John Estes, Mana Lolotai, R.J. Kiesel Kauhane, Rocky Savaiigaea, Etc.

I picked a fine time to be away from the computer most of the day. The Advertiser published like fifty articles about the history of UH football. Visit HawaiiWarriorBeat.com to view them all.

I also helped out Kevan from OBNUG a little bit with his WAC preview on the MidMajorMadness.com blog. Of course he repays my kindness with jokes about Hawaii. But that's okay. He shall taste bitter defeat come October 24th. Fun fact: Bitter defeat tastes like Idaho russet potatoes.

On SportsHawaii.com, Kahaluu Imua Warriors has a report from this morning's practice. Here's an excerpt:

At first I was worried on the 7 on 7 drills. Coaches Miano and Tormey were really pushing the DBs so that the O could not move the ball. And it worked but it really made me worry about the O. The DBs were playing real tight on the speedy recievers. But the O started hitting their stride. Lead by Alexander and Medeiros. Medeiros has field speed and great hands. Than Salas and Jovonte started to catch a few than others, mostly from Alexander with the D only giving a couple feet of clearing in thier coverage but Alexander got it in perfectly, fustrating the D. Same with the 11 on 11. There wasn't any long balls given up but lot of 5 to 15 yard passes. Good run by Leon and YAC by Salas. Soares was on a tear most of the day with Brown and Bryant doing well also.

Stephen Tsai has some news and notes. A couple of those notes:

• Center John Estes did not practice because of a bruised left shin. He expects to resume practicing Sunday.
• Ryan Henry is the No. 1 punt returner, and Jovonte Taylor is working as the No. 1 kickoff returner.

Jason Kaneshiro has some practice notes as well.

>> With Tank Hopkins sitting out this morning’s practice, Kawika Ornellas, a redshirt freshman from Mililani, got a look with the first team at left cornerback, rotating with Lametrius Davis. Ornellas spent much of fall camp rehabbing a knee injury and was added to the roster last week.

Tsai profiles Mana Lolotai.

"He dedicated himself to getting quicker, faster, stronger," defensive coordinator Cal Lee said.

Lolotai spent four weeks in Arizona participating in trainer Chad Ikei's intensive workout program. Lolotai was placed on a strict low-carb diet — small portions, frequent light snacks, lots of salads — and focused on footwork and speed drills.

"He came back in excellent shape," Lee said of the 6-foot, 230-pound junior.

Tsai also writes about Matagisila Lefiti and Bronson Tiwanak battling to be John Estes' backup.

And Kaneshiro takes a look at Aiea alums and UH team captains R.J. Kiesel-Kauhane and Rocky Savaiigaea.

Savaiigaea and Kiesel-Kauhane have traveled the same path since the seventh grade, making their mutual ascension with the Warriors this season all the more significant for both.

In being voted the Warriors' defensive captains, joining center John Estes, they reprise the roles they held as Aiea seniors in 2004.

"In high school we were captains together too and we had our front-row lockers. It's kind of reminiscent of the old days," Savaiigaea said. "The biggest thing is to get respect from our peers like that to vote us as captains means a lot."