Quarterback Akina
back in fold, won’t
be moved to slotback

Kainoa Akina returned to the Hawaii football roster yesterday. He brought his wide smile and positive attitude with him.

Akina and sophomore Jack Rolovich were considered contenders to start at quarterback this fall. But neither grabbed hold of the position in spring camp, and neither was invited to fall camp.

Akina, the backup to Tim Chang most of last season, said he's put the disappointment of being discarded from the competition behind him, and he's looking forward to his senior season.

"I'm always excited. My dad (Texas co-defensive coordinator Duane Akina) taught us always look at things at the highest point," he said. "Just take it full stride and do it 100 percent."

Akina, who returned to practice yesterday because school started and the 105-player camp roster limit was lifted, said he's ready to do whatever the coaches want. That doesn't include a move to the depleted slotback position, at least not yet.

"I don't know," Akina said when asked about moving to another position. "We haven't talked about anything. Whatever, it doesn't matter to me. At quarterback I kind of know what to do, what to expect."

Playing the slots: Coach June Jones said there are no plans to move anyone to slotback at this time despite a rash of injuries.

Part of the reason is true freshmen Aaron Bain and Marquez Jackson have progressed well, helping fill the reps in practice and ease the decimation to the upper echelon of the depth chart.

Sophomore Pat Olchovy (ribs, out six to eight weeks), sophomore Jason Ferguson (back, returned to practice), senior Nate Ilaoa (hamstring, returned) and second-year freshman Ryan Grice-Mullen (shoulder, in and out) have all missed significant practice time. Also, sophomore Brandon Matano is out for a non-injury reason Jones could not discuss.

"I would think by the first game, we have two weeks, both Ryan and Nate will be 100 percent," said Jones, who was disappointed that Ilaoa -- counted on as a team leader -- reported to camp overweight. "He's got to get himself in shape. Until he reported out of shape and pulled a hamstring, I had no problem. He compromised everybody. He compromised the team. He's trying to work himself back into shape and hopefully he will."

New guys: Most of the players expected to join the team with the roster expansion did not practice yesterday.

"We've got about 12 or 18, but they've got things they've got to take care of," Jones said. "Drug tests, NCAA stuff. All different kinds of things."

Jones said they will probably do their conditioning test tomorrow or Thursday.

Acquainted: When UH defensive line coach Vantz Singletary interned with the 49ers last month, he didn't have much interaction with Thomas Herrion, the offensive-line hopeful who died after San Francisco's preseason game at Denver on Saturday.

"He's from Texas, like me. I just met him, wished him good luck and shook his hand," Singletary said. "That's the only dialogue I had with him."

Voting (not so) early and often: Former UH coach Bob Wagner and retired athletic director Hugh Yoshida are voters on the new Harris Interactive College Football Poll that will help determine the BCS bowl game matchups.

The Harris Poll, which doesn't start until Sept. 25, four weeks into the season, is composed of media members and former players, coaches, athletic directors and commissioners representing all 11 conferences. Honolulu Advertiser columnist Ferd Lewis is also among the 114 Harris Poll voters.

Star-Bulletin sports editor Paul Arnett votes in the Associated Press poll. Arnett and Warriors TV voice Jim Leahey are Heisman Trophy voters.

Short yardage: The Western Athletic Conference hired Anthony Archbald as assistant commissioner for compliance. He replaces Patrick Hairston, who left the WAC to be associate athletic director at Delaware State. ... UH is expected to post this week the associate athletic director opening created by the pending departure of Tom Sadler to a private sector job in Arizona.