According to the Scripps-Howard computer that ranks every team that plays college football, the Rainbows will be underdogs, even against Division I-AA Northridge. In fact, of the 12 teams the Rainbows face this season, the only team ranked lower is San Jose State and that's by a whopping two-tenths of a point.

The computer rankings were released yesterday with the defending national champion Florida Gators ranked No. 1 at 117.2. By comparison, Hawaii is No. 148 with a rating of 68.8. That means on a neutral site, Hawaii would be nearly a 50-point underdog to powerful Florida.

"That's not beyond the realm of possibility, but I don't put any stock in those polls," UH head coach Fred vonAppen said. "It's all based on last year. I believe we're a much better team than last year, but I don't like to predict. That's why we play the games."

The highest-rated team on the Rainbows' schedule is Notre Dame at No. 9 with a computer rating of 110.4. Here are the ratings of the remaining teams Hawaii plays in the order of their ranking:

No. 17 Brigham Young University (102.7), No. 36 Colorado State (96.1), No. 46 San Diego State (93.0), No. 47 Wyoming (92.5), No. 55 Minnesota (90.8), No. 68 Air Force (85.9), No. 87 Fresno State (81.6), No. 100 Northridge (78.3), No. 117 Nevada-Las Vegas (74.9), No. 130 Northeast Louisiana (72.9) and No. 149 San Jose State (68.6), which is the lowest-rated team in the Western Athletic Conference.

"There's no way we should be rated that low," senior receiver Jason Mane said. "You watch, we're going to surprise a lot of people. You can't compare us to last year's team because we've made a lot of changes."

STUCK ON THE TOWER: VonAppen's tower he uses during the evening practice got stuck yesterday, forcing him to wait about 10 minutes before someone figured out how to start the motor to get him down from his 30-foot perch.

The players went by and jokingly told him not to be late for the meetings. But tight end Armando Morlos had the best suggestion.

"He told them to drive me over and let me off on the third floor of the dormitory," vonAppen said. "That would have worked fine. I waited all these years to get to stand up on a tower and this is what happens. I get stuck."

DEFENSIVE PLAY OF THE DAY: Defensive backs Celnell Bobbitt and Bernard Santamaria hooked up on a terrific play against the first-string offense. Quarterback Tim Carey tried to hit tight end Gary Ellison streaking down the middle of the field. Just as the ball arrived, Bobbitt collided with Ellison, sending the football skyward. Santamaria came streaking past to pick the ball out of midair and take it back for a touchdown.

INJURY REPORT: Walk-on wide receiver Davey DeLaura injured his shoulder and will be out from four to six weeks. UH head coach Fred vonAppen was disappointed because DeLaura had been looking very good in practice. Bobbitt bruised his arm on the defensive play of the day, but should be back soon. The flu bug took a big bite out of practice, especially on the offensive side of the football. Receivers Johnny Macon and John Kirby were among four players who watched yesterday's morning practice from the stands. Wesley Morris stayed on the sidelines with a bruised shoulder, but the junior college receiver should be back in full contact on Thursday.

TRANSACTION WIRE: Incoming freshman defensive end Robert Parker reported to camp, but the player from Los Angeles has yet to be ruled eligible by the NCAA clearinghouse. Of the junior college transfers, the only one on the bubble is Jovon Jiles. His biggest problem is making the NCAA 50 percent rule for corps subjects.

WEATHER REPORT: Heavy rain on Sunday forced the Rainbows to shift their morning practice to Cooke Field. The defense worked out by the hangar in the evening session to allow the lower field to dry out.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "Keep your feet moving when you're out there because you're killing the grass."

-- UH assistant coach Tom Williams