Shane Oliveira:
"I think we're finally coming together."

Klemm landed in the University of Hawaii offensive line coach's detention hall for some past practice transgression. The only way to earn a pass out was a through this trip in hell.

Klemm began upright in a dead sprint. At the sound of Klinker's whistle, the Santa Monica, Calif., resident dove to the ground and started rolling sideways in the freshly mowed Barbers Point grass.

A few seconds later, Klinker sounded the whistle again and Klemm jumped up, literally hitting the ground running.

But only for a moment.

Klinker, whose bad knee forced him to run like Grandpappy Amos of the old television show "The Real McCoys," whistled again.

And down went Klemm.

By now, his sweat-soaked body had picked up every cut blade of grass along this 50-yard journey. He resembled Swamp Thing.

Klinker took no notice.

His intermittent whistling finally drew University of Hawaii coach Fred vonAppen's attention, who turned and made this admiring observation.

"Walt's the only guy who sweats as much as the players," said vonAppen, who didn't seem to notice Klemm, the human haystack. "He's my kind of coach."

VonAppen certainly knows a thing or two about offensive lines. He has spent more seasons than he cares to count coaching that same position.

One of his first hires as the new Hawaii coach was Klinker, whose daunting task has been to transform an option wall into a West Coast front.

It hasn't been easy.

"We're still struggling with the transition of going from whatever they were to what we're doing now," vonAppen said. "They're not bad on run blocking, but are still struggling with pass blocking.

"The offensive line is crucial to the success of your football team. I think Walt's doing a good job, but we've still got a ways to go."

Not so long ago, if vonAppen was having a bad day, he could always take some comfort in his offensive front.

He might not have a great quarterback, or a terrific set of receivers and running backs, but the forward wall was rock steady.

Unfortunately for vonAppen, the foundation began to shift before fall camp even began with the unexpected departure of right tackle Hauoli Wong.

Things went from bad to worse last week after guard Michael Petersen went down with another shoulder problem, leaving Klinker dipping into a suddenly shallow pool of talent.

Throw in the losses of Marcus Malepeai to grades, and the shift from offense to defense by Ellie Kapihe, and what once looked proven, now seems inexperienced.

"But I think we're finally coming together," center Shane Oliveira said. "A lot of the guys who missed spring with injuries are back, and beginning to understand what needs to be done after a week of fall camp.

"We all love this offense. To me, it's easier to make blocks out of these formations than the ones we used in the option."

So far this summer, Oliveira has been the one constant for Klinker and offensive coordinator Guy Benjamin, who sings high praises for Oliveira.

"Shane is one of the finest centers I've been around," Benjamin said. "He definitely has a chance to be a fine NFL player. He can be as good as Fred Quillan."

If Hawaii played Boston College tomorrow, Oliveira would be joined by Kaulana Noa at left tackle, Conrad Paulo at left guard, C.B. Wentling at right guard and Mark Hernandez at right tackle.

Other linemen figuring into the mix are Petersen and Bobby Singh at guard, Klemm and Iosefa Puaauli at tackle and Sione Tafuna at center.

"Shane is the best of the bunch," vonAppen said. "I feel like we have a chance to be good up there, but it will take time."