Peters improving, but likely will miss 2 games

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Despite receiving encouraging results from yesterday's medical tests, University of Hawai'i football player Leonard Peters still will miss at least the first two games of the season.

Last week, Peters, a redshirt freshman strong safety, suffered tears to his spleen and kidney. Yesterday, a CAT scan showed improvement to both organs, and that there was no internal bleeding, said Dr. Andrew Nichols, the team's physician.

But Nichols said Peters will not be able to participate in contact drills for another month. Nichols said Peters is allowed to run and lift light weights.

The Warriors open the season against Eastern Illinois Aug. 31, then play at Brigham Young six days later. There is a bye after the BYU game.

• Changing of the guards: With starting left guard Shayne Kajioka recovering from a concussion and Phil Kauffman nursing a sore leg, Chad Kahale has earned playing time with the first team.

"It feels good to be part of things," said Kahale, a third-year sophomore from St. Louis School.

Kahale's battle of the bulge probably hindered his progress. "I put on too much weight," said Kahale, who is listed at 325 pounds. "For me, it's pretty hard. We eat three times a day. We have the training table, with the all-you-can-eat buffet. It's pretty tempting. It's almost a sin to eat all of that, especially for me."

Even during training camp, when the team practices twice a day, Kahale manages to find time to work out daily at his uncle's private gym in Kuli'ou'ou. "I have to try to keep an edge," he said.

Kahale, who has earned the reputation as the team's jokester, said he turns serious during practices and games. "Everything I hate or anything that disturbs me I put onto the field," he said. "After the game, I let it go. You can't take anything personally."

• No ifs, ands or Butts: Doubts about Sean Butts' transition to safety were answered after he leveled running back Thero Mitchell during a controlled scrimmage yesterday.

"He kind of hesitated," Butts recalled. "Sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn't."

Said Mitchell: "Sean pushed me over, I'll say that."

Both players have excelled during training camp. Butts, who entered UH as a wideout, has won the starting job at free safety.

Playing defense "requires a lot of discipline," Butt said, "but I've always been pretty disciplined, in school and in my studies. I've always liked to play offense, but right now, I'm pretty much of a defensive guy."

Mitchell, who was used on short-yardage situations last season, has secured the running back job. Because UH's offense does not employ a tight end, a running back's ability to block is essential. Mitchell has emerged as one of the team's best blockers.

"It's not an easy technique to learn," he said. "You have to work on your hand punch and footwork. Blocking is not something I've always been able to do. It's an acquired technique, but I think I'm getting better at it."

• Health report: Backup center Derek Faavi remains sidelined with an injured right shoulder.

The medical report lists defensive end Travis Laboy with injuries to his left wrist, hamstring and right big toe.