Game Week: Utah State - Tuesday News

Stephen Tsai has three great mini-profiles on Greg Alexander, Malcolm Lane and Solomon Elimimian, along with an injury update on Kealoha Pilares.

McMackin said there is a possibility running back/slotback Kealoha Pilares will be available to play against Utah State Saturday. More likely, Pilares will need another week to recover from a sprained right foot.

Jason Kaneshiro talks to Alexander and Lane, and also has injury updates on Pilares and Josh Leonard.

Dave Reardon has some notes from yesterday's press conference.

McMackin reiterated that there will be a platoon quarterback situation, and that Ryan Mouton will be a two-way player, at slotback and nickel on defense. He lauded the special teams, and once again said that punter Tim Grasso is “probably our MVP.”Adam Leonard, who played with a broken finger, will be OK, and so will Josh Leonard, who rolled an ankle late in the game.

Reardon also highlights the play of the special teams.

The words "K.O. Unit" are emblazoned on the custom T-shirts worn by the Hawaii kick coverage team.

"A double meaning," kicker Dan Kelly says. "Kickoff, and knockout."

We can't call UH's special teams consistent yet (it was just a week ago that coach Greg McMackin labeled the kickoff return a "suicide mission").

But they were spectacular in Saturday's win against Nevada, and after a horrific start they're a major reason UH has won three of its last four games. Don't forget Kelly's game-winning field goal and Ryan Mouton's kickoff return for a touchdown at Fresno State.

Ferd Lewis remembers Levi Stanley's dominance on the football field in the early 70s.

Folks in the Diamond Head end zone rallied around the one they called "the people's choice," wearing "Levi's Kanaka Army" T-shirts — that many proudly hold on to today — and cheering his tackles. Which meant that they were a busy lot because Stanley made 366 tackles.

That he accumulated them from the defensive tackle position hints at just how remarkable a force the 6-foot-2, 250-pounder from Wai'anae could be.

And HawaiiAthletics.com has details of James Bolte's $2.195 million gift to Na Koa.

The gift, which was presented at halftime to the Na Koa Football Club during the UH Homecoming football game against Louisiana Tech on October 11, will be utilized for football facility renovations or to build a new football facility. The Charitable Remainder Trust donation will also be used to provide student scholarships for members of the football team at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa. Charitable Remainder Trusts are irrevocable gifts established for charitable purposes where the donor receives an income stream for life, and the charity receives the remainder value when the trust ends.