The University of Hawaii football team’s first practice of training camp began with a blessing, with Kahu Kordell Kekoa sprinkling 25-year-old rain water.

It ended with a splash, with quarterback Ikaika Woolsey emptying a cooler of iced water onto running back Jason Muraoka.

“It was his birthday,” Woolsey said, smiling. “I gave him a little birthday dunk. It’s all good.”

Indeed, that gesture was the icing on a practice in which the offense was relatively crisp, the defense was active, and the injury report was limited to center Brenden Urban.

Urban suffered a possible knee sprain during 11-on-11 drills. After being treated for a couple minutes, he was able to climb onto a cart without assistance, then taken to the training room for observation. “I don’t think it’s too bad,” UH coach Norm Chow said after practice. “But maybe ‘not too bad’ in two or three weeks.”

John Wa‘a replaced Urban at center for the remainder of the first-team reps. Tui Eli also competed at center. Although senior co-captain Ben Clarke was the starting center for his first two UH seasons, his preference is to remain at left tackle.

Clarke said he has “fun” on the blind side, where he does not “have to worry about snapping. That’s the biggest thing. I get a little bit further off the ball, so I have time before the D-line hits me. It’s a little more freedom.”

There is enough time to address personnel issues. “There are 28 more practices until the first game,” offensive coordinator Don Bailey said of the Sept. 3 opener against Colorado. “It’s a marathon not a sprint. But we want guys to compete every day to improve, and that’s going to make us better across the board.”

Bailey, who joined the Warriors this year after constructing a prolific offense at Idaho State, allowed a “grace period” in spring training for the players to adjust to his offense’s tempo and intricacies.

“Football is hard to emulate by yourself,” Bailey said. “You’ve got to get out there 11 on 11, and then when that takes place, you’ve got to settle in and go full speed.”

The Warriors found an offensive rhythm in the final week of spring training. During the offseason, Bailey said, “I think they were junkies about watching film, and (they) paid attention to detail on the summer, and I think it helped this first practice.”

In team drills, quarterback Max Wittek was 6-for-10 (two passes were dropped). Woolsey completed a 36-yard pass to wideout Keelan Ewaliko. Running backs Diocemy Saint Juste and Paul Harris had long runs on draws.

“The first day was really good,” Wittek said. “I think we did a lot of good things today.”

Wittek ran the scout offense as a redshirt last year after transferring from USC. He was admittedly anxious for the first practice. On Tuesday evening, Wittek said, “I made a little steak, grilled asparagus, with some mashed potatoes. Top chef here. … I got a good night’s rest, relaxed and woke up in a good mood.”

That enthusiasm was widespread.

“We got comfortable with Max throwing the ball in the spring,” wideout Marcus Kemp said, “and with each other running the new offense.”

Wittek said: “Spring was kind of an acclimation period at first. Having been at it all summer, we worked our butts off. I’m a lot more comfortable with (the offense). I think the decision-making comes a lot more naturally now. I think we had a good first day as an offense.”