Robinson chosen
as starting QB

Dan Robinson practiced yesterday as if it were the first time he had ever met Don Lindsey's offense. His reward? He gets to start this weekend against Arkansas State.

"But that doesn't mean the other two quarterbacks won't see some playing time," the UH offensive coordinator said of Josh Skinner and Shawn Withy-Allen. "We've created a three-headed monster at this position. I keep waiting for one guy to emerge and take the job, but that hasn't happened."

UH head coach Fred vonAppen wasn't quite as pessimistic as Lindsey. He believes Robinson was productive enough the last seven quarters of the first two games to hold onto the starting job for at least another week.

"We haven't always been pleased with our quarterback play," vonAppen said after yesterday's practice. "But Dan has done the best job of moving our offense. We still need to establish a running game.

"And if that comes from the option phase of our offense, then Josh could see more time. We'll just have to wait and see what develops Saturday night."

Robinson is fourth in the Western Athletic Conference and No. 36 nationally in passing efficiency with a rating of 122.64. By comparison, Tulsa's John Fitzgerald is first in the league with a gaudy rating of 170.88.

For the season, Robinson has completed 23 of 49 passes for 363 yards and two touchdowns. He hasn't thrown an interception in his Division I career.

"I'm finally shaking off some of that rust of not playing for a year," Robinson said. "There are a lot of things we need to work on, but we're getting better as a team each week."

KICK IT THROUGH: VonAppen reopened the competition for field goals and PATs this week at practice. He usually reserves the head-to-head competition for the last practice period.

Chad Shrout, Eric Hannum and linebacker Jeff Ulbrich took turns kicking the football from different points of the field. Hannum was the most accurate yesterday, but no one was a world beater.

"There are a lot of different aspects that go into the kicking game," vonAppen said. "We also need to work on our snaps and our holds. Each kicker has a preference for their holder.

"I was thinking about going for it every time and forget about this phase of the game, but I'm not sure that would be practical. Sometimes, I think we're analyzing this thing to death."

Shrout and Hannum have remained supportive of each other throughout the competition. The two juniors also help one another for the good of the team.

"I felt for Chad during the game," said Hannum, who spent part of last weekend on a Christian retreat. "I also felt for our team because we had a chance to win."

VonAppen hasn't decided who will handle the place-kicking duties. He is sure that Shrout will be taking care of punts and kickoffs. For the season, Shrout is averaging a meager 35.7 yards on 18 punts. He has hit one PAT and two field goals in five attempts. Hannum has yet to cross the bar. He has missed a field goal and a PAT.

INJURY UPDATE: Hawaii has several key players, who will either miss the game or see only limited playing time this weekend.

Chief among them are outside linebackers Rinda Brooks (concussion) and Yaphet Warren (hamstring), safety Daniel Ho-Ching (hamstring), offensive tackle Kynan Forney (shoulder) and tight end Adrian Klemm (knee).

The only two players definitely out are cornerback Celnell Bobbitt and running back Anthony DiIeso. Both are sidelined with stress fractures to the lower leg.

"We're pretty banged up," vonAppen said. "We expect Kynan and Adrian to see some playing time, but just how far they can go is still up in the air."

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By Paul Arnett