Except for three hold-me-back skirmishes, including one involving a player standing on the sideline, the Hawai'i football team's intrasquad scrimmage yesterday hardly appeared to be noteworthy.
But for some, it was the last hurrah — the final full-contact football in Warrior uniforms.
Barring a blowout or unique circumstances, seldom-used seniors are not expected to receive playing time in the Dec. 24 Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl.
In that case, Jake Santos' brief UH career ended with a 10-yard scoring strike to slotback Ryan Henry on the final play of a scrimmage involving redshirts and rarely used players.
That was fun,
Santos said. That was a 75-yard drive. We had to convert, like, three (fourth) downs.
Running back Alonzo Chopp also had several carries.
And safety Ryan Perry delivered the noisiest hit — a blast on slotback Dustin Blount, who was bobbling the football when he was struck but still managed to secure the catch.
It was great concentration by him,
Perry said. After I hit him, he somehow managed to regain it. It was a great catch.
The scrimmage was likely their final shot. Starting with today's two-hour session — one hour of video reviews, followed by one hour of practice — the Warriors will focus exclusively on their bowl opponent.
It's time to go to work on Notre Dame,
UH head coach Greg McMackin said.
The Warriors spent the past three days working on techniques and fundamentals. But they already have studied videos of the Fighting Irish, and crafted a game plan. Because of the extra days afforded for bowl preparation, McMackin used the final hour of yesterday's practice "to have some fun and get some looks" at developing players.
It was really competitive,
McMackin said. They were going back and forth. It was fun. You've got to have some fun when you're playing this game, especially deep into the season as we are.
For Santos, the only regret was not joining the Warriors after his first season at San Diego Mesa Junior College. At the time, the Warriors were recruiting Colt Brennan. Santos was told he was fourth on the Warriors' wish list at quarterback. At the urging of a coach, he turned down an offer to join UH as a non-scholarship player.
I still should have come out here,
Santos said. That's the only thing I regret.
Instead, he played another season at San Diego Mesa, then transferred to Missouri Southern, a Division II school. He did not play in any games there because of an injury. He transferred to UH last year. But in accordance with NCAA transfer rules, he was allowed to practice but not play in games in 2007.
I'm thankful for the opportunity to be here,
Santos said. We went to the Sugar Bowl. And now we get to go to another Hawai'i Bowl. It's been fun.
Chopp was a slotback and running back on his Marine Corps battalion team. After his discharge, he enrolled at UH.
To pay for school and living expenses, Chopp works two jobs, as a clerk in a convenience store and a bouncer in Waikiki.
It's something you have to do to survive,
Chopp said. It's not cheap to live out here.
Chopp will participate in Saturday's UH graduation ceremony. After the bowl game, he plans to enlist in the Air Force. He said he aspires to be an officer.
Perry received a football scholarship in August, but continues to work as a camera operator and floor director at PBS Hawai'i. He is a camera operator for the "Leahey and Leahey" show.
Perry nearly died during birth when the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck.
The doctor had to pull me out by (right) shoulder,
he said.
That led to Perry suffering from Erb's Palsy, a paralysis of the arm. He underwent corrective surgery on his right arm when he was 8. But calcium deposits left him with a right arm that is bent at a 90-degree angle.
But Perry said being pulled by his shoulder during the birth caused (his condition), but in reality, it saved my life at the time. It was a fair tradeoff. I'll take that.
Perry has played football since he was 8 without any problems. While he has received recognition for playing through his condition, Perry said, I've never really thought of it as an obstacle, even though I know other people think of it that way. To me, it's just normal. It's been a blessing.
Notes
Veikune invited: Hawai'i defensive end David Veikune has been invited to play in the 84th Annual East-West Shrine Game on Jan. 17 in Houston.
Hawai'i Bowl tickets: Aloha Stadium box office opens 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; Stan Sheriff Center box office opens 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; phone sales 808-548-BOWL (local) or 800-291-3999, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday; Internet sales at www.etickethawaii.com
Game day: Parking gates and stadium box office open at 10 a.m. Dec. 24. Stadium turnstiles open at noon.
