Warriors won't rest on laurels
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• Photo gallery: College Football Saturday
By Stephen Tsai
HawaiiWarriorBeat.com Editor
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To celebrate Friday night's season-opening 25-20 victory, the Hawai'i football team yesterday gathered to raise the proverbial bar.
Less than 12 hours after the game's final whistle sounded, the Warriors were stretching and then performing running drills on Cooke/Ching field's artificial surface.
"If you want to get better," quarterback Greg Alexander said, "you can't rest. You have to keep working hard."
Wideout Rodney Bradley, who caught the go-ahead scoring pass, said the players did not have time to watch replays or read accounts of the game.
"My grandmother called to congratulate me," Bradley said. "I think she saw it online. We don't have time to think about it. We're getting ready for our next game."
By opening on a Friday, the Warriors have an extra day to prepare for Saturday's road game against Washington State in Seattle.
The Warriors went through conditioning drills for about an hour yesterday morning. After a training-table meal, they studied videos of Friday's game and then attended position meetings. They do not have practice or meetings today.
Yesterday's workout, left slotback Greg Salas said, "should help out. It can't hurt us. That's what you have to do if you want to be good."
Some ailing players did not participate in the workouts.
Defensive end Elliott Purcell, who was on crutches in the fourth quarter Friday, said he has a "deep contusion" of his left quadriceps. He said he will play against Washington State.
Defensive tackle Vaughn Meatoga also said he will be ready. Meatoga yesterday was limping because of a sore right foot.
Cornerback Jeramy Bryant said he suffered a laceration on his right knee from Aloha Stadium's FieldTurf.
"It was on a tackle," Bryant said. "The turf just burned it deep. On another tackle, it got burned again."
He said his knee likely will require a couple of stitches.
"Nothing too bad," Bryant said.
Alexander, who was sacked four times and scrambled 12 times, had some minor abrasions on his legs.
"Just a little turf burn," said Alexander, who was otherwise in good health. "We got the win. That's what matters."
The opener answered several preseason concerns:
Chris Tormey, who coaches the safeties, always emphasizes open-field-tackling drills.
"It's evident how key it is to go out there every day and do those drills," said Silva, who had 10 tackles.
"As a slot, you're an option on every play," Salas said. "I like it."
Bradley, who caught the decisive 8-yard scoring pass, was making his NCAA debut. He transferred from Navarro Junior College in January.
Bradley had been bothered by a groin injury.
"I don't want to say I'm a gamer, but you definitely feel a lot different when you go under the lights," Bradley said. "It's like a switch turns on. It's like my medicine. All of the injuries and bruises go away. But you do feel it the day after, because I'm feeling it right now."
