UH’s Rolovich
receives early call-back

The sophomore quarterback
is summoned to join Warriors
a week sooner than expected

Jack Rolovich's return to the Hawaii football team came a week earlier than expected.

Jack Rolovich: The UH QB has joined the Warriors in fall camp

Rolovich, a third-year sophomore quarterback, was not invited to fall camp because of the 105-player roster limit. He'd planned to rejoin the Warriors with the start of school next week, when the roster limit is lifted. But with the voluntary departure of walk-on freshman Anthony Gardner at the end of last week, coach June Jones summoned Rolovich, who was at his family's home in California.

"I got back (Monday) night," said Rolovich, who was called by his brother Nick, a former UH quarterback and current student-assistant, on Sunday. "He said Coach Jones wants me back out here. I got the next flight back and here I am."

Rolovich is competing with Inoke Funaki, Jeff Rhode and Kainoa Akina for No. 3 quarterback (Akina was also not invited to camp but is expected to report next week).

Tyler Graunke and Colt Brennan are locked in a close battle for No. 1, but Jones said both will probably play in the season opener against USC on Sept. 3.

Rolovich did not throw in team drills yesterday, but he looked sharp in individual throwing in the morning and afternoon practices.

"Every day I would run in the morning and then throw (over the summer)," Rolovich said. "Everyone was telling me keep ready, keep ready, keep ready. You never know when your time is going to come."

The early call-back helped ease some of the pain of a personal tragedy for Rolovich. A youth league and high school teammate, Mike Ford, died in a truck accident. Rolovich was on the mainland for his funeral.

Brennan said the quarterbacks are all glad Rolovich is back in camp.

"Jack's a good friend. He came up to me today and surprised me (that he was here)," Brennan said. "He's got a good head on his shoulders and brings a lot of camaraderie to the quarterbacks."

After redshirting in 2003, the 6-foot-3, 221-pound Rolovich played in two games last season. He completed four of eight passes for 37 yards with one interception.

He was considered a possible contender to start this season with the completion of Tim Chang's career, but Rolovich did not have a very good spring camp.

"We know Jack," Jones said. "He's a tough kid with a good arm. He'll get used to being back in there and throwing. He's a competitive kid and we think he can play. He's just got to wait his turn."

Rolovich has three seasons left to try to climb the depth chart. Yesterday he was just glad to be back at practice.

"I was getting to throw it here and there, but it's more about just being out here," he said. "Just being out here with the guys is something you don't think about until it's gone."