University begins summer football workouts under Coach Hernandez (photo slide slow)

Uni Coach Chris Hernandez directs his players during practice Wednesday. (Photos courtesy Harrison Zhang, For OC Sports Zone)

University’s football team has begun summer workouts under first year-coach Chris Hernandez.

To see the slide show, please click on the first photo

Brian Bush (left) of University gets ready to throw a pass Wednesday.

John Rezk of University hauls in a pass during Wednesday's practice.

Chris Hernandez, Uni's first year coach, gives instructions Wednesday.

Ziyad Merchant of University reaches for a ball during practice.

University goes through drills Wednesday during practice.

University summer practice gets under way.

“This week, it’s the beginning of summer, we’ve been testing the guys….and getting everybody accliminated to the weight room,” said the 33-year-old Hernandez, who last coached at Santiago Corona.

Hernandez said he expects his players to put in a significant amount of time in the weight room to help his squad be successful.

“One of the the things I’m really big on is that they have to lift in the weight room,” he said. “(That means) being uncomfortable…holding heavy weight, putting heavy weight on your back and pushing through it and getting them used to that culture is kind of the focus this week and being able to clean up some stuff from the spring.”

University will take part in a 7-on-7 scrimmage Thursday vs. El Toro.

“We haven’t run our plays in about three or four weeks now, so they’re going to be a little rusty and we”re going to go in tomorrow and go baptism by fire,” Hernandez said.

Hernandez said he was pleased with the progress of the team during spring drills.

“It was good,” he said. “A lot of learning and getting to know the kids, which for me was huge and all the coaches were getting to know the kids. For me, just getting a little bit of what the expectations in the past were to what my expectations are and being able to adjust to those and have a plan going forward (happened).”

University will continue practice until wrapping up the summer at the North County Shootout July 13 at Sunny Hills and will return Aug. 5.

-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com