GameDay: Hawaii vs Eastern Illinois

Stephen Tsai's gameday preview highlights the fact the Warriors have been fairly loose in practice this week.

On Thursday, the scout players — led by assistant coach Jeff Reinebold — renamed themselves the "Banditos," and declared a goal of making miserable the life of the starting players.

During a kickoff drill, Reinebold announced the Banditos were going after wideout Malcolm Lane, a former scout, who practiced with the first-string offense this week. After a nice return, and the Banditos closing in, Lane scooted toward the sidelines.

I hope Malcolm Lane gets to play today!

Dave Reardon's gameday preview talks about UH being wary of EIU.

When asked about the Panthers' defense, senior receiver Ross Dickerson said what a smart veteran player says regardless who the opponent is.

"Eastern Illinois is athletic. Real athletic," Dickerson said. "They look good on film. It's going to be a challenge, but we're looking forward to it."

Dickerson and the other upperclassmen might even truly believe it. They were around for that 35-28 loss to Florida Atlantic in 2004.

Oh God, what a horrible loss that was. I called it a scrimmage before the game! Well, I don't think this UH team will be overlooking EIU at all.

And Stephen Tsai writes about UH's bulletin board strategy that Dennis McKnight stole from Bama.

UPDATE: Here's Dave Reardon's other, more comprehensive gameday preview.

The ankle sprain to slotback Ryan Grice-Mullins caused a shuffle that will probably have Ian Sample starting at wideout replacing Ross Dickerson, who will either start in Grice-Mullins' spot or play a lot there in rotation with Aaron Bain. True freshman Malcolm Lane may also get some plays on the outside.

"I think he can play. He can go," UH receivers coach Ron Lee said of Lane.

Go Malcolm, go!

UPDATE 2: Here's a preview from the Eastern Illinois perspective.

Of course, an upset win could do wonders for the Panthers and perhaps lead to a I-AA at-large playoff berth in case they stumble and fail to win the OVC’s automatic berth.

Against a Hawaii team that stands 1-2 despite ranking second in NCAA I-A in passing offense and fourth in total offense, Eastern is not ruling out the possibility of beating a team that so far has lost to Alabama and the nation’s 22nd-ranked Boise State.

Right!

From yesterday's articles:

Dave Reardon writes about EIU, as well as the linebacker situation for Hawaii.

Freshman Brashton Satele has taken a lot of the first-team reps, but not necessarily the starting job from sophomore C.J. Allen-Jones, Glanville said. The coaches are leaning toward Satele, but the starter will be a game-day decision.

"We're looking at Brashton," outside linebackers coach George Lumpkin said.

Glanville said Amani Purcell, a former defensive end, is beginning to grasp the finer points of the position.

"All of them will play. (No.) 54 (Purcell) had a great day in practice today, maybe his best."

Waiting for Amani Purcell to have a monster game.

Stephen Tsai writes about C.J. Hawthorne, who will be starting at corner against Eastern Illinois. He also has an update on Ryan Keomaka.

McKnight encouraged Keomaka to write a letter of apology to Jones. The athletic department's academic officers also sent a letter confirming the mix-up.

"I told him to wise up and quit looking for an easy way out," McKnight said. "It's a privilege to be able to play. It's not a rite of passage because you can run 4.4 or you're 6-5, 300. What they should do every year for the first team meeting is bring back guys like Matt Wright, Jonathan Kauka, La'anui Correa, Joe Correia. Have them talk about what it's like to not be able to play anymore, and then hopefully it sinks in."

Another reason coach McKnight is a great coach!

And finally Kalani Simpson writes a great profile on Karl Noa and his emergence in the 3-4 defense. He also has an idea for a children's book.

On the first day of camp, Glanville said this: "You just never know. Until they play for you, you never really know what you have. Everything. If everybody was as good as you thought they were going to be there would be nobody playing second team."

Well, Noa would. But not now. He got in the game. Turns out he does have a position after all. Mad Stork.

Good column that praises former Warrior Kila Kamakawiwo'ole as well.