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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, August 1, 2001

Water, water everywhere helps Warriors beat heat

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

It is referred to as "liquid aloha," the practice of each University of Hawai'i football player bringing filled water barrels to the daily unsupervised workouts on the school campus.

Middle linebacker Chris Brown takes a refreshing break from the team's voluntary workouts at Cooke Field.

Cory Lum • The Honolulu Advertiser

This preventive method is in contrast to the training madness that likely led to the recent death of University of Florida freshman Eraste Austin from heat stroke after a voluntary workout.

Since June Jones took over as UH coach in December 1998, a strong emphasis has been placed on keeping the players refreshed.

The Warriors practice during a cool period, from 7 to 9 each morning, and on grass, which retains less heat than artificial turf.

The training staff also rings the field with 10 water stations.

"Whenever a player is thirsty, even in the middle of a drill, he can get a drink of water," UH assistant coach Rich Miano said.

Said slotback Craig Stutzmann: "You don't have to ask the coaches for permission, like you did in high school or Pop Warner. (The water) is always there for you. It helps. It refreshes your body."

Miano said Jones has never embraced the practice of using water as a reward — or punishment.

Defensive end Laanui Correa appreciates that water is not used as a reward — or punishment — by coaches.

Cory Lum • The Honolulu Advertiser

"To me," Miano said, "that was one of the stupidest practices. You open yourself up to litigation when you dehydrate someone. You have to make sure there are plenty of liquids. We believe you can never drink enough water."

Miano said most injuries related to the heat occur in the southern part of the Mainland, where the humidity usually is greater than the rest of the country. Still, Miano said, the Warriors are encouraged to drink water during practice, weight training and airplane flights.

"The whole philosophy is to keep them healthy so they can play fast on Saturday," Miano said.

Before Jones was named coach, Stutzmann recalled, the Warriors practiced regularly in the afternoon on Cooke Field's artificial turf.

"They say it was 110 (degrees) on top of the (artificial) turf," Stutzmann said. "It drained us. There were many times when people got cramps during practice. Under Coach Jones, I don't think there has been one time when anybody sat out a practice with cramps."

Stutzmann said the players have carried on the tradition during summer workouts.

"The coaches aren't allowed out there," Stutzmann said. "We go into the training room and make our own water jugs. That's why we're a family. We think of each other. No matter when we practice, there's always water."