 What to watch for in spring drills
Jones more alert, able to sit up
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
As a freshman last season, University of Hawai‘i football player Tim Chang threw 469 passes. Yesterday, he threw out a challenge.
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| Warriors sophomore quarterback Tim Chang (with June Jones during last season's game against Wisconsin) has added 10 pounds of muscle through weightlifting.
Advertiser library photo • Nov. 25, 2000 |
"I expect us to be very competitive out there," Chang said of today’s first day of spring football practice.
Head coach June Jones, who is recovering from injuries suffered in a single-car accident last week, and special teams coach Dennis McKnight, who recently had knee surgery in San Diego, will not participate in the 15 days of practice this month.
"We miss Coach Jones," Chang said, "but we know we have to move on and use this time to get ready for the season."
Associate head coach George Lumpkin, who will oversee the workouts, said "99 percent of the guys" will enter spring practice in improved shape.
Most impressive is running back Tui Ala, who bench pressed 225 pounds 24 times during a recent workout. Ala is challenging for a starting job.
Lumpkin also said he was pleased with Joe Correia and Chris Brown. Both are moving from defensive end to linebacker.
Chang, too, has improved his physique. The 6-foot-2 Chang weighed 170 pounds as a St. Louis School senior and ended the 2000 UH football season at 190 pounds. Thanks to an iron-rich diet the last two months, Chang now weighs 200 pounds.
"It’s the weight lifting," he said. "I had no other option but to go into the weight room and pump iron."
Chang divided his workouts into platform lifts (snatches, cleans) and power lifts (squats, benches). He also ran sprints.
"I feel a little stronger," said Chang, the first No. 1 UH quarterback to enter spring practice since Michael Carter in 1993. "I’m at a good weight. I don’t feel tight. I feel flexible. But I knew from the start I had to get stronger. I knew if I wanted to get up after hits, I’d have to put on some extra pounds."
Still, he said, patting his stomach, "I like to keep this nice and firm."
Adhering to NCAA rules, no padding other than helmets will be allowed through Saturday’s workouts. Starting Monday, pads — and full contact — will be allowed.
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