[ UH FOOTBALL ]
Freshmen on O-line
get their share of time
The story of Hawaii's fall camp continues to be the young offensive linemen.
On Wednesday, Michael Lafaele became the third true freshman to get significant action with the first team. He got some more work at center with the projected starters yesterday.
"I've just got to learn my plays and all the calls," the Farrington High School graduate said. "It's pretty intense. It's hard, way different than high school."
Offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh said Lafaele is coming along well.
"He's starting to get there. He came in on the slow side because everything was new. But he's starting to see the intensity. I saw him wake up to some of the things we were doing drill-wise. I like what I see, so I'm trying to get him force-fed with a lot of reps.
"In a word, he's tough."
After a week of mostly watching the higher profile team drills, Lafaele was thrown into the fray Wednesday without warning.
"I was surprised. I was kind of nervous. But (Cavanaugh) told me to bite down and do what I gotta do," he said. "Coach wants me to play center and guard, but mostly center for this year."
Sophomore Derek Faavi is still the first-string center, with junior Phil Kauffman pushing him.
"Phil's right there with Derek at center and then I gotta have him ready at right guard, too," Cavanaugh said.
True freshmen Jeremy Inferrera and Larry Sauafea continue to impress Cavanaugh and head coach June Jones at left tackle.
"(Inferrera) reminds me of Kynan Forney. He's a tough guy like Kynan was. I think he's got that passion for the game. Just a lot of his make-up reminds me of him. The smartness is there, the toughness is there. The athleticism is there. He got me excited," Cavanaugh said.
As for Sauafea:
"He's got the feet like (Vince) Manuwai. He's got incredible feet. Doesn't have the power that Vincent had right now, but I think that will come, but tremendous feet. And smart, very smart. But the only way you learn is by doing it."
Jones deflected an implication that the true freshmen are getting reps only to fire up more experienced linemen.
"I like what I see in both of them," Jones said. "And they have to be capable (of starting). Because they'll play."
Lighter Moenoa: Starting right guard Uriah Moenoa is getting into shape after reporting to camp at 365 pounds last week. Moenoa said he's lost nearly 20 pounds since.
"Yeah, I think (Moenoa's) starting to respond. Hopefully that'll keep up and he'll lose the weight he has to lose and take care of business," Cavanaugh said.
Moenoa said running and a new diet have helped him get closer to playing weight. He won't share his diet for fear of loss of future earnings.
"It's a secret. I can't tell anyone," he said, tongue-in-cheek as usual. "Hopefully someday I'll make a video and make a lot of money off it."
He said the weight loss has given him more energy, and he's inspired by the hard-working Kauffman and other teammates.
"I feel a lot lighter on my feet," he said. "I think I get more of a push when I see my teammates out here pushing through the pain. I know I'm not going it alone."
Kauffman said he feels fortunate that he is being considered for playing time at two positions.
"I like the opportunity. The more positions you know the better for you. I'm just trying to battle. If I don't get in there, I'll just support whoever's in front of me and back them up."
It's been a long climb to even be considered for the starting lineup for the fourth-year player from Saint Louis School. He said there were times he got frustrated and thought about transferring to a school where he'd have a better chance of playing.
"It crossed my mind, but then they would've never recruited me if they didn't think I could play. That just motivated me to bust my (butt) even more," he said. "Weightroom, watch film, whatever it is. That's just motivation, try to get in, turn some heads."
Catch of the day: A prayer was answered.
UH practiced its Hail Mary near the end of practice and slot receiver Chad Owens caught a pass in the right corner of the end zone from Tim Chang in excess of 50 yards. Safety Hyrum Peters tipped it before it fell into Owens' hands, spurring a celebratory dance by Owens and fellow receivers Nate Ilaoa, Jeremiah Cockheran and Britton Komine.
Komine made a sporty grab of a 20-yard Se'e Poumele bullet with a fully extended dive across the middle. But it might have been the trap of the day, as some observers thought the ball hit the ground before Komine gathered it in.
Hurtin' for certain: Defensive backs Gary Wright and David Gilmore and defensive end Travis LaBoy joined the walking wounded yesterday.
Wright has a sore groin, Gilmore a sore back and LaBoy a strained abdomen. All are day-to-day.
