HONOLULU — The music boomed from loudspeakers, the media patrolled outside the lines and players made plays between them.
Though many of those sporting helmets and jerseys were unfamiliar to spectators — and in some cases, each other — a sense of normalcy pervaded Cooke Field at the Manoa Lower Campus on Tuesday morning.
After two years of quarantined practices amid the pandemic and a tumultuous coaching transition from Todd Graham to Timmy Chang, that was no small thing.
“For us it’s everything … because it’s our starting point,” Chang, the Saint Louis School alumnus and former record-setting UH quarterback, said after his first full practice as an FBS head coach. “It’s where we’re putting in the fundamentals and everything that needs to be installed. From here on, growth.”
It was the first of 15 practices through April 23. The annual Spring Game at Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex will be held April 16 with a simulated campus game day.
The UH coaching staff is entirely new, with the exception of Jacob Yoro, who was promoted to defensive coordinator, and Abraham Elimimian, who shifted from running backs to leading his natural position of cornerback.
As for the players, 72 of the even 100 in spring camp were on the roster for the 2021 season.
“It just felt good to be back out there to play the game we all love,” said junior receiver Jonah Panoke, who helped launch the now-ubiquitous “Braddahhood” mantra espoused by the team in its rebuilding effort on the heels of several notable offseason player defections. “(It’s) a new coaching staff, and they’ve been doing a great job of preparing us for this day. There’s no doubt there’s a lot of growing to do, but we’ll be ready.”
Practices will be open to the public as of Saturday. UH will hold one more closed practice on Thursday morning.
The Rainbow Warriors have big holes to fill at just about every position. But on Day 1 of spring ball, many eyes were trained on the seven players in the orange shirts.
There are seven quarterbacks in camp vying to be the successor to Chevan Cordeiro, the most prominent player to transfer out of the program amid the December controversy of Graham’s alleged mistreatment of his players over the last two years. That controversy bubbled over in January with a state senate hearing and Graham’s subsequent resignation.
Other prominent defections included linebacker Darius Muasau, defensive end Jonah Laulu, running back Dae Dae Hunter and wide receiver Nick Mardner.
Brayden Schager, who started three games last year, and Washington State transfer Cammon Cooper appeared to be given the most prominent opportunities at quarterback Tuesday.
“No real timetable,” Chang said of naming a first-string signal-caller. “I think this thing’s going to drag on for a little bit. We’ll see who comes on and keeps making great decisions at distributing the football.”
Chang was hired by UH Athletic Director David Matlin on Jan. 22 over former UH coach June Jones, who was vocal in his candidacy for the job. UH received criticism from multiple corners for its handling of the hiring process.
After the criticism of nonexistent relationships with his players leveled at Graham, Chang has been charged with building that trust back — perhaps as much as the success on the field — early in his tenure.
Local music, something absent from practices under Graham, blared across the practice field as in UH seasons past. Media members made their in-person return to practice, as well; they could not attend in person the last two years because of COVID precautions.
Chang, a wide receivers and tight ends coach at Nevada the last five years, said Tuesday he had to remind himself to pay mind to all the pockets and factions of players and coaches spread around the grass practice field.
He did take some time to join new offensive coordinator Ian Shoemaker in personally instructing the running backs and quarterbacks in a ball security drill.
“It felt like I wanted to jump into some of these drills, but you take a step back and assess what everybody’s doing and just have a pulse on everything,” Chang said. “It was a little different for me today, but it was nice. It felt good just being back out here on this field. The field’s in great shape and the kids are going to enjoy practicing on this thing for the days to come.”
UH got in some 7-on-7, 11-on-11, and 1-on-1 receiver/defensive back action.
Moanalua High graduate Chad Owens Jr., a 5-foot-9, walk-on at quarterback, turned some heads with his accurate passing as his father, the former UH receiver Chad Owens, looked on.
Senior linebacker Penei Pavihi, who was around for the last two UH coaching transitions, says he spent some of Tuesday and days prior helping younger teammates through some of the changes in terminology and coaching styles.
Pavihi said of the new staff: “They bring the energy and understanding that though we’re still players, they see us more as (people). We’re people first, players second. They try to build relationships to get us ready for life after football, for the real world.”
Offensive lineman Ilm Manning said the run-and-shoot-like offense that UH is implementing with Chang and Shoemaker is closer to what he was recruited to Manoa to do than UH’s offense under Graham.
“It felt good today. We had players mess up a few times, but … for the first day of spring ball, it was good, honestly,” Manning said.
The official announcements of wide receivers coach Jared Ursua — the brother of former UH receiver John Ursua — and director of player development Derek Faavi, a former UH teammate of Chang, rounded out the UH coaching staff on Monday.
There were 11 11th-hour additions to camp, ostensibly as walk-ons: linebacker Noah Cambra; running back Brock Hedani; receiver Jordan Hinds; kicker Warren Marshall; linebacker Brandon McGregor; defensive back Billy Mitchell III; defensive lineman Tali Moe; defensive back David Otasowie; running back Robbie Paikai; defensive lineman Ethan Santiago; and wide receiver Isaiah Shizuru.
More players will arrive over the summer and prior to fall camp.
Here's a gallery of photos from the morning practice:
Brian McInnis covers the state's sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii.