[ UH FOOTBALL ]
Hawaii O-line plays
musical chairs
Mike Cavanaugh knows this is no way to run an offensive line.
But the Hawaii assistant coach feels he has no choice but to change his starting group once again. For the seventh time in 11 games this season, the Warriors will go with a different O-line alignment than the one that started the previous game.
This time, Tala Esera replaces Jeremy Inferrera at left tackle -- for the second time this year.
When UH plays Army tomorrow at Aloha Stadium, the starting five (from left to right) goes like this: Esera, Samson Satele, Derek Faavi, Uriah Moenoa and Brandon Eaton.
"Yeah, musical offensive linemen again," Cavanaugh said with disgust after yesterday's practice. "I've never had a situation like this before. Obviously we'd like some consistency and someone to step up and take charge."
Quarterback Tim Chang was sacked three times and flushed out of the pocket numerous others last week in a 24-14 loss at Nevada. Coach June Jones also expressed displeasure with the unit's run blocking.
"I'd like to settle on a five," Cavanaugh said. "But everybody's been up and down."
Most of the moves have involved UH's young tackles. But Cavanaugh said Satele, Faavi and Moenoa are not untouchable.
"(Changes) inside? Not yet. But Kaj (Shayne Kajioka) is there, Phil's (Phil Kauffman) there. You never know.
LaBoy battles infection: Oft-injured senior defensive end Travis LaBoy has been the model of good health this year until this week. He's missed the past two practices with a staph infection, Jones said.
"We'll see how he is on game day," Jones said, when asked if LaBoy would play or start.
LaBoy leads the Western Athletic Conference with 16 tackles for loss and is second with nine sacks.
Keli'ikipi gets 'scoped: Junior running back West Keli'ikipi had successful arthroscopic surgery on Wednesday on his left knee, Jones said.
The surgery was to repair a torn meniscus, which is like a shock absorber for the knee joint.
Since no ligament damage was discovered, the rehab time for Keli'ikipi could be less than one month, allowing him to possibly play in the Dec. 25 Hawaii Bowl if the Warriors qualify.
Keli'ikipi started the last five games for the Warriors. He will be replaced by John West, Michael Brewster and Mike Bass.
Freshman Kala Latuselu took several reps with the first team yesterday, but Jones said not to expect him to play tomorrow.
Who's the QB?: What some are starting to view as a quarterback controversy at Hawaii is nothing compared to the mish-mash Army has at the position.
Reggie Nevels started in the Black Knights' 34-14 loss against Houston last week for the first time since the season opener.
But Zac Dahman is the man when the Cadets want to throw the ball.
"Right now I am leaning toward Dahman to start ... but the other three quarterbacks (Nevels, Laron Bybee, Matt Silva) are getting repetitions in practice."
