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Sports Notebook
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WARRIOR FOOTBALL
Warriors wait for RB to emerge
Hawaii football coach June Jones said after practice yesterday he did not know who the Warriors' starting running back will be tomorrow against Boise State.
Earlier this week, Jones and running backs coach Mouse Davis indicated Nate Ilaoa, who started and rushed for 76 yards against Michigan State in his only nine carries of the season, would be the starter.
"Probably not," Jones said yesterday when asked about Ilaoa, who has had weight challenges and a tender hamstring this fall. The coach did not, however, rule out Ilaoa.
The other candidates are David Farmer, Kala Latuselu and Bryan Maneafaiga, Jones said.
Farmer started last week against Idaho and Maneafaiga did so in the season opener against USC. Jones said it is unlikely true freshman Mario Cox will play tomorrow.
The UH running game has been anemic so far, averaging only 74.7 yards per game. The Warriors got 41 yards on the ground against Idaho.
Maneafaiga -- who was out with a hamstring strain last week -- has carried 12 times for 30 yards, Farmer has rushed seven times for 26 yards, Latuselu seven for 11 and Cox three for 7.
WAC presence: Western Athletic Conference commissioner Karl Benson is here for the game, as part of the league's "Play Up" promotional tour.
Benson will also talk with athletic director Herman Frazier about UH's new road jerseys. Broadcasters, spotters and statisticians have complained about the lack of contrast between the white shirts and the silver numbers on them.
Short yardage: UH right tackle Dane Uperesa, battling a recurring ankle sprain for three weeks, indicated yesterday he'll be OK to play. ... The Broncos arrived yesterday afternoon and had a short practice at Aloha Stadium. ... Stadium officials said yesterday they expect a crowd of around 36,000 tomorrow. A possible rainstorm could cut into that. ... Mainland viewers will be able to pick up the game on ESPN's GamePlan package, since the network decided this week to add it. (KFVE Channel 5's live telecast is available on pay-per-view locally.) ... Frazier said UH has nearly finished details on a contract to play Washington at Aloha Stadium at the end of next season. He also expects to announce another opponent soon for 2006 to complete the 13-game schedule.