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UH secondary
takes on
new look

The Warriors could face
San Jose State without three
of their defensive backs

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Shredded by injuries, the Hawaii secondary took on a decidedly different look yesterday.

Abraham Elimimian was off doing physical rehab with strength and conditioning coach Mel deLaura. Kenny Patton was slowly jogging around the field. Lono Manners was out with a broken ankle.

"It's going to be kind of a scramble," coach June Jones said Monday, addressing the possibility of facing San Jose State without three starting defensive backs.

Elimimian, the captain, who scored a touchdown last week and leads the nation in interceptions with five, is hopeful. He was able to run with the team after practice during its conditioning session.

Patton said yesterday that he's much better than he was at the same time last week.

Patton said he felt good but couldn't yet hit full sprint speed.

Both have strained hamstrings, which can be temperamental and unpredictable.

Yesterday's scrambled lineup looked like this: Turmarian Moreland at right cornerback, Matt Manuma and Leonard Peters at the safeties and Ray Bass at left corner.

Peters was the lone starter left.

Moreland jumped in for Cameron Hollingsworth, who himself had been subbing for Patton. Last week at UTEP, Hollingsworth had six tackles and an interception in his first career start.

"All the guys we got there can play," Moreland said.

Keao Monteilh, who is listed at No. 3 at right corner, got some work there but also spent time learning how to play safety.

Bass and Moreland were recruits prized for their potential as cornerbacks. But they weren't even listed on the Monday depth chart.

Moreland is a guy who can finally see light at the end of the tunnel after never really having been able to show what he could do since he's come to UH as a JC transfer this fall. At last, he feels "85 to 90 percent" following a rash of injuries.

"Every game it's always something (that keeps him out). It's kind of frustrating after a while," he said.

"I had the hamstring the first week, and then the groin and then the ankle," he said.

Moreland said he's getting the mental part of Hawaii's scheme, no problem. His barrier has been getting healthy enough to get on the field.

Moreland recorded 11 interceptions, three returned for touchdowns, in two years at Los Angeles Valley Junior College.

Miner Ibok apologizes: Jones had called a late hit on Tim Chang at UTEP a "cheap shot." While UTEP does not go that far, the Miners are feeling bad about it, according to a report in the El Paso Times.

"I wouldn't use that term," UTEP coach Mike Price said in the Times. "But definitely, the officials were correct in the call they made."

Ibok Ibok, who drew the flag on the play, said, "I'm sorry that I hit him late. My family and I are praying for a speedy recovery."

"I was just praying Tim wasn't hurt seriously," Price said.

Chang stayed out of drills yesterday, but is expected to practice Thursday and play Saturday despite aggravating an injury to his left (non-throwing) shoulder.

Full Melson: Jones said this week that with Ian Sample out, Britton Komine could slide over to back up Jason Rivers at "X" receiver. And after that, it would be Rene Melson.

Which begs the question: Who is Rene Melson?

"I'm nobody," he said. "Nobody special. Just trying to come out here and play."

The McKinley graduate went on to San Jose Community College, then UH called him home as a recruited walk-on.

Melson caught extra passes yesterday and often joins other receivers for voluntary drills with the passing machine in the afternoons.

"I just gotta be more consistent in my plays," he said. "That's what was holding me back before."

More Hula Bowl invites: Dick Schaller, Hula Bowl Maui president and owner, said that Chad Owens, Uriah Moenoa and Lui Fuga were recently extended invitations to play in the annual postseason all-star game. They join Chang, who had already been invited.