It is unlikely sophomore defensive end Travis Laboy will play in Hawaii's Sept. 8 season opener against Montana on Maui, defensive line coach Vantz Singletary said. Hamstring sidelines Laboy
By Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.com"Travis might be back by the first home game (Sept. 29 against Rice)," Singletary said. "That's a torn hamstring, it's got a hole, everything. It's going to take some time to really heal, make sure it's OK. It'd be a real long shot for him to play in the opener. We've got to go with the guys we have and are healthy."
Laboy, who transferred to Hawaii from Utah State, also did not play last spring due to a stomach ailment.
Junior defensive tackle Lui Fuga is also out, rehabbing after shoulder surgery.
"Lui's the same way," Singletary said. "Ideally, he wants to get out and do it. But you miss all of training camp, it's very tough to jump out there and go to war. No lifting, conditioning, the reads you need to know. He needs to get healthy and get back in the groove."
The good news for UH is that none of the defensive linemen who arrived at fall camp healthy left it injured.
"We're very healthy, the guys we have, and they've been working extra hard. Guys like Wayne Hunter, Laanui Correa, Mike Iosua, Lance Samuseva, Houston Ala," Singletary said.
Singletary likes the versatility of sophomores Samuseva (5 feet 11 inches, 304 pounds) and Ala (6-1, 218).
"Lance could easily be a starter for us," Singletary said. "He can play in any of our packages -- nickel, Okie, goal line. We've just got to believe Lance and Houston can pick up the slack for the guys who are out."
Ala is undersized for the defensive line, but Singletary said he makes up for it in other ways.
"He has a motor that's out of this world. A lot of guys go in there and underestimate him and he puts them on their can," Singletary said. "If I could take his energy and enthusiasm and plug it into a guy 6-6, 310, you know, look out."
Routine day: The first regular practice -- held on the first day of school -- was relatively uneventful. The Warriors worked out in helmets and shoulder pads for two hours.
"It was a good practice," coach June Jones said. "We're back on our normal schedule."
Class in session: UH is holding a football clinic designed especially for women, 7:30 p.m. tomorrow at Auditorium 241 at the school's athletic complex.
Quarterbacks coach Dan Morrison and secondary coach Rich Miano will teach the hour-long free class.
Honors candidates: Sophomore quarterback Tim Chang and junior receiver Ashley Lelie are on the Football Writers Association of America's All-America watch list.
Junior guard Vince Manuwai, who is on the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award watch lists, is not on the FWAA list.
Short yardage: Sophomore cornerback Hyrum Peters, senior defensive lineman Brett Clowers and sophomore linebacker Keani Alapa have been given scholarships, Jones said. ... Freshman defensive back Lamar Broadway left practice on crutches yesterday. He was to undergo X-rays on his left knee. ... Senior wide receiver Tafiti Uso returned to practice after recovering from a scraped up leg. ... Garrett Dearing, a 6-3, 232-pound offensive lineman from Hilo High School, is among several freshmen expected to walk on to the team this week.