Yesterday, for the first time in nearly two years, Hawai'i head coach Greg McMackin decided to take a complete break from football.

He almost made it.

His voice hoarse and his emotions spent from the 49-21 loss to Notre Dame in the Hawai'i Bowl, McMackin still could not avoid the tug of planning for the 2009 season.

"Right now, we've got a lot of work to do," said McMackin, who was 7-7 in his first season as UH head coach. "We've got to eliminate sacks. We can't give up that many sacks."

The Warriors relinquished 59 sacks, more than any other NCAA Division I-A team has allowed in a season in the recorded history of the sport.

They were sacked 18 times in the final three games.

Asked if reorganization would be part of the solution, McMackin said: "I have to do some more thinking about that."

He also said he will rebuild the defense, particularly the secondary. The top defensive backs — cornerbacks Ryan Mouton, Calvin Roberts and Jameel Dowling, and safeties Keao Monteilh, Desmond Thomas and Erik Robinson — have completed their NCAA eligibility.

"Last year, we lost our offense," McMackin said. "This year, we're losing our defense, and quite a bit of our offensive line. This year we'll lose even more than we lost last year."

McMackin reaffirmed that Greg Alexander will enter spring training as the No. 1 quarterback.

"He can throw the ball when he's not on his back," McMackin said. "He's done some really good things for us."

Brent Rausch is expected to be No. 2. Shane Austin will be No. 3.

McMackin said he expects Inoke Funaki, who started five games at quarterback, to move to running back.

In addition to seeking more defensive backs, recruiting efforts will focus on finding successors for placekicker Dan Kelly and punter/holder Tim Grasso.

Long-snapper Jake Ingram has completed his UH eligibility. But his brother, Luke Ingram, also a long-snapper, is joining the Warriors next month.

McMackin leaves Hawai'i tomorrow for his second home in Las Vegas. The first Sunday in January, he will begin doing home visits to prospects in Las Vegas and Los Angeles.

After that, he will return to Honolulu to host recruiting trips.

Meanwhile, several seniors have made plans to train on the Mainland in preparation for the NFL draft.

Linebacker Adam Leonard will train in Tampa. Middle linebacker Solomon Elimimian also will train on the Mainland.

Ingram, Mouton and defensive end David Veikune will rent a house in Carson, Calif., where they will train. UH's Pro Day is scheduled for early March in Carson.

Leonard said he believes the '09 Warriors will be in good shape.

"I have no doubt Hawai'i will be up around 10 wins and win the WAC next year," Leonard said.

Visit Tsai's blog at http://warriorbeat.honadvblogs.com.