WARRIORS NOTEBOOK
Moenoa guarantees he'll practice today

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Uriah Moenoa, the University of Hawai'i football team's most experienced offensive lineman, yesterday did not practice for the third consecutive day.

Moenoa, who is suffering from a bruised right Achilles tendon, wore a protective medical boot yesterday. Moenoa insisted he will be ready for Saturday's season opener against Appalachian State, and "guaranteed" he will resume practicing today.

"I really should have practiced (yesterday), but the trainers felt otherwise," said Moenoa, a fourth-year junior from Iolani School. "I guess that's how it goes."

Moenoa, who moved from right tackle in spring practice, has started 26 consecutive games, the longest active streak on the team.

Quarterback Jason Whieldon, who will start in place of suspended Tim Chang, described Moenoa as "a leader to the other guys" on the offensive line.

"If he can't go, the other guys have been working hard, and they can step in," Whieldon said.

Phil Kauffman, a fourth-year junior from Saint Louis School, has practiced with the first team this week.

Meanwhile, right cornerback Abraham Elimimian, who did not compete in three practices because of a strained right calf, returned to the lineup yesterday.

Who's the masked man?: Whieldon has been diagnosed with a "lazy" right eye, necessitating him to wear a protective plastic face shield on his helmet.

Whieldon said he has 20-20 vision in both eyes, and is not required to wear glasses or contact lens to correct the problem in his right eye.

"The doctor thinks (the shield) helps, so I wear it," he said.

National exposure: UH coach June Jones said the Nov. 29 game between UH and Alabama will be shown nationally on either ESPN or ESPN2.

The game was not listed on ESPN's initial schedule, although UH always anticipated it would be picked up. UH did not include that game on its pay-per-view package shown live on Oceanic Cable.

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8051.