"We have no complaints," Hill said.

He described the direct flight from Sacramento as "good, very smooth."

Of the cross winds at Aloha Stadium, where the Bulldogs practiced for two hours yesterday, he said, "Very nice." Indeed, the conditions were better than last week, according to stadium officials, who noted the on-field temperatures had reached 140 degrees for the "American Idol" auditions.

Hill declined to complain about his team's health. Last week, offensive tackle Matt Stevenson, the team's most experienced blocker, suffered a sprained knee on the Bulldogs' third offensive play. He was the third projected starter lost to injury on the offensive line.

But Hill said Chris Denman, who will start at right tackle this week, "got a whole game under his belt."

Hill said he is confident quarterback Paul Pinegar, who is making his first start of the season, has recovered from a torn right pectoral muscle on his throwing side. Pinegar, who was sidelined for seven weeks, entered in the second quarter of last week's 34-10 loss to Colorado State.

Pinegar, who was last year's Western Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year, has worked exclusively with the first team this week. In a rapid-fire drill, he has increased his passes-per-repetition from three to five.

"He's making a lot more throws this week," Hill said. "He had seven weeks off. Last week was his first time out there in a long time. This will be his second. Hopefully, we'll make some strides with him this week."

He added: "We're going to be ready. We're not making any excuses."

• Two of a kind: Hill and UH coach June Jones insist they are the best of friends.

"He's a close friend as a coach," Jones said. "If he comes to Hawai'i, he calls. When I'm in Fresno, I call him."

Hill said he vacations regularly in Hawai'i. During each visit, Jones said, "We go out and have a beer."

Last April, Jones invited Hill to attend one of the Warriors' spring practices.

After the overtime loss to UH in 1999, Hill and Jones did not shake hands on the field. Hill said the on-field celebration — UH clinched a share of the WAC title with the victory — was too chaotic. Instead, Hill went to the UH locker room, where he congratulated Jones.

"We have respect for each other," Hill said.

Hill also said he became friends with UH strong safety Hyrum Peters at the WAC Media Preview in Boise in July.

"What a great kid," Hill said. "We talked a lot. I spent an hour walking with him, trying to get a soda. What a class kid."

• Health report: UH middle linebacker Chad Kalilimoku, who did not compete in contact drills Tuesday and Wednesday, practiced with the first team yesterday. Kalilimoku suffered bruised ribs in last week's 27-16 loss to Tulsa.

Because of Watson Ho'ohuli's season-ending knee injury, weakside linebacker Lincoln Manutai is Kalilimoku's immediate understudy. Reserve strongside linebacker Chad Kapanui also has worked out at middle linebacker.