Sports Notebook Star-Bulletin staff

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Coaches will name starting QB soon

Although it's still relatively early in fall camp, the first round of decision-making in Hawaii's quarterback competition is drawing near.

Inoke Funaki: Most experienced quarterback in camp

Head coach Greg McMackin began camp with a plan of trimming the three-man race to two about a week and a half into practices, with the front-runners getting more repetitions as the Warriors look to determine who will get the first shot under center.

"We're going to make a decision later this week. We've got to move on at the quarterback position," McMackin said yesterday. "Wednesday, Thursday we're going to make a decision, if not sooner.

"I think it's very competitive. We're on it daily. Evaluating every snap, want to make the right decision. ... The quarterback position is a leadership role. We've got people fighting for the role. That's an important reason we need to make the decision."

Inoke Funaki is the most experienced of the trio of contenders. Newcomers Greg Alexander and Brent Rausch, who had one of his best days of camp yesterday with several impressive throws, are also in the mix.

"The next couple practices will be big," UH offensive coordinator Ron Lee said. "Every practice is big, but we have to eventually make decisions. It's still tight.

"That's the thing, one guy has a good day, now we have to get it consistently. But they're coming. The practices are getting faster, the tempo is more game-like and that's what we need."

A week into camp, Funaki said the film sessions have taught the QBs to "take what the defense gives you."

"Coach Ron and Coach Rolo have been making emphasis not to get greedy, just take what they give you because that will start to open everything else up," he said. "Sometimes we're anticipating a certain throw, and you can't do that, especially in this offense."

Senior Tyler Graunke hasn't been a part of camp while he attends to an academic issue.

Sudden surprise

The coaches threw two "sudden-change" conditioning drills at the team for the first time in camp. The period is signaled by the air horn sounding three times, at which point practice stops and the offense and defense line up for a series of sprints.

There had been one sudden change per practice through the first week of camp.

"I wasn't expecting that one at all," Funaki said.

"Those are both hard," McMackin said. "You saw the big guys running at the end? They're running like a mother."

Warriors check out K-1

Some of the team spent Saturday night checking out the K-1 kickboxing fights at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Senior Keith AhSoon, sitting with teammates John Estes and Keoni Steinhoff, went to see Deutsch Puu, the brother of a high-school teammate, compete in an eight-man tournament. His first-round opponent was Gokhan Saki, who wound up winning the tournament.

"I'm like aw man (Puu) is going to kick his (butt)," AhSoon said. "But right when (Saki) came out with those leg kicks and combos, I was like no way, that guy is fast. Speed kills."

Kickboxing isn't something AhSoon sees in his future.

"Not me man," he laughed. "I use stones to throw at people. I don't fight."

Junior Aaron Kia had better things to do on a Saturday night.

"I wanted to (watch), but I ended up just sleeping the whole time."

LaCount to sit out

Offensive lineman Kainoa LaCount will sit out this season and plans to enroll at UH for the spring semester. LaCount, a heralded offensive line prospect, returned home on Sunday and said he'll finish his associate's degree at College of the Canyons with online courses this fall and is looking to play in 2009.

Short yardage

The Warriors concentrated on special teams in yesterday's afternoon session. Ryan Mouton and Malcolm Lane were first up as kick returners, followed by Kealoha Pilares and Mike Washington. ... Tomorrow's practice is scheduled to be the team's first in full pads.