Offseason, Athlon Preview, Training Camps, Les

Dave Reardon talks to Greg McMackin about the offseason.

There really is no college football offseason.

"That's what I've found," Hawaii coach Greg McMackin said yesterday, as he walked toward his office from a morning on the practice field with hundreds of teenagers.

"But it's fast and fun. Just like this camp. The most important thing is we wanted the kids to have fun."

Mack also talks about preparing for the first three games of the season. Reardon mentions that Punahou QB Cayman Shutter is considering UH's scholarship offer.

Shutter committed to New Mexico last month, but that was before he knew the Warriors were interested in him.

"I still consider (the New Mexico commitment) solid," Shutter said. "But this is something I've really got to look at. UH is the one school I would consider de-committing for."

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Here's Athlon Sports' 2008 Hawaii preview. An excerpt:

Defense, at times almost a silent partner to the much-celebrated offense, will have to assume a bigger role this year, especially early, while the offense finds its way. The good news is the defense returns significant talent from a unit that was one of the school’s best in the last 15 years. While McMackin will attempt to fine-tune a big-play defense that returns its heart in the front seven, it is the retooled offense that will bear watching and tell the tale for the defending WAC champions.

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The Revenge of the Birds, an Arizona Cardinals blog, has a training camp preview focusing on OGs and centers. Here's a section on Hercules Satele:

Satele's an interesting prospect even though he's a bit small (6'2 308) for a guard. At Hawaii's pro day he put up 40 reps on the bench (Jake Long led all OL at the combine with 37) and he started the last 25 games for the Warriors high flying offense. He ended his senior season with a 1st Team All-WAC honor and second team FWAA All-American Team. He'll likely have to gain a little bit of weight or he could also seem an eventual move to center. Either way though, he'll likely see at least one season on the practice squad.

The Phinsider has a preview on the Dolphins fullbacks. Matty I predicts that Reagan Mauia will be cut if Miami decides to keep just one fullback, especially because of Boomer Grigsby's special teams play, but he does have a few good things to say about the Juggernaut:

Mauia's combination of insane size (for a FB) and speed (for a man that size) makes him a bit of a freak. And we saw last year that he did get better as the year went on, perhaps leading you to think that he can certainly meet his potential as a blocker.

Hogs Haven predicts Colt Brennan will lock up the #3 spot on the Redskins QB roster.

Word around the camp fire internets is that not only has Colt recovered from surgery but he's also packed on some much need bulk. Zorn seems to think that Colt will be locked and loaded come training camp. Colt is a fiery competitor and very accurate passer and I see him winning the roster spot.

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And finally, nothing to do with football, but here's a tribute to former UH baseball coach Les Murakami, from Kevin Jakahi of the Hawaii Tribune-Herald.

I've never interviewed anybody like him. No one was as honest of his assessment about his team's play or players as Coach Les. He was blunt like a sharp jab to the chin. He didn't filter or soften his answers.

Once I asked why Otani was on the bench, replaced by Ishigo, in his senior year when he started his first three seasons. Coach Les said, "Oh, he's an automatic out." His philosophy on playing time was straightforward: "Eh, if you no hit. You going sit." His famous line is: "Eh, you no can win the Kentucky Derby with donkeys."

But what I remember most about Coach Les was his loyalty. You think a dog is loyal, like Lassie to Timmy? Coach Les is old-school samurai loyal. That dog is a marathon distance second behind Coach Les when it comes to loyalty.