Spring News, McMackin's New Program

UPDATE: KHON interviews Coach Mack, who talks about Greg Alexander entering spring at #1 QB and Inoke Funaki playing running back, Wildcat QB and slot. The upcoming UH coaching clinic is also mentioned. Thanks to fuzzylogic for finding the vid.

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Jason Kaneshiro takes a look at some of the players who may be limited in spring practice as they recover from injuries.

Soares suffered a lower leg injury early in fall camp last year and missed the entire season.

"I've talked to the trainers and the doctors and he's not going to be ready for spring," McMackin said. "They're hoping after spring he'll be ready to go, but we're not going to take a chance on hurting him."

McMackin said Falemalu, a freshman who had shoulder surgery last season, and defensive tackle Rocky Savaiigaea (coming off an arm injury) have been cleared, but their roles will likely be limited this spring.

Kaneshiro highlights some of the changes that could be made, including Inoke Funaki's move to running back and the use of a tight end in certain situations.

McMackin said the Warriors aren't planning significant changes in their schemes on offense or defense, and probably won't work the tight end package into practice until summer. The coaches are looking at using defensive ends Tua Mahaley and Bo Montgomery and backup quarterback Steele Jantz in that role, with them learning one of the slot receiver positions. It will give the coaches the option of putting them in as a receiver or using them as part of the protection scheme.

"Now you have this guy in the game who knows the routes," McMackin said. "You see a blitz, now you bring him inside, so it gives you max protection.

"I'm thinking it's more of an if-we-need-it type of thing. ... It's a wrinkle, it's something we can go to if we need to."

Dave Reardon has a few notes about special teams changes in his Further Review column.

Hawaii spring football practice starts Monday. You won't see a lot of special teams, but coach Greg McMackin says the kicking game will get a "complete overhaul."

The guy who will do it is new assistant Chris Tormey. He spent some time in Gainesville last week with Florida's and Cincinnati's special teams coaches.

"It went really well," Tormey said. "We covered all aspects and I met with their defensive coaches, too."

And Stephen Tsai writes about Greg McMackin's plans to honor the academic achievement in Hawaii's public schools.

University of Hawai'i football coach Greg McMackin is planning to create a program that will honor the academic accomplishments of sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders.

He is seeking to create an advisory board of teachers, counselors and administrators. Based on the nominations from school counselors, the board will select the "Coach McMackin Academic All-Stars."

Each All-Star will receive a T-shirt. What's more, the students, their parents and teachers will be invited to a UH football game this fall.