By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
At the end of the University of Hawai‘i football team’s two-hour practice yesterday, quarterback Tim Chang secured the football and took a knee.
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| UH quarterbacks get a workout as they work with their receiver corps on pass patterns during the first morning of spring practice at the UH football practice field. Left to right are, Timmy Chang, Jared Flint, Nick Rolovich and Shawn Withy-Allen.
Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser |
"We’ll say a prayer for him each day," Chang said of what will be a team ritual for head coach June Jones, who is hospitalized following last week’s single-car accident.
Jones, who was upgraded to satisfactory condition at the Queen’s Medical Center’s critical-care unit, is not expected to attend the remaining 14 two-hour sessions of spring football practice, which began yesterday at the school’s grass field.
"He’s a great guy, and we really miss him," Chang said. "He would pull things out of his head at the last minute, and it’s like, ‘Where did that come from?’ But it always worked, and we miss that."
During past practices, Jones, who usually wore long black sweats and long-sleeved shirts, would roam from station to station.
"We miss seeing him running around in those funny clothes," linebacker Chris Brown said. "It’s like we’re one big family, and he’s the father. When a family member goes down, it’s a big blow. That’s why we’re always keeping him in our thoughts."
Under the supervision of associate head coach George Lumpkin, the first practice went smoothly, with each of the position groups going through skill drills.
When the final horn sounded, the players and assistant coaches gathered at the diamondhead side of the field, kneeled and listened as Lumpkin offered a prayer.
"I believe in prayer," Lumpkin said. "God is my source. God is the head of my life. I know the reason June is improving the way that he is improving is because of prayer. I think the more prayer that we can do, the faster he will get better. (A team prayer) will be part of our practice. If nobody wants to participate, they don’t have to. It’s not mandatory."
Yesterday, the entire team participated.
"I say a prayer for Coach Jones before I go to bed every night," Chang said. "It’s kind of hard right now. We’re trying to do the best we can without him. We know he’ll be back in the summer. But right now, we miss him a lot."
2001 schedule
Sept. 8: Montana at Maui
Sept. 15: at Nevada
Sept. 29: Rice
Oct. 6: at Southern Methodist
Oct. 13: Texas-El Paso
Oct. 20: at Tulsa
Oct. 27: Fresno State
Nov. 3: at San Jose State
Nov. 10: Boise State
Nov. 17: Miami (Ohio)
Nov. 24: Air Force
Dec. 1: Brigham Young
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