The Hawai'i football team's case for improving Cooke Field received a boost yesterday when Mother Nature provided convincing testimony.

Heavy rain forced the Warriors to scrap plans to conduct their first practice in pads of spring training.

"We were ready to go out and hit," defensive tackle Rocky Savaiigaea said. "Then they told us they were changing plans. It was like having Christmas without the presents."

Instead, the offense had a walk-through practice on the grass field, and the defensive linemen and linebackers worked on pass-rushing drills in Klum Gym. The defensive backs watched football videos.

Head coach Greg McMackin decided against postponing yesterday's practice until today, which is an open date.

"I wanted to stay on the same routine," he said.

Of the 15 spring practices, three are allowed to be without pads.

"Instead of having a non-padded practice before a scrimmage, I used it for this practice," McMackin said.

McMackin said he decided to modify yesterday's practice because he did not want to risk injuries on the wet turf or tear up the field.

"It's not like we don't want to go out in the rain," McMackin said. "It's a safety issue."

UH does not have an indoor football facility. The infield for Cooke Field is condemned, and what was left of the tattered artificial turf was removed more than a year ago. What remains is the black under padding, which has deteriorated to the point where weeds are poking through.

McMackin said practicing on Cooke Field would be like workout out "on cement."

For that reason, McMackin said, he is grateful that plans are in the works to install new artificial turf at Cooke Field this summer.

Athletic director Jim Donovan said Manoa chancellor Virginia Hinshaw has made it a "very high priority item" to install new turf at Cooke Field.

He said the installation and renovation, which will involve repairing any damage to the underlying material, will cost between $1 million and $1.5 million.

"I was driving in this morning, seeing how wet it was, and I was thinking that the quicker we can get Cooke Field done, the better it will be for everybody," Donovan said. "It's in progress. They're working on the request-for-proposal documents. We're anticipating the project will be worked on by summer time."

McMackin said: "I'm really excited because I know the administration and Legislature have worked really hard to get things going on Cooke Field."

In the meantime, the defensive players adjusted to the creative alternative in Klum Gym.

Defensive linemen Joshua Leonard, John Fonoti, Elliott Purcell and Savaiigaea ran their drills in bare feet.

"You know, you've got to bring back the Hawai'i-style football," Savaiigaea said. "You've got to do what you've got to do. You can't wear cleats in the gym, so you've got to go barefoot."

Savaiigaea, Fonoti and Leonard were en route to the grass field when they were told of the change in plans. Fonoti said there was not enough time to hunt down gym shoes.

"When I first signed up," said Leonard, who was raised in California, "I thought Hawai'i was always sunny and it never rained. I found out the first year it always rains. Every morning when I go to my car, it's wet."

The offense practiced for more than an hour in the rain.

"We thought it would be more of a cruise practice," quarterback Inoke Funaki said. "I know the receivers ran a lot more routes. We got a lot more reps in. (Quarterback coach Nick) Rolovich had us going today."

BESS GUEST AT CLINIC

Former UH slotback Davone Bess will be the featured instructor at tomorrow's Hawai'i Speed and Quickness session at the UH athletic complex.

Bess, who applied for the National Football League draft, also will be available for a free autograph-signing period.

The clinics, which are held Saturdays and Sundays, are open to ages 5 and older.

Each session is $10. There are scholarships available.

Sessions are from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Former and current UH student-athletes serve as instructors.

For details, call 739-5444 or log on to www.hawaiispeedandquickness.com.