Warriors' Moenoa joins fall practice

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Offensive lineman Uriah Moenoa began practicing yesterday after missing the first nine days of the University of Hawai'i's football training camp because of a strained left knee.

"There's nothing like putting a helmet on and (hitting) again," said UH senior guard Uriah Moenoa, who worked on his blocking yesterday. Associated Press

Moenoa declined to detail specifics about the injury, saying, "It's sore. Just call it a 'sore knee.' C'mon, we can't put out everything. It's a secret. I don't want to give the advantage to other teams."

Moenoa is trying to lose weight — he dropped 40 pounds since May and now carries 335 on his 6-foot-3 frame — and regain his starting job at right guard. Phil Kauffman, also a fifth-year senior, has played on the first team in training camp.

"Phil has done a good job," said Mike Cavanaugh, who coaches the offensive linemen. "He's had a great camp. Uriah is a little rusty, but he'll get back into gear."

While rehabilitating his left knee, Moenoa worked out on a treadmill and in the weight room. "I think I lost a little more weight," he said.

During yesterday's morning practice, he appeared to run without difficulty.

"It's good to be back," he said. "There's nothing like putting a helmet on and popping again. It's illegal to hit people when you're not in a football uniform. Now, everything is legal again."

Moenoa has started at right tackle or right guard in 39 of the Warriors' 40 games in the past three seasons. He played in last season's opener, but did not start.

Moenoa has a chance to surpass kicker Jason Elam's UH record of 52 career games if he remains injury free and the Warriors qualify for the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl following the 12-game regular season.

Defensive tackle Tautofi makes grade

Two seasons after playing his last football game, defensive tackle Darrell Tautofi is prepared to compete for the Warriors this season.

"Everything is good," he said, noting the past spring "was one of my best semesters academically."

The 2000 Kaimuki High graduate played two seasons at Dixie State College in Utah. He signed a national letter of intent with UH in February 2002. But accumulated credits — not grades — kept him from the football field for the next two seasons.

Tautofi worked on completing work for an associate degree in 2002 (a requirement for an incoming junior-college transfer). During last year's training camp, he learned he needed to earn more credits to meet the NCAA's eligibility requirements for a senior.

"I got it all done," he said. "I passed all of my classes."

Tautofi, who is 6 feet 2 and 270 pounds, is practicing at defensive tackle and defensive end. "I'm getting back into it," said Tautofi, who is on scholarship.

Slotback Welch nursing sore back

Slotback Gerald Welch did not practice yesterday because of a sore back. He said he "tweaked" it during a recent practice, then aggravated the injury by sleeping on a rollaway bed during the Warriors' week-long stay in the UH dance studios. The players moved to the dormitories and off-campus housing on Monday.

"Sleeping at the University Hilton," he said of the dance studios, "made my back worse."

Welch was a part-time starter at right slotback last season. This year, he moved to left slotback, playing behind Chad Owens, UH's top receiver.

Ross Dickerson, who is listed as the starting right wideout, also did not compete in contact drills yesterday. He aggravated a sprained left ankle.

Dickerson said he suffered the injury when he stepped off a curb awkwardly a few weeks ago. "I was running on the sidewalk and somebody was walking her dog, and I stepped off the sidewalk to avoid them," Dickerson said. "I twisted my ankle. It was pretty bad for a while, but not anymore."

Receiver Komine tough to replace

Senior receiver Britton Komine can't take a hint. Every season there is another challenger for his job — Owens in 2001, Nate Ilaoa in 2002, Jason Rivers last year — and Komine endures. His 15 touchdowns in the past two seasons were the most by a UH player during that period.

"He's very important to our team," UH coach June Jones said.

Komine can play all four receiver positions. In training camp, he has practiced with the first team as a left wideout, playing ahead of Rivers, who recently received academic certification to play this season. Rivers is expected to win the job, but Komine is making the decision difficult.

"He's had a really good camp," Jones said.

Komine, who is 5 feet 10, has lost 10 pounds through a low-carbohydrate diet, and now weighs 180.

"I look different," he said, "and I'm trying to play different."

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