Warriors have the
corners covered

UH has a number of good options
at the cornerback positions

Good cornerbacks are usually hard to find, but Rich Miano's problem is he has more than he can put on the field at one time.

Hawaii has five cover guys the coaches already feel comfortable with, which is three or four more than most college football teams.

Abraham Elimimian returns as a starter and with last year's other starter, Kelvin Millhouse, gone and in camp with the NFL's Miami Dolphins, one starting spot is open. Kenny Patton, Ray Bass, Omega Hogan and Turmarian Moreland are all contenders for playing time, although Miano, UH's secondary coach, said Elimimian and Patton are clearly ahead for the starting spots.

"We're looking like we have some good depth," Miano said after yesterday morning's practice.

He had special praise for Patton, a third-year sophomore who missed most of last season with hamstring problems.

"Kenny is unbelievable, as good an athlete as I ever coached, and as smart an athlete as I ever coached," Miano said. "It's not even close. Turmarian might be the guy after a while, but Abraham and Kenny have separated themselves (as a unit) from Abraham and Kelvin.

"So it's just a matter of how good Turmarian is, and if he's real good we'll go with the nickel and use all three of 'em."

Patton said all the corners are improving because they go up against senior quarterback Tim Chang and his bevy of run-and-shoot receivers each day in practice.

"It helps a lot. We're never gonna go up against an offense as potent as this," Patton said. "Timmy throws the ball better than anyone in the nation. If we're not on our guys he's going to get it in there. Sometimes even if the guy's covered he makes some crazy throws and gets it in there. He'll help us get better and better at coverage."

USC not excited about No. 1 ranking Southern California greeted news of its first preseason No. 1 ranking since 1979 with ambivalence. "I could care less," quarterback Matt Leinart said yesterday. "But, you know, it's cool because it shows how hard we've worked. That's our goal to be at the top. We're not satisfied right now. Last year was last year. And this year is a new season." The defending co-national champions earned the top spot in The Associated Press poll by receiving 48 of 65 first-place votes and 1,603 points. Oklahoma, which was No. 1 for most of last season before losing its final two games, was No. 2 with 11 first-place votes and 1,529 points. Georgia was No. 3, followed by fellow SEC member and defending co-national champion LSU at No. 4. Hawaii was out of the top 25 but received 11 votes.

Yesterday was Moreland's first practice, as the transfer had to wait for official word that he'd received his associate's degree from Los Angeles Valley Junior College before he could participate.

He looked like he knew what he was doing most of the time during a three-hour session under a blistering sun. His physical skills helped him make up for most errors caused by his lack of experience with UH's schemes.

"After three days of watching, I was ready to get out there and show why I'm on scholarship," Moreland said. "We've got eight strong DBs. All those boys are good. I've got to find a way to get into that rotation."

Miano said that could happen, but the 6-foot, 194-pound Moreland also has tough competition in Bass and Hogan, both of whom have worked hard and know the system.

"Ray's gotten better, Omega's gotten better," Miano said. "So we have five corners who can play. Ray and Omega have to get more consistent with technique, but physically they're good enough to play.

Bass briefly quit the team last fall, but has rededicated himself, Miano said.

"Ray has been so much more focused, conscientious about studying and asking questions. So is Omega. Both have grown up," the coach said. "It's such a competitive position, everyone's going to get better. The receivers are really good, and that makes us better.

"You look at Ray, you look at Kenny, you look at Turmarian, that's what corners look like in the big leagues."

Hogan, a fourth-year junior, always shines in training camp, but has been stuck behind more experienced players his entire time at UH.

"I've still got a lot to learn," Hogan said. "I just need to keep working hard. If someone's doing something I'm not doing as well, I got to get better. You've got to fight through frustration. It's easy to give up, but I can't do that.

"You've got to have what Coach Miano calls 'unconscious competence.' Go out there and just know. You can't play full-speed unless you know what you're doing."

Scary moment: During a two-minute drill yesterday, starting defensive tackle Lui Fuga collided with a teammate and fell to the ground, howling in pain and clutching his right knee. After a few moments, though, Fuga was able to walk off the field under his own power. After practice he said the knee has a "minor sprain."

The sixth-year senior has missed considerable playing time throughout his career with injuries to his shoulders, an ankle, and a knee. He said he expects to return to practice next week.

Coach June Jones said he thinks the injury is minor.

"It's up to him when he comes back," Jones said. "I think it will just be a couple days. My thought is usually if you can walk on it, it ain't too bad."

Fuga did walk off the practice field, but was later seen on crutches.

Sophomore Kahai LaCount or freshman Keala Watson will join senior Matt Faga as first team defensive tackles until Fuga's return.

Also, senior slotback/kick returner Chad Owens sat out most of yesterday's practices with an aggravated quad muscle and junior receiver Brian Davilla is out with a hamstring pull, as is freshman receiver Andrew Pearman.

Junior safety Lamar Broadway suffered a hip pointer, but said he expects to return to full duty today.

Quick recovery: Freshman wide receiver Desmond Thomas appeared to be in intense pain Friday when he left the field with a groin pull.

But Thomas returned to practice yesterday morning and was moving well.

Doubling up: With the heat oppressive and yesterday being the first of four double-practice days, Jones told his players to make sure to drink plenty of water between sessions.

Elimimian wasn't looking forward to coming back out in the afternoon.

"It's just tough. But that's what football's all about. After we get through the first one we'll be fine. We just have to try to get our legs back. The most important thing is rest your legs and stretch."

Usually, offensive and defensive linemen are exempt from the afternoon practices.

Coming up: Today's practice is from 2 to 5 p.m.

The Warriors are scheduled to go to full pads tomorrow. They have two practice sessions: 8:30-11:30 a.m. and 3:30-5 p.m.

Special starters?: Most of the players working on the kickoff and kickoff-return teams yesterday were projected starters or key backups on offense and defense. Jones said not to read too much into it, since the veterans are being used in many cases so newcomers can watch and learn.

"It's a transition phase," Jones said. "Usually you want to find the backups who can run. We'll probably get some freshmen out there."

Special teams coordinator Mouse Davis said the final cover and return teams will probably be a mix of vets and rookies, possibly including starters in addition to Owens.

"It remains to be seen how many starters will play special teams. We want the best players, but we want to avoid ouchies," he said.

Broadway is penciled in as the starter at strong safety, but he hopes to remain on the kickoff, kickoff-return and punt-return teams.

"I love it. It's a love and a passion. However you can get on the field you get on the field. You can lose your mind for about 10 seconds. That's cool," he said.

Short yardage: Junior college transfer receiver Rene Melson has joined the team. ... Junior receiver Ian Sample is the son of former Texas Rangers outfielder Billy Sample.