Review, Injuries, Funaki, Etc.

Here's last night's Chawan-pilation of news from KGMB, KITV and KHNL. They have quotes from Greg McMackin, Adam Leonard, John Estes and Mike Washington.



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Dave Reardon reviews five key plays from the UH vs Boise State game in his Warrior Replay.

The Star-Bulletin has some potentially good news regarding the injuries UH suffered in the game.

While several players -- running back Kealoha Pilares, cornerback Ryan Mouton, safety Erik Robinson, defensive lineman Keala Watson and newly reinstated Francis Maka -- suffered myriad injuries in the game, all appeared to be reasonably healthy to Warriors offensive coordinator Ron Lee before and after the trip home.

"Everybody was walking, nobody really down," Lee said. "Monday, they'll see our trainers and our doctors, we'll get a better read then. I saw Keala walking, I saw Pilares walking."

Ron Lee also expresses his confidence in Inoke Funaki.

Lee said the Warriors are supportive of Funaki, who will remain as the No. 1 quarterback for Saturday's game against Nevada.

Lee said Funaki has the best grasp of the Warriors' version of the run-in-shoot offense, which employs more rushing plays than in past seasons.

"No question, he's further along in what we're trying to do," Lee said. "We evaluate everything (the quarterbacks) do in practice. It's not just what they did in games last year. It's what they do in practice. Funaki is the guy who does the best in practice, or else we'd go with somebody else."

Dave Reardon writes about the Warriors' second half-woes this season.

UH has been outscored 109-55 after halftime of its seven games, and 57-16 against four WAC foes.

In the last five games, it's been 81-16 after the marching band yields. The Warriors failed to score AT ALL in the second half of three games, including 17-0 on Friday.

First half numbers? UH has outscored its WAC opponents 64-33 in the first two quarters (overall it's a 99-78 deficit).

He also has some thoughts on why this is, and a possible way it can be fixed.

Jason Kaneshiro has some season stats, a review of the BSU game, and a look ahead to this week's showdown with Nevada.

"Nevada's a good team, and after last year's game I'm sure they'll be motivated to play us," Hawaii linebacker Solomon Elimimian said in reference to one of the signature moments in the Warriors' Sugar Bowl run.

With six games left, Hawaii will need to go at least 4-2 over the remainder of the schedule to qualify for the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl. That task starts with Nevada, which entered the week as the WAC's highest scoring offense, on Saturday at Aloha Stadium.

"We're going to be a little bummed about this," receiver Greg Salas said, "but we have the 48-hour rule, and once that's up we have to go back to work."

And Ferd Lewis writes how the WAC should be hoping the Warriors go bowling.

UH in the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl — the only bowl it has a shot at this year — is worth an approximately $800,000 swing to the nine schools that make up the WAC. With UH in its backyard bowl, the WAC picks up a $400,000 check from the bowl's owner, ESPN Regional TV, and doesn't have to shell out for airfare. No small consideration these days.

But without the hometown Warriors, there is no $400,000 guarantee and the WAC digs deep for the travel expenses, meaning a passing of the hat at year's end in a conference already feeling the financial jitters.