Black Friday

Hope all your Black Friday shopping excursions are successful. UH-Navy game tomorrow. Getting butterflies already. Or perhaps that's just Thanksgiving indigestion. In any case, today I will be watching the Boise State-Nevada game with great interest.

Jason Kaneshiro writes that Bryant Moniz did well in yesterday's practice.

Bryant Moniz's performance throughout the morning solidified his return to the starting lineup.

The Hawaii quarterback's last throw of yesterday's practice just confirmed the decision.

Facing a fourth and 9 during a 2-minute drill, Moniz drilled a throw deep down the middle that hit receiver Kealoha Pilares in stride for a touchdown.

"That ball's where it's supposed to be. He made a great throw in a tough situation, no hesitation and showed he's pretty much ready," UH quarterbacks coach Nick Rolovich said.

Warriors head coach Greg McMackin was convinced as well.

"He'll be our starter," McMackin said after the Warriors' final full practice before taking on Navy (8-3) tomorrow at Aloha Stadium.

Kaneshiro profiles Fetaiagogo Fonoti.

For all of the ground Fetaiagogo Fonoti has covered over the past five years, it's the few remaining steps that hold his attention.

"Time's running out and I still have a lot to do," Fonoti said as Hawaii approaches its pivotal final homestand.

Stephen Tsai writes that defensive end Elliott Purcell will have an important role in tomorrow's game.

But now Purcell is relatively healthy, and his run-stopping ability is needed against Navy's triple-option attack. The Midshipmen are third nationally in rushing (282.55 yards per game), and they run 89 percent of the time.

"Elliott has shown himself to be a real effective run defender," defensive line coach Dave Aranda said of the 6-foot-3, 255-pound junior. "The weeks we've asked him to play the run, he's done well for us. I think this will be a big week for him."

Tsai also talks to former UH QB and current Navy offensive coordinator Ivin Jasper.

Dave Reardon profiles Jasper.

Niumatalolo's ascent to the Navy helm is well documented. Jasper is the less-publicized wingman, but has also played a crucial role in the Midshipmen's success of the past two seasons and prior, when Niumatalolo held Jasper's current job. Navy is always at the top or close to it in rushing yardage, and Jasper's expertise and ability to teach is one of the biggest reasons.

"I think he's the best option quarterback coach in the country," Niumatalolo says. "He was my No. 1 recruit."

Bill Wagner of HometownAnnapolis.com profiles former Navy defensive coordinator Greg McMackin.

Although his stay was short, McMackin enjoyed his time in Annapolis. "I absolutely loved it there. The town is beautiful and the academy is an incredible place. Of course, the players were very special people. I still get phone calls and e-mails from some of them," said McMackin, who particularly recalled linebacker Javier Zuluaga and defensive tackle Bob Kuberski.

Ferd Lewis talks to Navy's dangerous and ambitious QB, Ricky Dobbs.

Sometime this season, and perhaps as soon as tomorrow night against the University of Hawai'i, Navy's Ricky Dobbs will power his way into the end zone and tie, then break, the NCAA record for single-season rushing touchdowns by a quarterback.

But he has much loftier, longer range ambitions than just hitting No. 24 to surpass Tim Tebow.

"I want to be president in 2040," Dobbs said with a focused, straight-ahead look and affirmative nod that brook no incredulity.

And finally, I hope no one is dropping the ball regarding Brashton Satele's petition for a medical hardship.

Here's the dilemma: Satele is set to earn his bachelor's degree next month. UH has not even started the process of pursuing an exemption that would allow him to play as a sixth-year senior.

If he has a strong case, he needs to enroll as a graduate student for the spring semester. If not, it would benefit UH if he ceded his scholarship, allowing the team to give it to a mid-year transfer. While many believe he has a strong case, his family hasn't received any indication either way.