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| UH quarterback Jason Whieldon says FieldTurf is "actually softer than real grass." The surface should reduce the number of injuries.
Rebecca Breyer • The Honolulu Advertiser |
UH describes FieldTurf as 'awesome'
| • | Jones sings praises of Warrior freshmen |
| • | Poll: How will UH finish? |
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
Photos by Rebecca Breyer • The Honolulu Advertiser
With grass-kicking enthusiasm, the University of Hawai'i football team officially ended 20 days — and nights — of training camp with a spirited practice on the new artificial surface last night at Aloha Stadium.
UH defensive back Gary Wright and his teammates stretch during the team's only practice at Aloha Stadium prior to Saturday's opener against Appalachian State.
UH coach June Jones has been a proponent of FieldTurf, which is a rubber-based, grasslike-bladed surface.
Warriors' backup quarterback Jack Rolovich gets his arm loose during the team's final practice of training camp.
When asked to rate the quality of the FieldTurf, slotback Chad Owens shouted, "Awesome!"
UH coach June Jones' four-year battle to change the carpet-like AstroTurf resulted in the recently completed installation of the rubber-based, grasslike-bladed surface. Last night's two-hour practice was the Warriors' only dress rehearsal at Aloha Stadium before Saturday's season opener against Appalachian State.
The Warriors closed training camp with a test run. While his players ran a series of 200-yard sprints, Jones marveled, FieldTurf is "100 percent better for the kids who play on this every week than AstroTurf. It's softer. It's just better. Everything is better."
One of the differences is that when punts landed on the FieldTurf, the black rubber granules flew, like dust from a slammed old book. Technicians believe it takes several games for the granules to settle, and teams such as Boise State and Nevada use face shields as protection when playing on their FieldTurf.
But Jones said he did not notice the granules, and unless pointed out, "I don't think the players will notice, either."
Instead, Jones said, the new turf has greatly reduced cuts and scrapes. "We had a couple of guys go down, but if they had gone down a year ago, they would have had big strawberries 10 inches long," Jones said. "Not having those was worth (the change) in itself."
Quarterback Jason Whieldon added: "It actually feels softer than real grass. We're stoked."
Wideout Jeremiah Cockheran said the traction "is incredible. It's real fast out there. And there were no cherries, no ankle sprains."
Who: Appalachian State vs. Hawai'i When: 6:05 p.m. Saturday Where: Aloha Stadium Tickets: $19 (sideline), $17 (South end zone), $10 (North end zone), $9 (senior citizens, ages 4 through high school), free (UH students, Super Rooters) Parking: $5 TV: Delayed at 10 p.m. on K5 (channel 5). Radio: Live on KKEA (1420 AM).
• Health report: Strong safety Hyrum Peters, who missed four days of practice because of a strained muscle in his right calf, competed in contact drills last night. Peters even was used as a punt returner.
What: NCAA football
Defensive tackle Lui Fuga, who has missed 25 of the last 26 games because of shoulder and ankle injuries, also practiced.
But starting right cornerback Abraham Elimimian did not participate because of a strained muscle in his left calf suffered in Saturday's practice. Elimimian, whose injured calf was covered with an ice pack, said he will not practice today.
"It's kind of sore right now," he said. "I want to keep off of it until I'm really ready."
