HAWAII FOOTBALL
'Coach Solomon' hungry to play
But Glanville is not sure how fast Elimimian's knee can recover
Hawaii may again depend on the wisdom of Solomon as a "coach" this Saturday rather than his physical presence on the football field.
Inside linebacker Solomon Elimimian participated in conditioning drills yesterday, but the sophomore's injured knee might not be recovered enough to play at Boise State four days from today.
"I ran with the guys and did figure eights. It helped my confidence. Did some hills after that and it felt good," said Elimimian, who added he won't require surgery.
Defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville was not as optimistic.
"Me, the doctor, trainers, nobody knows how that knee is other than the guy that's his knee," Glanville said. "With the knee brace back on today I'm not real excited."
Elimimian -- who called the defensive signals while making 83 tackles as a true freshman last season -- was stationed in the coach's box Saturday, helping Glanville with substitutions in UH's 42-13 victory over UNLV.
"It was fun. It gave me a good perspective. I was like one of the coaches up there," Elimimian said. "It was fun, but it's much funner playing. I wish I was out there."
Even if Elimimian can play at Boise, he probably won't start, head coach June Jones said. Jones indicated he will leave the final decision up to Glanville.
"Brad (Kalilimoku) was our player of the game. Adam (Leonard) played well too," Jones said. "Whoever plays is fine with me."
Kalilimoku led the Warriors with eight tackles against UNLV.
"Brad showed up, he did an excellent job," Elimimian said. "Adam did a good job of managing the defense. Overall the defense was awesome. Overall, they didn't miss me.
"When you get an injury
you don't want to rush it, but at the same time you want to be out there."
Kicker Dan Kelly was fine yesterday and participated in the conditioning drills. He had the wind knocked out of him Saturday.
"I did get a late hit on one of our last kickoffs. Took a face mask right under my pads," he said. "It's just a little sore."
Center Sam Satele is cleared to participate, Jones said. Satele left Saturday's game early with a sore shoulder.
Quarterback Colt Brennan had a very slight limp.
"I got leg-whipped and there's a big bruise," he said.
RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM
Hawaii running back Nate Ilaoa was named WAC Offensive Player of the Week yesterday.
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Ilaoa awarded:
UH running back Nate Ilaoa was as surprised as anyone when he was named WAC Offensive Player of the Week yesterday.
His numbers were pretty good (nine rushes, 104 yards and two touchdowns), but Ilaoa thought someone else must have posted better.
"I was thinking everyone else had a bye," he said. "Did anyone else play?"
Ilaoa said he doesn't mind being a role player, even though Jones said, "We feel like Nate is the most gifted player on our team."
Receivers Ryan Grice-Mullins and Davone Bess both caught passes for more than 100 yards Saturday, and Brennan completed his first nine attempts.
"With the weapons we have on our offense, you can only smile and wait for your chance to get the ball," Ilaoa said.
He credited the offensive line.
"(Hercules and Sam Satele) are my roommates," Ilaoa said. "I'm running with some guys I have full trust in."
Time sharing:
Kenny Patton is listed as No. 1 at left cornerback on the depth chart for Saturday's game ahead of A.J. Martinez, but Glanville said that does not mean Martinez has lost his starting spot.
"It just has to do with practice organization," Glanville said. "Smiley's (Martinez) the only one who can play both sides and this is for practice to get Smiley more practice at the right corner. Those three (Patton, Martinez and right corner starter C.J. Hawthorne) played most of the game (against UNLV).
Glanville said Martinez suggested that he be moved to No. 2 to facilitate the practice reps.
Patton is the leading tackler among the cornerbacks with 10.
Martinez has two tackles for loss among his three stops, and broke up two passes in the Alabama game.