Football Notebook

More shuffling in
offensive line, backfield

OK, stay focused now, because the Hawaii football coaches have made more changes than a runway model in New York.

Beginning with the offense, Hawaii coordinator Don Lindsey has moved Kynan Forney from tackle back to guard, and Adrian Klemm from tight end back to tackle.

Due in part to injury problems plaguing backup quarterback Josh Skinner, Bronson Liana returned from the scout team to the regular rotation this week.

The plan today is to redshirt Shawn Withy-Allen, but given Skinner's precarious health, that could change on one play.

Bad health at fullback - Avion Weaver (sprained neck) and Anthony DiIeso (broken leg) will not play against SMU this weekend - also forced the coaches to shift former Campbell High linebacker Derek Zoller to fullback. He was a two-way player for the Sabers, but the freshman will need some polishing before seeing extensive playing time.

"He's a little rough back there, but we need a fullback to knock somebody ass backward," UH head coach Fred vonAppen said. "Calvin Mims will start but Derek could see some playing time."

Fred Lau is also in that rotation, but the 5-foot-11, 186-pound Lau is not exactly the load Lindsey is looking for in this offense, hence the addition of the 6-0, 250-pound Zoller.

"He was not, at the present time, needed at linebacker," Lindsey said. "Gosh, our fullbacks are down. If we're going to stay with the offense we want to run, we need a "fullback" fullback, not a guy at fullback.

"We need a guy who can go in there and bust you up. We think Derek can do this. He got a bloody nose today, but I'm not sure if it was from whacking somebody."

And the changes don't end there.

With Klemm moving to tackle, Lindsey still needed a big, blocking tight end. He has tried Jose Martinez, who shifted from tackle to that spot.

He is even taking a look at walk-on Nassor Anderson from Orange Coast (Calif.) College and redshirt freshman Mike Iosua, who played the position in high school.

Iosua was shifted to defensive end during the spring. But much like Zoller at linebacker, he wasn't expected to see any playing time this season.

An injury to Dwight Carter also removed freshman Ray Harrington from the redshirt list. He will join fellow wideouts Eleu Kane, Wesley Morris and Davey deLaura in this week's rotation.

"When you're not doing very well, change is a constant in life," vonAppen said. "We also moved (defensive end) Chuck Thompson to the guard position up front on offense. It seems to be a more natural position for him."

INJURY UPDATE: Injuries to several key players were part of the reason for all the moves this week.

Skinner said his hamstrings were tight in both legs, but particularly the right. He already has suffered several concussions the past 12 months, leaving him questionable for this weekend.

Weaver and Carter aren't the only players out for this Saturday's second conference game, so are linebackers Stephen Gonzales (ankle), Rinda Brooks (concussion) and Steve Dietschy (knee).

Linebacker Yaphet Warren is still nursing a sore hamstring, leaving him questionable. Free safety Daniel Ho-Ching returned to the lineup after missing the better part of three games with a hamstring pull.

Cornerback Celnell Bobbitt also returned to the secondary after missing three games with a broken leg. Fellow corners Jovon Jiles (groin pull) and James Polk (ankle and calf) are questionable as well.

WILLIAMS HOSPITALIZED: A collision early in yesterday's practice between Bobbitt and redshirt freshman linebacker Lonnie Williams resulted in Williams being hospitalized over night.

UH trainers said he was hit in the chest area and went into some kind of a seizure on the field. He was able to move all four of his limbs, but he couldn't talk.

The Fort Worth, Texas, resident was rushed to the emergency room at Queen's Medical Center. Last night, he was barely able to talk, prompting physicians to hold him a night for observation.

Williams was redshirted last year and has seen limited playing time this season.

KIRBY BACK ON TEAM: Senior wide receiver John Kirby returned to the team for the first time since being put on academic probation by vonAppen in August.

"John is going through academic rehab," vonAppen said. "We have had a meeting of the minds and agreed for him not to miss any classes, keep his academic nose clean and then he'll be relegated to exclusively the scout team."

Kirby has a redshirt year available to him. If he does what vonAppen asks, he can return for his senior season. He is on scholarship.

FALLING IN POLL: The Rainbows fell to No. 130 in the weekly Scripps-Howard computer poll with a power ranking of 74.1.

The poll rates the 232 Division I and Division I-AA teams. SMU is ranked No. 104 with a power rating of 79.5. If you add four points to the home team, Hawaii should be a 11/2-point underdog this weekend.

But the Las Vegas oddsmakers disagree. They have winless SMU favored by 71/2 points.

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By Paul Arnett