After the University of Hawai'i football team gathered at midfield at the end of yesterday's practice, quarterback Colt Brennan delivered this loud-and-clear message: Finish strong.

The Warriors break camp after tonight's team meeting, with the more than 100 players allowed to move out of the two dance studios they called home since Aug. 3.

While three-hour practices continue through Saturday, the Warriors will be essentially on their own until the Sept. 1 opener against Northern Colorado.

"Camp has gone by really fast," Brennan said. "We want to make sure we have a great ending to camp and we go into our normal routine feeling good about ourselves. I think it's been a great camp, but we have to keep working hard. How hard we work will make our season."

Defensive tackle Michael Lafaele, who is married with three children, said he looks forward to bonding with his other team.

"It's going to be good to see my family," Lafaele said. "I can't wait to go home."

During training camp, the Warriors were required to spend each night in the dance studios. While they were allowed to go off campus on Saturday evenings, they had a midnight curfew.

"We got a lot of work done," head coach June Jones said of training camp.

Lafaele added: "We want to keep that momentum going until that first game. Every rep. Every down. We have to finish strong."

During last year's training camp, the focus was on the opening game at Alabama. This year the Warriors concentrated on self-improvement.

"Because we're opening at home, we need to make sure we take care of ourselves before anything," Brennan said. "If we do that, we'll be all right."

HURRICANE WATCH

Despite being sequestered in training camp, freshman safety Le'Marcus Gibson tried to follow the progress of Flossie.

Gibson has first-hand knowledge of a hurricane's wrath. Gibson lived in Gulfport, Miss., which was in the direct path of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Gibson and his cousin went to Starkville to escape Katrina's fury. When they returned to Gulfport, they found a town in rubbles.

"There were so many people who had been there all their lives, and all of their hard work was gone, just from one incident," Gibson said. "My heart goes out to them. They're still struggling."

Gibson and his cousin, a coach on the Harrison Central High football team, also were left homeless. For two years, they lived on the part of the school campus that was turned into a shelter.

When he learned of Flossie, Gibson recalled thinking, "I feel like, man, a hurricane is following me. It's like lightning striking again."

After returning from practice, Gibson found his cell phone's message system was filled.

"My family kept calling me and warning me," Gibson said. "I had at least 16 voice mails: 'There's a hurricane coming. You need to be safe.' I hope everybody is all right. I know how bad things can be."

INJURY UPDATE

Safety Erik Pedersen yesterday underwent a magnetic resonance imaging on his right knee.

He said he felt discomfort while doing a cutback drill.

"My knee gave out," Pedersen said. "They're doing tests on it. The (anterior cruciate ligament) felt loose."

He previously suffered a torn ACL in the same knee.

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