LB Soares eager to hit somebody

Blaze Soares ran sprints back and forth at the Hawaii practice field, like a hungry, caged animal.

No team reps for the sophomore linebacker yet, but he said he's ready.

Soares pulled a hamstring during fall camp and re-aggravated it before the season opener three weeks ago. The projected starter at strongside has yet to see game time this year. He hopes to against Charleston Southern on Saturday.

"I think (playing against a I-AA opponent) is perfect for me, it'll let me get all my rust (off)," Soares said. "I can get back into the mode. I might have plenty mistakes but it's going to be a good game to build on for me.

"That's my goal, to play Saturday. I've got a lot of football stored up in me."

Soares said missing the two-game, 12-day road trip might turn out to be the best thing for him.

"To me, I felt good being away from the team because I could focus on my injury. I think I healed it, no pressure. I healed it fast," Soares said. "Massages, chiropractor. Everything. You name it.

"I had faith in my boys. No doubt in my mind. When they left, they were so focused. LaTech was a squeezer, but I had no doubt."

Soares said the hamstring did not tighten up at all during his running yesterday, and he hoped to practice in team drills today.

Bess and Dooley

Louisiana Tech coach Derek Dooley said he did not swear at UH receiver Davone Bess on the Bulldogs sideline during the Sept. 8 game at Ruston, La.

LaTech sports information director Malcolm Butler said yesterday he spoke with Dooley about the incident last week.

"He said the play ended and a Bulldogs player and Davone were jawing at each other, and he said to both players, 'Just shut up and go play football.' He said there was no swearing involved," Butler said in a phone interview yesterday.

Bess insisted again today that Dooley swore at him.

"He used some language that was very unnecessary and I felt disrespected," Bess said. "It's something you definitely don't expect from a head coach. I'm not trying to make him look bad, I just hope he doesn't do it again to somebody else."

In another incident in Saturday's game against Cal, Dooley slapped LaTech offensive lineman Ben Harris across his helmet. Dooley said he later apologized to Harris.

D-lineman joins team

Tuika Tufaga, a 6-foot-3, 285-pound defensive lineman, has joined the Warriors.

Tufaga is a 2002 Kahuku graduate who was headed to Utah but ended up at New Mexico Highlands. After two years there, he went on a mission in Atlanta.

He said he will redshirt this year.

E-Rob cleared

Junior safety Erik Robinson practiced yesterday. He said he's over the disappointment of missing the first three games of the season due to an eligibility question since cleared up. Robinson, who is from Dallas, was to have had family and friends see him at the LaTech game and at Houston, where the team practiced for a week before last Saturday's game at UNLV.

"It was kind of hard, because I knew I could contribute to the team, help them out a little bit," Robinson said. "It was hard watching, especially the LaTech game."

Rivers rests

Jason Rivers sat out with a stiff back yesterday. The Warriors' leading receiver (eight catches per game) said it's possible he won't play Saturday.

"I'm day-to-day," said Rivers, who had more than 100 yards receiving in each of the first two games. "If it's my choice nothing would keep me out of the game, but it's Coach's choice.