Spring Practice Day 2, Mario Cox, JoPierre Davis, Chad Owens

Chawan Cut compiled spring practice news from KGMB, KITV and KHON, along with some Pro Day news from KFVE and KHON.



Dave Reardon will be liveblogging today's 3rd spring practice, starting around 7am HST.

UPDATE: Nevermind, today's practice is rained out. Dave Reardon has a few quotes about it from Coach Mack.

“It’s not worth getting someone injured and tearing up the field,” McMackin said.

Cooke Field, which had an artificial turf surface, is in disrepair and unusable, and UH does not have an indoor practice facility.

“This is a great example of why we need Cooke Field,” McMackin said. “The good thing is I’ve been told that it will be addressed within a couple of months.”

UPDATE 2: On Sportshawaii.com, NelsonO has a report from the rained-out practice, where the offense still worked out. Here's an excerpt:

The tutorship of the receivers is a joint venture. Craig Stutzmann would oversee the left side receivers in some drills, then oversee the wide-outs in other drills. Ron Lee would instruct the right side receivers in some drills, then instruct the slotbacks in other drills.

One of the biggest differences this year is Rolovich stressing mobility to his QBs. Previously under June Jones, the QBs would take the ball in shotgun formation and concentrate on throwing the ball. This year, Rolovich is having the QBs really moving around and working on their footwork. Rolovich is also introducing a new mantra to his QBs; Rolo likes to say “We Hate Sacks” during practice.

UPDATE 3: Stephen Tsai writes about where the defense went during the rain out.

But the defensive linemen and linebackers worked on pass-rushing drills for more than an hour in Klum Gym. (The defensive backs watched football videos.)
Because of the abrupt change in plans, defensive linemen Rocky Savaiigaea, Joshua Leonard, John Fonoti and Elliott Purcell ran drills in bare feet.
“There was no time to get our shoes,” Fonoti said.

UPDATE 4: Leila Wai has video from today's sort-of-practice. It includes interviews with Rocky Savaiigaea, Greg McMackin and Adam Leonard. Mack again talks about the importance of having some turf on Cooke Field, for days just like this.

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Reardon writes about student assistant Chris Brown running the option, and has a preview of today's practice from Greg McMackin:

"There will be some poppin' going on," McMackin said with a big grin. "The offense and defensive linemen will go one-on-one. The quarterbacks, receivers, linebackers and DBs will go seven-on-seven, and we'll have some team at the end."

Reardon also profiles running back Mario Cox, who has been reinstated after being dismissed from the team by June Jones last year.

"I believe in giving everybody a chance and Mario had a rough road last year, but we're taking a look at him, and he's done everything I've asked him," McMackin said. "I've been really pleased with him and we just have to see where he fits in. When I knew him before he got hurt last year (hamstring), he had a great attitude."

Michael Tsai profiles cornerback JoPierre Davis.

Davis knows much more will be expected of him this season with the departure of starters Myron Newberry and Gerard Lewis. He said his development under new head coach Greg McMackin has prepared him to meet the challenge.

"J.J. (June Jones) was my guy, but I felt that this was going to be my year and I knew they would put someone in who was good for us," Davis said. "Coach Mack knows how I play and I respect him so much because he'll talk you through things, not just yell at you. I feel Coach Mack for that."

Also from that article, MTsai has news and notes about yesterday's practice, John Estes working with QBs under center, and Francis Maka being not yet able to practice as he's still collecting info from his doctors to forward to the NCAA.

Jason Kaneshiro and Dave Reardon write that Hall of Fame receiver James Lofton, father of UH receiver Daniel Lofton, visited practice yesterday. They also have more info about Maka, an injury report on Dave Farmer, and some hairdo news.

In some Warriors in the Pros news, looks like former UH receiver Chad Owens has been signed to the practice squad of the AFL's Colorado Crush.

Reardon also writes that Brad Kalilimoku will work out for the CFL's Hamilton Tiger-Cats, the team Timmy Chang is on.

And finally, a great quote about Hercules Satele:

Brandon Hancock, former USC fullback, now a radio guy in LA, with the line of the day on a report for KKEA-1420 today.

On Hercules Satele: “He’s got more mass than a catholic church.”