More on the #24, Gearing Up for Camp

Ferd Lewis writes about the benefits of the Warriors' pre-season #24 ranking.

If you're UH, a place in the Top 25 is exactly what you need right out of the gate. The schedule the Warriors are saddled with would have made it tough for them to climb into the Top 25 in the season's first six weeks when the opposition is Northern Colorado, Louisiana Tech, Nevada-Las Vegas, Charleston Southern and Utah State. None of those schools had a winning NCAA Division I-A record in 2006 nor is forecast for one this go-around.

But a place in the preseason poll amounts to an early check-in and gives the Warriors a presence and a validation of sorts. Not to mention a chance to move up, albeit in measured steps as the teams above them play tougher competition.

Definitely an excellent starting point.

Dave Reardon talks to Na Koa's Ben Yee, who is very happy.

Ben Yee has been waiting for this his whole life as one of the biggest University of Hawaii football fans.

Yee, a vice president of Na Koa, the Warriors football booster club, and a UH booster the past 38 years, is overjoyed his team is receiving unprecedented national attention. Yesterday it was revealed Hawaii is ranked in the preseason for the first time in school history, No. 24 in the coaches' poll administered by USA Today.

"Honestly, this is what I've dreamed of happening with this program. This is the biggest ever. The hype is on," Yee said. "It was pretty big in 1992, but this is magnified."

Stephen Tsai gets reaction from Colt Brennan and Ryan Grice-Mullins.

"Nice," UH quarterback Colt Brennan said. "That's really awesome. These things are based on what you did last year. It's nice for our team to be recognized. It's exciting."

Slotback Ryan Grice-Mullins recalled the frustration of the Warriors' 5-7 season in 2005.

"To go to 11-3 the next year and then be ranked, that means a lot," Grice-Mullins said. "It shows how we built up this program. I'm proud of that."

Tsai's article continues with a training camp preview, as the players move into the dance studios for their two week stay. We learn that the force is strong in Yoda. We also learn a few things defensive coordinator Greg McMackin will be working on in camp.

"We will work on tackling every day," said McMackin, who previously coached in Manoa in 1999, Jones' first season as UH head coach. "Technique-wise, we're going to be sound."

"We're going to do different things in the secondary," McMackin said. "They're not going to be as manned up."

Swinging back to Reardon's article, he has a positional breakdown heading into camp. Here's an excerpt:

Defensive linemen

Top of the chart: Amani Purcell, Karl Noa, Josh Leonard, David Veikune (ends), Mike Lafaele, Keala Watson, Fale Laeli (tackles)

Sleeper: Coaches and teammates say Noa is poised for a huge year.

Skinny: The move to the 4-3 defense allows the linemen to get more involved in blitzing and blowing up running plays behind the line. There is plenty of depth here despite losing two starters to the NFL.

Monster! Can't believe training camp is here already, with the season less than a month away! GO WARRIORS!!!!