No stopping for wind, rain

While UMass has mixed business and pleasure during this stop of a 10-day trip — several of the Minutemen rented mopeds the past two days — the Warriors were all serious during today’s 2-hour practice.

In the rain.

And in strong wind.

The reward is the Warriors will get to sleep in a little bit tomorrow. Practice will start an hour later than usual.

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Question: Is UH’s special teams ever going to return a punt?

Answer: “The main job for the punt-return team is to possess the football,” said Mayur Chaudhari, the special teams coordinator. “That’s what we want to do. If the people want us to win football games, then we’ve got to possess the football first. And if there’s an opportunity to return the ball, we’ll return it.”

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Question: Is there something special you’d like us fans to do during the last game to help pump up the players?

Answer: Rolovich said a tentative plan next year is to teach part of the ha‘a to the fans. “They can join in that way,” Rolovich said, adding, “the positive support is always appreciated.”

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Question: Why doesn’t UH call more special plays?

Answer: “We threw an interception on the last one,” Rolovich said, referring to wideout Keelan Ewaliko’s option pass.

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Question: What is UH’s pitch to a highly recruited players?

Answer: “Everyone is very unique in their recruitment,” Rolovich said. “You can’t have one pitch.”

Rolovich said the worldliness a mainland prospect gains by coming to Hawaii “is something you can’t duplicate, I believe, anyplace else in the world.”

Rolovich said local prospects also can experience being away from home in Manoa. He noted that players from Mililani and Kahuku, for example, “get to go home, but they (also) spend most of their time here.”

Rolovich added: “I think there are a lot of people who surround our local recruits and tell them to go away. We have to keep showing them they can get what they want from UH, and (also) a great degree.”

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Question: Has local recruiting picked up with the team’s recent success?

Answer: “I think there’s an increasing positive feeling that comes when you talk about the local players,” said Rolovich, who plans to make several home visits on Oahu and the neighbor islands when recruiting restrictions are lifted soon.

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Question: Does UH have a nutritional fuel station for its players?

Answer: No. Rolovich would like to see one implemented for all student-athletes.

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Question: Trailing 10-7 on third-and-20 from midfield to start the fourth quarter, Dru Brown ran a quarterback draw that resulted in a 4-yard loss. The play selection seemed rather conservative. Was there a real expectation that a QB draw could result in a first down, or did down-and-distance dictate the call because you would likely punt on fourth down?

Answer: The Warriors were trying to get the first down with the quarterback draw against a prevent defense. “We had a good look,” Rolovich said. “We didn’t handle the twist very well. I don’t know if we would have gotten the first down, but (Brown) would have had a chance. We have to execute better.”

But Rolovich said there also were a “couple decisions made late in that game that were field-position based.”

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Question: What is the status of wideout Devan Stubblefield and safety Daniel Lewis?

Answer: Stubblefield underwent knee surgery a few weeks ago. Because he already redshirted as freshman, Stubblefield, a second-year sophomore, will have to apply for a a sixth year after he completes his senior season in 2018. Lewis has been bothered by a hamstring injury all season. Lewis, a junior, has never redshirted. If he redshirts this season, Lewis would have two remaining years of eligibility.

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Question: What is the status of class of 2016 signees Eugene “The Dream” Ford and Marcus Armstrong-Brown?

Answer: Both players have met NCAA requirements and will enroll at UH in January.

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Question: Why does UH basketball coach Eran Ganot wear aloha shirts during games while the UH football coaches wear polo shirts?

Answer: After a long blank stare, Rolovich mused: “Basketball is a different attire. Some of those guys wear ties. Ask Eran why he doesn’t wear a tie.”

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Question: Will Rolovich shave his mug come December?

Answer: “I don’t like shaving,” Rolovich said. “I don’t like wearing suits and I don’t like shaving.”