Hawaii football: Todd Graham announces spring practices are canceled
The following appears on the Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s breaking news.
The University of Hawaii football team has canceled spring practice and the annual spring scrimmage, head coach Todd Graham confirmed on Thursday.
The first of the 15 spring practices was set to set to begin on March 27.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the school suspended practices and team-related workouts through May 15, the last day of UH’s spring semester.
https://twitter.com/RealCoachGraham/status/1240784927613845504
“The main focus is the health, safety, and well being of our student-athletes,” Graham said. “Second is their academics. That they’re performing and progressing toward graduation, and doing what we’re being instructed to do by the officials to make sure we’re safe and taking care of each other, and hoping this thing will pass quickly.”
By appointment, players are able to receive treatment in the athletic department’s athletic-training facility. Academic advisers are available through online communication, telephone calls or by appointment.
Graham said the coaches are in daily online or telephone communication with the players and their families.
“We can’t have spring practice, but we can still send them things through video where they can watch installations, and learn football, and study football,” Graham said.
Graham said he hopes his players can serve as role models during this situation.
“I tell our players you represent this great state, you represent this university,” Graham said. “It’s important we model the discipline that it takes to carry out the plan. … My own son is 18, and I’ve had to get on him about it. ‘Hey, this is a serious situation. Don’t ignore this. It’s important. A lot of people think this is not affecting them. It is. (If you get infected) you can infect others. You need to look after other people.’ The bottom line is we have to be disciplined in our approach to how we respond to leadership and the plan we’ve been given. We want to be an example to the community when it comes to that.”
Hawaii is lucky to have Coach Graham. Our loss in Tempe is Hawaii’s gain. Todd is a class act and a stand-up man.
Thanks Tony. Some here already feel that way too and he just got here!
Looking forward to fall camp. Renewed my season tickets.
renewed our tickets also!
must wonder how this suspension will affect their progress come fall practice
players allowed to work out – scrimmage – on their own?
I read somewhere that the UH players were advised to do push ups, sit ups, etc. I gather they are discouraging players to use weights and machines that are shared, increasing the likelihood of contracting the virus.
And this morning’s paper has a clarification, “Spring practice for the UH football team is postponed through May 15.” So now it’s postponed, rather than cancelled.
H-Man:
very unlikely football players will remain in Hawaii for ‘spring practice’ after semester ends on 5/18/2020
next, what happens to recruits coming in for the 1st ‘bridge’ class in May/June time frame — classes only with NO football activity?
can only hope that pandemic tapers off rapidly to allow players to practice on their own — if so, leaders must step up to notify/gather as many players to conduct ” off-season ” plays/practice
at least WR/slots will run a more structured ‘route”?
Thanks Coach Graham, for your inspiring words!
With the covid-19 spreading rapidly and may take months before it”s under control. I’m now I’m thinking the entire 2020 could be canceled.