It was moving day for the Hawaii football team Wednesday, and the Warriors made sure to pack the essentials.
Clothes, toothbrushes, cell-phone chargers …
"And we need this," said freshman wideout Trevor Davis, carrying a flat-screen television.
It does not matter there is no cable service in the two dance studios that will serve as the Warriors’ living quarters for the next two weeks. Xbox competitions need a sizable monitor.
"We made sure we brought enough things," freshman Brian Clay said.
Since early last month, most of the newcomers were enrolled in summer classes while living in the dormitories. Wednesday, they had to vacate the dorms. They stored some of their bags in the locker room. The rest of the things were taken to the studios, which are equipped with fold-out cots.
Richard Torres, a senior safety, grinned as he watched the newcomers hauling their bags. Torres was just like them in August 2008, when he reported to his first UH camp.
"I brought bags and bags of clothes," Torres recalled. "Now I just bring a couple of shorts and T-shirts."
Torres has learned UH provides meals, snacks and laundry service during training camp.
Living arrangements are separated by class. The sophomores and juniors are in one room. The seniors and freshmen are in the other room — evident by the experienced players camped near the electrical outlets and the lanai entry. The savvy seniors know not to sleep on the lanai because Manoa’s rain falls diagonally.
"Everybody is excited to get started," slotback Miah Ostrowski said of today’s first practice.
Safety Kenny Estes also was enthused about his final training camp. Estes is the only current Warrior who played during the unbeaten 2007 regular season.
As a grayshirt, Estes was a part-time student during the fall 2006 fall semester. Estes, who was raised on Kauai, lived with the family of Kealoha Pilares, who also was a grayshirt that semester.
Estes was supposed to redshirt in 2007, but was activated in the 10th week because of a need on special teams. He endured injuries to both shoulders during his career, but now is listed as the No. 1 free safety.
"I’ve seen a lot of things over the years, people coming and going," Estes said. "It’s been a great experience."
