For his first practice as University of Hawaii football leader, interim head coach Chris Naeole created a new leadership group.
Naeole said offensive linemen Dejon Allen and Ben Clarke, nose tackle Kory Rasmussen, defensive end Kennedy Tulimasealii, inside linebackers Jerrol Garcia-Williams and Julian Gener, cornerback Nick Nelson, and punter/kicker Rigo Sanchez have been named co-captains.
“The guy on the top has to be tough but also go around (to the different positions) and love ’em up and show you care about these guys and you want the best for them.”
Chris Naeole
Interim UH head football coach
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“We have a good mix of guys,” Naeole said. “The one good thing is they perform at a high level on the field. I need other guys on the team to start playing at that level.”
Naeole said other players also can serve as leaders.
“You don’t have to have a ‘C’ on your chest to be a leader,” Naeole said. “Guys know where they stand in the locker room. As far as the next four weeks, these (co-captains) are the guys I’m going to lean on for the leadership.”
Naeole said he spoke to the captains about some of their shortcomings, such as tardiness.
“Some of them have issues,” Naeole said. “I told them: ‘It’s your turn to step up. You don’t have to be a senior to be a leader on this team. You can be a freshman. I don’t care as long as you do the right things. At the end of the day, the bottom line is, do you perform on the field? … Do you perform on Saturday? That’s what it’s all about. It’s a performance-based business.’”
Naeole said Tuesday’s practice, which was closed to the public and media, featured “great tempo.”
“The guys bought in,” Naeole said. “The leadership was good today. Everybody was enthusiastic — coaches, players.”
Naeole said he changed the order of practice, and inserted a session that served as “wake-up drill.”
As the offensive line coach, Naeole relied on a tough-love approach. He often served as a defensive lineman during blocking drills. But as the head coach, Naeole rotated from station to station. Ramsen Golpashin, a graduate assistant, directed most of the offensive-line drills.
“The guy on the top has to be tough but also go around (to the different positions) and love ’em up and show you care about these guys and you want the best for them,” Naeole said.
Naeole conceded the offensive linemen were perplexed by the difference in his persona as head coach and position coach.
“They’re probably wondering: Why’s the guy not snapping?” Naeole said, smiling.
Naeole, 40, said he counts on input from the coordinators, assistant coaches and graduate assistants.
“A lot of them have more knowledge than me,” Naeole said. “I’m going to lean on these guys, every guy. It doesn’t matter what coach you are, I’m going to lean on them and listen and go from there.”
