Hawaii suits up
fewer players

Hawaii dressed only 75 players for its 63-17 football loss to USC at Aloha Stadium on Saturday. In the past, the Warriors have suited up about 100 players (there is no limit to the number allowed).

Around 30 players were in the stands in sweats Saturday.

UH coach June Jones said he plans to continue the practice.

"We're doing it because the last couple of years it's been out of control," Jones said. "There's too many guys on the sideline."

Jones said some players who are not expected to play who work hard in practice will be allowed to suit up for each home game.

"We'll take care of a few team guys as we can," he said. "But it's mostly guys who are going to play in the game."

Road teams in Western Athletic Conference games are limited to 60 players. UH usually takes 60 on its nonconference trips, too; especially if -- such as this week's game at Michigan State -- the air travel is not by charter flight.

The Warriors leave Wednesday for their first trip to East Lansing.

Welcome to Division I: Quarterbacks Tyler Graunke, a second-year freshman, and Colt Brennan, a sophomore junior college transfer, combined for 377 yards and two touchdowns passing in their first Division I game Saturday. Graunke also rushed for 43 yards.

A freshman playing his first college game accounted for UH's first points of the new season.

Dan Kelly of Temecula, Calif., put UH on the scoreboard with a 30-yard field goal in the first quarter. He also made both of his extra-point attempts.

"Coach June Jones and Coach (Jerry) Glanville told me just to go out like it's warm-ups, it's just a field goal," Kelly said. "I just put my head down and kicked the thing like I knew I needed to do. There's always got to be a first. Once you do it the first time you're set the rest of the time."

Kelly attempted to pop the ball in the air on his kickoffs to keep the ball away from USC's dangerous return men.

Davone Bess (four catches, 26 yards) and Ryan Grice-Mullen (five catches, 51 yards) played extensively in their debuts. Bess dropped a pass that might have gone for a touchdown.

Bess is a true freshman and Grice-Mullen a second-year freshman.

Other true freshmen who saw action included Mikhail Kafentzis, who returned five kickoffs for 88 yards. Linebacker Solomon Elimimian had four tackles, two for losses late in the game. Receiver Michael Washington caught three passes for 25 yards in the second half. Defensive lineman Rocky Savaiigaea played in the game's final moments.

Junior college transfer Andre Taylor replaced Kafentzis after the latter fumbled on a return, allowing USC's Desmond Reed to score a 29-yard TD with the recovery.

Taylor had two returns for 61 yards, including a 40-yarder on the last play of the game.

Farmer outscores dad: It was a bittersweet day for UH running back David Farmer, another second-year freshman. He hauled in a 7-yard touchdown reception with less than 3 minutes to go in his first college game. It made it more special that it came against the school he wanted to go to -- his father's alma mater.

The father, also named David, played fullback for USC from 1974 to 1976, but never scored a touchdown.

"He never got into the end zone, but I know he's happy for me anyway," the son said.

It was a life-long dream for him to follow his father at USC, but that's not to say he's unhappy in Hawaii.

"It was just special to be able to play them in our first game," Farmer said. "Of course I hoped the outcome would be a little different, but I'm just glad I got to score against the best team in the nation."

Farmer rushed three times for 16 yards and caught three passes for 17 yards.