Ron Lee talks about how this spring differs from last year

About how they have a lot fewer holes to fill on offense this spring as compared to last year, Ron Lee said:
“It’s so different this spring. The goals are a little different.” (HSB)

About the competition for starting jobs this spring, Ron Lee said:
“There’s still a lot of work to be done as far as getting better. But the guys are here now, so we can use the spring perfecting what we do. The guys worked really hard getting ready for spring. I think they really know there’s going to be some big competition.” (HSB)

About trying Inoke at RB and slotback this spring, Ron Lee said:
“We know what he can do as a QB. We want to see what he can do as a running back.” (HSB)

About the importance of this spring for LWJ, Ron Lee said:
“We really need for him to step up – he’s so explosive. This spring is going to be very big for him.” (HSB)

HSB Note: “Pilares and senior Jon Medeiros are listed as the top slotbacks going into the spring, but the coaches will also “look at the Ryan Henrys and Dustin Blounts and see how fast they can come along,” Lee said.”

Billy Ray Stutzmann finished high school early, gets to go to UH spring training

HSB Note: “Stutzmann had the credits to finish high school last semester. He weighed getting a head start on college football against giving up his senior year of track (he’s one of the state’s top sprinters). Football won. And his grades (3.4 cumulative average) indicated he was ready for the next level of academic challenges.”

About entering college earaly, Billy Ray said:
“I’d probably be taking some advanced placement anyway, and right now it kind of feels natural to be in college. In football, the guys really took me in and it’s not a big transition.” (HSB)

HSB Note: “Stutzmann also figures to benefit from regular weightlifting sessions he might not have been doing if running track at Saint Louis. He’s added 12 pounds of muscle to his 6-foot-1 frame and figures to check in at around 170 today.”

About how going through the spring with UH instead of being in high school will help him during his football career, Billy Ray said:
“I just think it will really help me down the line, being here, maybe in a few months. It’s always been my goal to get playing time as a freshman, but if the coaches want me to redshirt, I’m fine with that.” (HSB)

About coaching his brother as UH’s WR coach, just like he coached his brother when Billy Ray was a freshman on the Saint Louis JV, Craig Stutzmann said:
“We try not to have the relationship show in practice. He calls me ‘Coach,’ never Craig. We’ll have to see how it is (today). I try to not let it happen, but sometimes you can get a little more frustrated with your brother or son. For some reason, you have a shorter fuse.” (HSB)

About having his brother coach him and expect more out of him than others, Billy Ray said:
“The good thing is he’ll be on me to do everything right. That’s the negative thing, too. He’s always going to be hard on me, I already can feel it. But I think he’ll be fair.” (HSB)

About how other teams tried to come in late and get him to break his early UH commitment, Billy Ray said:
“Washington came in late. That got in my mind a little bit. Oregon State, Washington State. Notre Dame contacted me a little, but it died out.” (HSB)

HSB Note: “Billy Stutzmann passed on what for many people is the most fun six months of their life. Instead, he opted to get ahead of the academic game by a full semester, loaded up with six classes of core requirements. The weight-room investment is a solid one, too. In the coming weeks we’ll see how ready he is on the football field.”

Mac likes how his coaching staff fits together

Happy with his coaching staff, Mac said:
“I like the fit of our coaching staff, and I really like their work ethic. They’ve really worked hard to be able to teach these players, because we’re all teachers.” (HSB)

A lot of starting positions are up for grabs this spring

Mac said that their depth chart entering spring training is:
“a starting point.” (HA)

About all the starting positions available to be won this spiring, Mac said that:
“nine-tenths of the (starting) jobs are open. This is an important spring. There are a lot of jobs that are up for grabs this spring.” (HA)

About having Alexander and Rausch top the depth chart at QB, Mac said:
“That’s the starting point. Greg is going to get the majority of the reps this spring.” (HA)

Mac said that some positions:
“like John Estes at center and Greg Alexander at quarterback are based on what they did last season. I assume that everyone (listed as a starter) will work hard and maintain their position. But if they don’t prepare themselves, we’d play the best player at that point in time. We’re committed to playing our best players.” (HA)

About how they will post a depth chart after spring training is over, Mac said:
“New starting points.” (HA)

About how many of their recruits don’t arrive until the summer, Mac said:
“We’ll give some (of the newcomers) some shots. We have to be ready for business. It’s not P.E. football. It’s a business. We want to have fun, but we want to get ready to play. We want to start the season strong.” (HA)

About how he’ll have to cut players after spring training (114 players are on the spring roster, 105 players can go to training camp and 25 newcomers join this summer), Mac said:
“I hate to cut anybody. That’s the worst part of the game. But we can only go into camp with 105.” (HA)

HA Note: “But sometimes there’s a happy ending. Last spring, defensive tackle Quentin Beaver impressed coaches with his strength. But at 365 pounds, he was too heavy to play the point in the 4-3 alignment. Beaver was cut after spring practice. He subsequently lost 60 pounds, and in January, he participated in the walk-on tryout. He earned a berth on the spring roster.”

About Quentin Beaver being back on the team, Mac said:
“We like 300-pound-plus guys, but they have to be able to run. Now he can run.” (HA)