By Jason Kaneshiro

Notes from Greg McMackin’s press conference today addressing last Saturday’s 31-21 loss at Nevada and this week’s game against Utah State:
>> Richard Torres has an appointment to see a doctor today for his pulled hamstring. McMackin said the hamstring was tight entering the game and the staff took him off of special teams duty. But it tightened up in the first quarter. His loss forced the defense out of a package designed to contain the option.
>> McMackin hopes cornerback Jeramy Bryant will be available this week. Bryant didn’t make the trip to Nevada due a biceps injury. McMackin was pleased with the play of freshmen Lewis Walker and Kawika Ornellas in the secondary.
>> On running back Alex Green: “We know he’s an outstanding running back and had a real good game. We’ve been waiting for him to be able to block also and he’s at that point now.”
>> On Jovonte Taylor’s 109-yard game: “It’s good to have that speed on the field. Obviously when we lost Rodney (Bradley) that hurt, but it was good to see him come along because we need playmakers and he made a big play for us and helped us.”
>> On costly mistakes: “I think the guys were mentally ready to play and they were focused and together. And it comes back to making those little mistakes. We got a high snap and a 7-yard punt when we were trying to back them up. We make some of those young, inexperienced mistakes and we just have to keep coaching and working.”
>> On Utah State quarterback Diondre Borel: “Even though they didn’t win a lot of games last year, we knew he was a guy that was really good and he played really good against us (in Utah State’s 30-14 win). He’s a guy that can run and throw the football, probably throws the ball a little better than Colin (Kaepernick) does.”

By Jason Kaneshiro

RENO, Nev. >> The Warriors warmed up for Saturday’s game by practicing at Bishop Manogue Catholic High School with temperatures in the high 40s to low 50s. The weather is expected to warm up tomorrow and Saturday. The team will hold its walkthrough at Mackay Stadium tomorrow afternoon.

>> Freshman quarterback Cayman Shutter made the trip as an emergency backup to Bryant Moniz, Shane Austin and Brent Rausch. The plan remains to redshirt him. Shutter made some nice throws working with the scout team today.

>> The UH cross country and volleyball teams will also compete here on Saturday. The WAC cross country championships will be held in the morning, the volleyball team plays Nevada that night with the football game in between.

By Jason Kaneshiro

Notes from Wednesday’s practice before heading to Reno:

Bryant Moniz took the first-team snaps at quarterback at this morning’s practice and head coach Greg McMackin said he will be the starter going into Saturday’s game at Nevada.
Moniz said he hasn’t felt any effects of a mild concussion suffered against Boise State. “No headaches, no problems, felt normal,” he said.
Shane Austin was second in the rotation, followed by Brent Rausch.
>> Cornerback Jeramy Bryant will not make the trip due to a biceps injury. Bryant said his status is week-to-week. Kawika Ornellas took most of the reps with the first unit in his place, though Rich Miano said the starting assignment has yet to be determined.
>> Much of the team showed up in full pads with heavier contact than usual in turnover drills. “It’s always fun to get out there and lets the pads fly and get the hits out,” defensive back Lewis Walker said.

By Jason Kaneshiro

UH quarterback Bryant Moniz said he’ll be ready for Saturday’s game at Nevada. Moniz didn’t participate in a light practice for the Warriors’ offense this afternoon, but said he expects to be back in practice by Wednesday.
Shane Austin took over at quarterback after Moniz left Saturday’s game against Boise State with a concussion and took most of the snaps today.
Brent Rausch was cleared to play in his comeback from a broken finger and took a few reps today.

By Jason Kaneshiro

Greg McMackin was asked about the Warriors’ depth chart at quarterback during his press conference this morning.
“Right now it’s Shane Austin and … it’s Shane Austin,” McMackin said.

With the availability of Bryant Moniz and Brent Rausch for Saturday’s game at Nevada contingent on medical evaluations today, Austin began the week as Hawaii’s top quarterback.
McMackin said Moniz would retain his starting spot if he’s medically cleared after suffering a concussion in Saturday’s loss to Boise State. Rausch would be third, again if he receives clearance, since he hasn’t practiced since breaking a bone in his throwing hand  in early September.

Austin completed 22 of 36 passes for 174 yards and a touchdown and threw three interceptions against Boise State after Moniz left the game in the first quarter.
McMackin said Inoke Funaki will take repetitions at quarterback as well. Funaki, a quarterback turned running back this season, had been the emergency quarterback since Greg Alexander’s season-ending knee injury, but hadn’t taken many snaps in practice.
“He’s going to be a guy that comes in if we have any more problems,” McMackin said.
The Warriors have a walk-through practice scheduled for his afternoon.
>> UH’s imbalance in turnovers will result in some live hitting this week to work on securing the ball on offense and creating takeaways on defense. UH lost three fumbles last Saturday.
“It’s something we do in preseason, but we can’t fumble the ball like that,” McMackin said. “We’ve got to work together to get that solved and we’ve got to do that this week because it’s a disease.”

