For the University of Hawaii football team, the best thing to do during challenging times is to go out for a walk.
On Friday morning, the Rainbow Warriors went to Aloha Stadium for a walk-through session and the “rock walk” ahead of today’s game against New Mexico.
In what has become a-day-before-the-game routine, the Warriors, shoulder to shoulder, walked the length of the field. The first 50 yards were spent reflecting on their families and supporters; the final 50 yards were to visualize what they hoped to accomplish during the game. “We have a rock that we carry that has our creed on it,” head coach Todd Graham said. “That’s why we call it the rock walk.”
The walk is one of the changes Graham has implemented since being hired in January. Graham also has made sure the Warriors practice at least once on the field where that week’s game will be played. This is the first year the Warriors will practice at Aloha Stadium a day before a game.
With today’s game as the home opener, Graham said, “I want them to have a little bit of familiarity with it. … We wanted to have some visualization with it.”
Graham said Friday’s outing was only the second time the Warriors were in Aloha Stadium this year. “We only did one (preseason) scrimmage there,” Graham said.
In previous years, the Warriors’ sideline was across from the press box. For home games this year, the Warriors will be on the makai (press box) sideline.
“I want to be on our home side, the press-box side, because most of our games are at 6 o’clock, and that way you don’t have to sit in the sun,” Graham said. “When I was a high school coach (in Texas), the home team was always on the home side.”
Graham, who calls the defensive plays, also will continue to wear the large red-and-yellow bands on his left arm.
“I wore those wrist bands since I was a defensive coordinator, I think, all the way back to Tulsa in the early 2000s,” Graham said. “Other coaches wear gold shirts, red shirts.
“I actually signal and communicate with the defense. It allows them to pick me up on the sideline. … You have hundreds of people on the sideline. They have to be able to pick me up. I raise my arm, and they can see that red and gold. That’s why I wear it. It doesn’t have to do with (another school’s colors) or anybody else. I’ve done that the whole time I’ve been coaching. It’s a competitive issue. It’s so they can see me on the sideline.”
Graham is hopeful for an on-field change from last week, when the Warriors’ penalties, dropped passes and missed tackles led to a 31-7 loss to Wyoming. The Warriors’ split their season-opening, two-game road trip.
New Mexico also struggled last week, losing their 2020 debut to San Jose State. The Lobos have had to overcome pandemic-related restrictions to practice this fall. Because of the situation in New Mexico, the Lobos have set up a training base in Las Vegas. With several players added to the active roster this week, the Lobos brought 70 players on this trip.
“They’re very inspired,” Graham said of the Lobos. “They have as good a football staff as you can have. … I’ve known Coach (Rocky) Long (the defensive coordinator) for a long time. Tremendous defensive coach. Those guys play hard, they play inspired, and they’ve got athletes. We have to make sure we don’t give up cheap touchdowns. We’ve got to eliminate penalties. And get after them. And play well.”
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