Sports Notebook
Star-Bulletin staff
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O-line wide open; tackle Hisatake takes a turn at guard
Junior
Ray Hisatake, part of the mix at left tackle entering Hawaii football camp, has moved over a spot to guard.
Hisatake played behind first-teamer Keith AhSoon yesterday, sharing second-team repetitions with Brysen Ginlack, and continues to work at tackle as well.
"My chances will be better to play if I know both positions and I feel real comfortable at guard, like it's a more natural fit for me," said Hisatake, a defensive lineman in junior college who hadn't played guard before yesterday. "You always get excited to learn when you're in a new environment. If I know guard, then I'll know tackle better."
Aaron Kia remains with the first unit at left tackle, the spot responsible for protecting the quarterback's blind side. UH offensive line coach Brian Smith said the competition between Kia and Laupepa Letuli, who sat out spring practice with an injury, remains tight.
"Pepa's going to push (Kia) pretty hard as long as he stays healthy," Smith said. "That's going to be a good competition and it's going to make both of them better."
AhSoon started at left tackle last season but moved inside during the spring. The right side of the line remains Keoni Steinhoff at tackle and Lafu Tuioti-Mariner at guard with John Estes at center.
Head coach Greg McMackin has said he wants to be able to rotate players into the line when the Warriors open at Florida on Aug. 30.
'Happy' returns
David Gilmore is more than happy to be back with the UH program.
Hawaii's new graduate assistant has roamed the team's grass field alongside associate head coach Rich Miano over the first three days of fall practice, re-acclimating himself to the environs he patrolled as a safety from 1999 to 2003.
"It takes me back -- you don't forget the smells," said Gilmore, affectionately referred to as "Happy" or just "Hap" by his fellow coaches as well as his new understudies in the defensive backfield. "It's fun to be out here a part of it, and not get all beat up, you know?"
Miano pushed hard for Gilmore's presence with the team this season. He was a walk-on from Albuquerque, N.M., who, through sheer determination, earned a starter's role and eventually a scholarship.
"The whole cycle, from being unwanted to being a starter to being a scholarship player to a graduate assistant," Miano said. "That's why he'll be successful in life, and that's why he'll be successful at coaching. It's not always the great players who're genetically gifted. He worked hard."
Gilmore had a secure, six-figure income in California selling employee benefits. But he dropped that with no second-guessing for a chance to get back to doing what he loves.
"I knew I wanted to do it," said Gilmore, who conceded going back to scholarship-level pay was challenging. "But, I said if I'm going to do it, I'm going to do it now. I don't want to have regrets when I'm 34 years old."
Short yardage
McMackin will leave immediately after today's practice to testify at a Board of Education meeting on possible cuts to high school sports budgets. ... Receiver
Jovonte Taylor, a speedy transfer from Los Angeles Southwest College, attended yesterday's practice and is expected to suit up for the first time in today's 4 p.m. workout. ... Sophomore defensive lineman
Landon "Liko" Satele, younger brother of linebacker
Brashton Satele, has been added to the fall camp roster. The transfer from Lambuth University in Tennessee can practice with the team but will sit out this season. ... McMackin and his wife,
Heather, will host the first Hawaii Wahine Football Clinic for women interested in learning the basic football tactics Aug. 19 at the Stan Sheriff Center. The cost is $10. Registration will be at the door.