participated in voluntary workouts during the summer that included sessions at the beach.

 

“Obviously we're in great shape and they have a great attitude,” McMackin said. “They were out there working hard as a group so they know that they're working as a team. These guys were doing it themselves. They organized things and worked with each other and (strength coordinator) Tommy Heffernan has just done an outstanding job with them.”

 

The Warriors, who suffered their first losing season since 2005 last season after finishing with a 6-7 record, returns 15 starters, including five on offense and seven on defense. McMackin also feels a number of the incoming freshman and junior college transfers may be ready to compete for playing time.

 

“I think they'll be several newcomers that help us right off the bat,” McMackin said. “This was the first day of evaluation and we need another week of it then we'll have a better feel for it.”

 

The team will be housed in a make-shift dormitory at two spacious dance studios in the athletics complex during fall camp. What initially started as a cost-cutting measure several years ago has turned into an annual tradition.

 

“It's been great, we have an offensive and defensive coach and GA's stay overnight,” McMackin said. “We have rules, lights are out at 11:00. We're working, this is a camp and we're getting ready to play football.”

 

After Day 1, McMackin was impressed with the conditioning of the team during the off-season and of their attitude heading into this season.

 

“It's a fun group to work with because they're serious about it,” McMackin said. “It was the first practice and we were just doing fundamentals and techniques but I liked what I saw.”

 

The Warriors will conduct its first practice in shoulder pads on Saturday and will have single practice sessions for four of the next five days (Sunday off) until next Wednesday, when they begin two-a-day practices.