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Sports Notebook
Star-Bulletin staff
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Jones says offense ready for the season
Colt Brennan left himself some room for improvement yesterday.
Just a little, mind you.
In the team portion of Hawaii's football practice, the Heisman hopeful completed every pass but one, which fell incomplete. He completed the other 14, including a long ball to Jason Rivers.
People who have watched Brennan over the past two years know he is capable of such tremendous strings of accuracy. But was there something special this day, the first of fall classes? School was definitely in session.
"This was the first time we had the starting offensive line together," Brennan said. "Everyone was confident and we had it going."
The health of starting center John Estes -- who missed more than a week with an elbow sprain -- is a big deal for this team. Experience on the offensive line is one of the few questions for the No. 23-ranked Warriors. Much will be expected from Estes and senior left guard Hercules Satele in stabilizing the line since they are the only two returning starters.
Brennan -- who also completed 11 of 13 in 7-on-7, was especially fond of throwing to junior slotback Davone Bess yesterday. Bess displayed his All-WAC skills with seven catches, including a spectacular leaping grab (one of several by Warrior receivers yesterday).
Afterward, coach June Jones pronounced the offense ready. The trick now is to stay healthy with 11 days left before the opener against Northern Colorado.
"I would say we're pretty set. On offense we won't change anything unless we have an injury," Jones said.
Return of Rego
Sophomore running back
Jayson Rego was among the players to rejoin the team yesterday with the roster limit of 105 removed.
"Yeah, I had to take care of some school stuff. I finished up some credits and got myself eligible," Rego said.
He knows his tough battle to climb the depth chart is harder without the two weeks of fall camp.
"It just makes me want to work harder to get to where I want to be," the walk-on from Kamehameha said.
Reynolds to RB
True freshman
Korey Reynolds also joined the running backs yesterday. Jones said last month he might have the defensive end switch sides.
"He really showed up on special teams and at defensive end," Jones said. "But we have so many guys there, he wouldn't play. In two years he could decide to move back."
Higher Ed
On the first day of classes in the fall semester, senior defensive end
Francis Maka's journey through the upper echelons of UH's math program took a turn for the confusing.
"Oh, man, I got this math class, I don't remember which one. It's something like 'Fundamentals of Math' or something like that," the transfer from the College of San Mateo (Calif.) said. "Going back to the basics."
That's not to say things will get any easier; Maka said the class will incorporate things he had learned from the three semesters of calculus now under his belt.
Short yardage
Jones was asked if No. 3 quarterback
Inoke Funaki has closed ground on No. 2
Tyler Graunke. Jones said Graunke is firmly in place as the first backup to Brennan. ... Freshman
Kiran Kepo'o was also among the players to join the team yesterday. ...
Dan Robinson, who quarterbacked UH to its miracle turnaround season in 1999, visited practice. He was here for the Warrior Quarterbacks for Charity event last night. ... Sophomore defensive end
John Fonoti called in with an injury yesterday and did not practice.
The Star-Bulletin's Brian McInnis contributed to this report
