Two players from same JC will join Warriors
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
In an attempt to strengthen its defense, the University of Hawai'i football team added Santa Rosa (Calif.) Junior College linebacker Blake Robinson and strong safety Nick Hill.
Both players are enrolled in UH's summer school and are participating in the Warriors' offseason conditioning program.
Robinson, who is 6 feet 4 and 245 pounds, can run 40 yards in 4.6 seconds, squat-lift 550 pounds and hang-clean 300 pounds.
He said he is willing to compete at inside linebacker, outside linebacker or defensive end.
"Basically, I want to play football," he said.
Robinson said he visited UH in April, attending two of the spring practices.
"I liked how it went," Robinson said. "(Linebackers) coach (Cal) Lee is a great coach. And I like how (head coach) June Jones runs his program. It seemed like a good program to come to."
Robinson, who spends his free time reading philosophy books, said he plans to major in kinesiology. He aspires to become a personal trainer.
Hill, who is 5 feet 11 and 190 pounds, said he became familiar with the Warriors after watching their nationally televised games.
"The bowl game really caught my interest," Hill said, referring to the Warriors' 59-40 victory over Alabama at Birmingham in the 2004 Hawai'i Bowl. "And it's Hawai'i. I figured I'd go someplace that's nice, even if I didn't play football. Hawai'i is someplace where I want to go to school."
Hill said he plans to compete at strong safety. He can run 40 yards in 4.59 seconds and bench-press 310 pounds.
UH will stay in dance studios during camp
Once again, the Warriors have booked reservations at the "University Hilton" — the school's dance studios — for the two weeks of training camp in August.
In Jones' first five training camps as UH head coach, the Warriors stayed in Gateway House. But the high-rise dormitory underwent renovations last summer, forcing the Warriors to stay in the dance studios in the UH athletic complex.
Although Gateway has reopened, Jones said, the Warriors will return to the dance studios for the Aug. 4 start of training camp.
"It works out better," Jones said.
The second-floor dance studios are near the locker rooms and the Stan Sheriff Center, where the players are served training-table meals. Gateway is off Dole Street, a 10-minute walk from the locker rooms.
"It's more convenient for the guys to stay (in the dance studios)," Jones said. "Everything is right there."
The players will sleep on mattresses in the ward-style living area. By living in the studios, Jones said, the Warriors saved between $30,000 and $40,000 last year.
The Warriors will be allowed to move into on-campus dormitories or apartments Aug. 19 for the Aug. 22 start of the fall semester.
Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8051.