By Jason Kaneshiro

Jon Medeiros is expected to get his first start at slotback against Boise State on Saturday. The spot opened up when Kealoha Pilares moved to outside receiver this week. Pilares looks to have the inside track at starting while Joe Avery is getting a look on both sides of the formation.

Medeiros turned in one of the big plays of today’s practice, snagging a 22-yard touchdown pass from Shane Austin to cap a 2-minute drill.

>> Austin, backup to Bryant Moniz,  looked sharp in completing five of 8 throws, including the touchdown.

>> Liko Satele, who began the season at right defensive end, will rotate with Elliott Purcell on the left side of the line.
>> Right guard Raphael Ieru returned to the lineup this morning after resting an injury the last two days.

By Jason Kaneshiro

Notes from Wednesday’s practice:
>> UH-Manoa chancellor Virginia Hinshaw visited practice and gave the team a pep talk.
>> Defensive tackle Chris Leatigaga was back in pads and taking a few reps in his return to practice. The senior had been out since injuring his knee during a practice at Aloha Stadium in August.
>> Sila Lefiti, normally the backup center, has been filling in for Raphael Ieru at right guard. Ieru, who is working through an ankle injury, is expected to be back in practice tomorrow.
>> Kealoha Pilares continues to practice at wide receiver.
>> Catch(es) of the day: Miah Ostrowski made a tough over-the-shoulder catch of deep pass from Shane Austin. Greg Salas later outjumped a defender to come down with a throw down the left sideline. Lewis Walker sparked the defense by breaking on a pass over the middle and coming up with the interception.

By Jason Kaneshiro

The Warriors returned to practice this morning with a few faces in new roles:
>> Jake Heun, a defensive end two weeks ago, worked with the first defense at middle linebacker.
>> Kealoha Pilares ran routes at wide receiver, backing up Joe Avery, who took most of the repetitions in place of injured Rodney Bradley. The move gave Jon Medeiros more time with the first unit at slotback.
>> Brent Rausch took part in passing drills for the first time since breaking a bone in his throwing hand during a practice in Seattle close to six weeks ago. Rausch said he felt good throwing the ball, but still won’t be cleared to play this week.
>> Offensive tackle Laupepa Letuli is expected to miss this week’s game, his fourth straight, along with defensive tackle Vaughn Meatoga and wide receiver Royce Pollard.

By Jason Kaneshiro

A few notes from Greg McMackin’s weekly press conference today:
>> McMackin opened by congratulating Dave Shoji on earning his 1,000th victory over the weekend. “I could go on and on about him. All I’ll say is I think he’s the greatest and I like being around him because he’s a winner and he’s just a class act. He’s really great for the University of Hawaii.”
>> Defensive tackle Vaughn Meatoga will be out another two or three weeks. Receiver Royce Pollard will also miss another game due to a stress fracture in his leg.
>> Rodney Bradley returns to Hawaii tomorrow and will be on crutches for four months. McMackin said Idaho coach Robb Akey visited Bradley in the hospital.
>> Greg Salas will remain at slotback. Joe Avery, Mike Tinoco and Craig Bell were mentioned as possibilities to step in for Bradley at wide receiver.

>> Red zone efficiency and third-down defense remain sore spots.
“We really focused on red zone last week on both sides of the ball and we need to focus more. And we really focused on third down, especially defensively. Offensively, we’re doing really well on third down.”

By Jason Kaneshiro

Tomorrow’s game brings Greg McMackin and Chris Tormey back to the school where they first began working together. McMackin was Idaho’s defensive coordinator from 1976-78, and coached Tormey, then an All-Big Sky linebacker for the Vandals.

Tormey’s first full-time assistant job came at Idaho in 1982 and he later served as head coach from 1995 to 1999. He led the Vandals to their lone bowl berth, an appearance in the 1998 Humanitarian Bowl, and is a member of the Vandal Athletics Hall of Fame.

“It’s obviously a big game for both teams, so the preparation for the game takes the forefront. But I’d be lying if I didn’t say I didn’t have some nostalgia coming back to Moscow,” Tormey said.

>> The Warriors held their walk-through at the Kibbie Dome this afternoon. Punter Alex Dunnachie hit a scoreboard hanging over the field during warmups.