Training Camp Day 11 Wrap-Ups

Jason Kaneshiro profiles starting QB Brent Rausch.

Rausch credited Funaki, who is in his third year in the program, for helping him adapt to the Warriors' run-and-shoot system over the summer.

"I can read (the playbook), but Inoke told me, 'The read's going to be there, or the read's going to here,' " Rausch said. "He taught me this offense."

Rausch continued to display his improved comfort in the scheme yesterday in a 7-on-7 red zone drill and in threading several passes downfield in the team period.

Stephen Tsai writes about Rausch as well as pool day.

Rausch also earned good-teammate points with his successful jump off the 10-meter board.

All of the first-year Warriors made it, although some went at their own pace.

Cornerback Jameel Dowling, who does not know how to swim, wore orange flotation bracelets.

"It was crazy," Dowling said. "I was scared when I looked down, but I got it done."

Slotback Dustin Blount took three running starts before coming to screeching halts. But on the third attempt, "I was trying to stop, but I built up too much momentum," Blount said.

Kaneshiro has more about pool day, and some injury news.

Among those who sat out yesterday were defensive end David Veikune and backup Elliott Purcell, who had his arm in a sling after suffering an elbow injury on Thursday.

Purcell began camp as the backup to John Fonoti, who has been sidelined by a hamstring injury.

Brian McInnis highlights Kealoha Pilares' success moving from running back to slot.

A big part of Pilares' success at his new position is not allowing himself to think he's prepared in body or mind, despite going hard every week since the spring.

"No, not yet, just every day I'm trying to come out here and focus, get better, trying to learn from all the coaches," Pilares said. "Just watching videos, there's stuff that we can improve on. Coach Ron (Lee, the offensive coordinator) is stressing the little points now, just come out here and strive for perfection."

Through persistence, he's getting there.

"He has handled it really well," graduate assistant and receivers coach Craig Stutzmann said. "I tell you what, he's going to get just as much playing time as the ones, as long as he gets his plays down right and he gets the fine-tuning."

And Ferd Lewis writes that there's another threat to delay the installment of Cooke/Ching Field.

A protest over the bidding process might push back long-sought repairs to the University of Hawai'i artificial turf track infield and its use for Warrior football practices and other activities.

On Wednesday, RMY Construction was ruled the low bidder at $862,381, UH officials said. But later that day, UH-Manoa spokesman Gregg Takayama said a protest was filed by the second-lowest bidder.

The complaining bidder was not identified. Takayama did not disclose the basis for the protest.

"Under state rules, this puts a 'freeze' on any further action or construction work pending resolution of the protest," Takayama said. "UH procurement and UH-Manoa officials are in discussions with (school) legal counsel of this matter."

Awesome.