Hopes “spring” eternal at UH

The University of Hawaii football team kicks off spring football drills today, and second-year head coach Greg McMackin is promising a more wide-open approach in all three phases of the game.

Of course, what you hope for now and what you actually do when the season actually rolls around in the fall are two very different things.

Particularly, for a program that had the dubious distinction of leading all Division-I teams last year in most penalty yards per game (78.4) and sacks (59).  As a result, UH finished with a 7-7 record, including a blow out loss to Notre Dame in the Hawaii Bowl.

Unlike last season, when there was so much uncertainty about whom would end up succeeding the record-breaking Colt Brennan, the QB  situation is stable.

Greg Alexander is the clear-cut starter at that key position after the coaching staff had to retro-fit the offense on an almost weekly basis depending on who was going to get the starting call.   Inoke Funaki, who started six games at the position last year, isn’t even listed as a QB on the spring depth chart.  He instead will split duties at tailback and in the slot.

On defense, McMackin plans to revert to the aggressive style that has been had been his trademark during a long career as a defensive coordinator.  And a similar approach is projected for special teams.

But we’ll have to see if the hopes of spring turn into reality when UH starts playing for real.