The quiet receiver for the University of Hawaii watched as the Rainbows broke from their huddle, signifying the end of yesterday evening's practice.

As they headed back to the Barbers Point barracks, most stopped by to see how the fifth-year senior was feeling.

Some tapped him on his well-worn University of Pittsburgh hat, others hugged him out of respect, knowing exactly how he felt about having torn his anterior cruciate ligament in two.

"What are you doing on those crutches?" UH offensive coordinator Wally English asked. "Get your ass back on that field."

Mane smiled just a little, then said, "I'd love to, Coach. You don't know how much."

It would be another two hours before Mane would learn from physician Darryl Kan that the MRI revealed his ACL was torn in two. After looking at the pictures, it was determined that Mane would begin immediate rehabilitation in hopes of being back for the University of Wyoming game in four weeks.

"It's a good news, bad news deal," UH head coach Fred vonAppen said. "He tore the ACL, but there's not a lot of swelling. We're optimistic he could be back as early as four and as late as eight weeks.

"He spent a long time getting ready for the season. He wants to play. His mental health is critical to this and critical to the recovery. He set a target date for Wyoming, so we will shoot for that and see if we can get him there."

Mane could play part of the season and petition for a medical hardship, but the NCAA is reluctant to give one to a player, who already has been in a program five years.

"I want to play this year, if I can," Mane said. "I'm confident I can rehab it, get the muscles around the joint strong again and hopefully be able to play for the rest of the season."

The bad news is, Mane tore the ligament in two. Even if he's able to rehab the knee, it would take just one bad hit or one wrong turn, to blow it out completely.

"It's actually torn in the middle, a small cartilage tear on the inside," Kan said. "It's not the optimum situation, but what's encouraging is the fact he actually has very little swelling.

"What we're going to do is brace him for a short period and see if he tightens up some over the next two weeks or so, take him out of the brace and let him gain his strength and his range of motion.

"At least he has a chance. As I was telling him, there are guys who have played the season without their ACL. Surgery is now so good, we could repair the knee as good as new, but if we did that, he would be out for the season."

That's not an option for Mane, who caught 17 passes last year, two for touchdowns. He wants to play as soon as possible.

"I'm going to do everything they tell me to do and hope for the best," Mane said. "I had trouble sleeping last night, but I'm ready to give it my best shot."

<img src="bu.gif"> MAKING THE SWITCH: You'll have to forgive Stanford University transfer Jauron Pigg if he seems a bit disoriented.

Not only is the junior track star trying to adjust to being in the middle of the Pacific, in yesterday's first practice as Hawaii player, he found himself on the wrong side of the ball.

As a Cardinal, Pigg was a speedy wide receiver, who put all the moves on a defensive back. As a Rainbow, the 6-foot, 170-pounder is a cornerback, trying to predict those old moves.

"For me, it's a little bit different," Pigg said. "It's just an adjustment I have to make. If this is where I'm going to be able to contribute and help the team, then hey, you can make just as many big plays on defense as you can catching touchdown passes."

Pigg is a junior waiting to hear from the NCAA if he will have to redshirt before being eligible to play his final two years with the Rainbows. He ran track last year, but did not play football.

Pigg petitioned the NCAA last week to see if it means he is eligible to play football right away. Members of the coaching staff are confident the NCAA will rule in Pigg's favor.

"As far as my petition, I haven't heard anything from the NCAA," Pigg said. "I'm kind of holding tight, getting some practice, getting in shape and hoping for the best. I don't know where it stands.

"It's kind of up in the air and could go either way. I'm hoping for the best, but expecting the worst. I'm hoping I can get out there and contribute to the team this year. But if not, then I'll just have to wait my time."

Pigg is enjoying his time with old Stanford teammates Quincy Jacobs and Tim Carey. They were part of the reason he chose UH over Tennessee and Ohio State.

"I'm also glad to be with (head coach Fred vonAppen and assistant Guy Benjamin)," Pigg said. "They also were a key reason why I decided to come here."

DEFENSIVE PLAY OF THE DAY: Safety Ron Wood handled the tip drill to perfection. Robinson found freshman running back Avion Weaver breaking free down the middle. He hit the newcomer in full stride, but the ball bounced off Weaver's hands and into the waiting arms of Wood. He picked the ball out of the air without every breaking stride and headed up field for what would have been a huge play for the defense.

INJURY REPORT: Center Shane Oliveira returned to practice yesterday morning. He was wearing a boot brace, similar to what the volleyball players use, to keep his sore ankles in check. Wide receiver Jerimi Bourland underwent an MRI yesterday to survey the damage sustained in Tuesday's practice. Bourland stepped in a hole on the Barbers Point field and badly sprained his ankle. There were no bones broken. Quarterbacks Tim Carey and John Gurasich missed yesterday's practice with the flu virus. UH head coach Fred vonAppen told Carey to stay away from the team for fear the virus would spread.

TRANSACTION WIRE: Academic advisors said that Franklin Yearby-Saunders will probably take his summer school final exams within the week, but he still has a long way to go before returning to the team. No one was ruled academically ineligible after summer school grades were posted.

WEATHER REPORT: The sun came out, but the temperature remained a relatively cool 87 degrees. The players hope it stays that way because they put on the pads today.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I think Coach (Don) Lindsey called that play a little tight. I know he said I interfered with Wesley Morris when I put my arm on his back (while breaking up a practice pass), but it was so light, Morris didn't even know I was there."
-- cornerback Robbie Robinson