Patrick Harley has always learned quickly in school -- you must when you're more than a year younger than all your classmates. Young Harley forced
to learn quicklyBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comThe Hawaii football team is asking him to do the same on the field. Because of injuries to two linebackers, the 17-year-old redshirt freshman could see considerable action Saturday as Hawaii (7-3) hosts Air Force (5-5).
Harley started going to school at age 3 and graduated from Maui High at 16.
"My brother was a year-and-a-half older than me so I just went to school with him because I was about the same size," Harley said. "I was able to keep up so I just stayed with him all the way up. My parents taught me to read at 4. I was well-prepared for school."
Now, the Warrior coaches are trying to get Harley ready to help stop the Falcons' option.
He's one of two safeties (the other is Robert Grant) likely to play at linebacker; Pisa Tinoisamoa is out with a leg injury and Tinoisamoa's backup, Keani Alapa, also might not play.
Alapa hurt his right shoulder in last Saturday's 52-51 victory over Miami (Ohio), forcing Harley into action. He made three tackles while playing most of the second half.
Also, UH went with a four linebacker formation when it played Rice, another option team, and might do so Saturday.
"It's time for him to step in and become part of the family, be a man," starting middle linebacker Chris Brown said of Harley, who was still on the scout team three weeks ago. "He's playing with men now, and he has to have our backs."
Harley (5 feet 11, 199 pounds) said he relishes the challenge.
"This is what I've been waiting for, to play linebacker," the Maui Interscholastic League defensive MVP of 1999 said. "Defending the option is about being physical. They're basically going to try to run us over. I like that, though. You've just got to be physical and hit them."
More hurts: Defensive end Travis Laboy practiced yesterday, but said his sprained left ankle is still very painful.
Laboy has missed the last two games.
Almost everyone on defense is playing hurt, coach June Jones said.
"We're probably more beat up than anything. Hopefully Travis will play but I don't know yet," Jones said.
Short yardage: Air Force kicker Brooks Walters is no stranger to Hawaii. He said he has visited about 10 times because his aunt and uncle, Royce and Richard Kadooka, live here. ... Santa Ana (Calif.) linebacker Chad Kalilimoku, considered one of the top junior college prospects in the nation, said Hawaii and Utah are at the top of his list. The Roosevelt High School graduate said he was impressed by UH's "hospitality" on his recent recruiting visit. Kalilimoku said he likes the idea of rejoining former high school teammates and current Warriors Chad Owens and Chad Kapanui.