By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
Like many college freshman who are away from home for the first time, University of Hawai‘i wide receiver Mark Tate enjoys the freedom of running around at night.
The difference is Tate is doing his running up and down his dormitory staircase as part of a self-designed conditioning program.
"I try to stay active at night," said the 6-foot-1, 200-pound Tate, who would like to lose 10 pounds before the start of football training camp in August. "Hitting the stairs keeps me active."
His immediate goal in spring practice is to make a run at the starting job at left wideout, a real possibility considering his recent play. During one practice, he hauled in two long passes. In another, he out-jumped a cornerback for a pass, pirouetted and sprinted toward the end zone.
"He has a lot of talent," UH quarterback Tim Chang said. "Plus, he’s a big target. Quarterbacks love big targets."
Tate was the target of high expectations after turning down offers from Michigan State, Wisconsin and Kansas State to sign with the Warriors last year. But last summer, he reported to UH’s training camp weighing 212 pounds — 22 more than he weighed as a track sprinter — and did not easily pick up the Warriors’ read-and-react, run-and-shoot offense.
The scheme requires the quarterback and four receivers to decipher the defensive coverage before selecting from a menu of pass routes.
"You have to constantly think about what you’re going to do next," Tate said. "Coach (June) Jones gave me the time to learn the offense. I knew it was going to take time, but you have to be patient, take notes and watch a lot of film."
Tate also remembered the lessons taught by his aunt, the late Florence Griffith-Joyner, one of the greatest sprinters in Olympic history. "She always told me, ‘Stay focused and keep your eye on the prize,’ " he recalled.
 First scrimmage: Associate head coach George Lumpkin said he wants the Warriors to focus on executing their proper techniques during tomorrow’s intrasquad scrimmage at the team’s grass practice field.
The scrimmage, free and open to the public, will begin at about 8 a.m. Lumpkin said there will be between 20 and 25 plays.
Lumpkin also said he wants to see how players react "in a game situation when the coaches aren’t out there."
Scrimmages and regular workouts "can be as different as night and day," Lumpkin said. "You wouldn’t think so, but they are. Guys have a tendency to revert to old techniques when they get into the heat of a situation."
Walk-on situation: Cornerback Gary Wright of Kalaheo High has a chance to become the fourth player who entered the program as a walk-on to start in the defensive backfield.
But assistant coach Rich Miano, who coordinates the walk-on program, said the number of opportunities for non-scholarship players will decline as the team improves its talent level.
When Jones was hired as head coach in December 1998, he used walk-ons to fill out the roster. But after three solid recruiting classes, the Warriors have used all of their available 85 scholarships.
"As we build a foundation, it’s going to be harder for guys to walk on," Miano said.
Here today ... : Assistant coach Dennis McKnight, who made his first appearance of spring practice on Wednesday, did not attend yesterday’s two-hour workout and is not expected to coach until August while he recovers from a knee injury.
Without Jones, who is recovering from injuries sustained in a car accident two weeks ago, and McKnight, who coaches the special teams, the Warriors are admittedly short-handed, Lumpkin said.
"We just have to go on," said Lumpkin, who added that McKnight’s duties will be spread among the other assistant coaches.
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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