"It was a terrible thing that happened," said Idaho coach Nick Holt, whose team plays Hawai'i on Saturday. "We think about Eric daily in our prayers."

Quarterback Michael Harrington said McMillan's death had a devastating effect on the Vandals.

"You can't explain it," Harrington said. "It's something I would hope no other football team, for that fact, no family has to go through. It's a reality of life. It happened. It was very tough for us."

Holt told the players the death was "a messed-up thing about life that happens."

He said it was difficult to tell each player: "You have to move forward and go on despite all of these tragedies. If not, you'll be trampled by the waist."

Harrington recalled: "We had to play a football game the next week, which was the last thing on everybody's mind at the time. We had to kind of bond together and say, 'Hey, guys, we can do this.' ... It happened and we had to get through it together."

Defensive end Brandon Kania described McMillan as an "upbeat guy, a nice kid, a hard worker, never really talking bad about anyone. He tried to see the best in everyone."

Harrington admired how McMillan overcame a "rough background. He was starting over, getting his new shot, going to college for free, playing football, doing what he loved. You never imagine this happening to a guy like that."

Kania said the Vandals pay tribute by wearing a helmet decal, "EM-7" — McMillan's initials and jersey number.

Fa'avi may be out for rest of regular season

UH might be without center Derek Fa'avi for the remaining three regular-season games.

UH coach June Jones said Fa'avi "is probably out for the year" because of a deep bruise on his right knee. On Monday, Fa'avi had said he hoped to return this season.

The immediate replacement, right guard Uriah Moenoa, is expected to skip Saturday's game because of knee and hamstring injuries. Without Fa'avi or Moenoa, UH will turn to backup guard Phil Kauffman or left guard Samson Satele. If Satele plays center, his cousin, Hercules Satele, will fill in at left guard.

Line coach Mike Cavanaugh said Fa'avi is "leader of the offensive line. He makes all of the calls. He gets the guys in the right position. He kind of keeps the group together. It's obviously a big loss if he's out."

Cavanaugh said that Fa'avi, at 6 feet and 270 pounds, "probably wouldn't have started at a lot of other schools."

"He's done a tremendous job for us," Cavanaugh said. "He's under-sized and under-appreciated. With what we do, he knows how to make our calls. And he's smart. You only have to tell him something once."

UH also is poised for another change in the starting defensive lineup. Cornerback Abraham Elimimian's streak of 32 consecutive starts over three seasons is expected to end because of his strained right hamstring.

Elimimian, a fifth-year senior, pulled himself from last week's 70-14 loss to Fresno State because his sore leg made it difficult to chase down ballcarriers.

"You can't play if you can't run," Jones said.

Jones said Turmarian Moreland, Ray Bass and Keao Monteilh will rotate at left cornerback.

Moreland, a transfer from Los Angeles Valley College, said he has fully recovered from a groin injury. "I finally feel healthy," he said.

Of the possibility of making his first NCAA start, Moreland said, "I have to be prepared, whether I start or not."

Moreland shows his toughness daily, carrying around a SpongeBob backpack. "Some of the guys tease me about it," he said. "My niece back home (in West Palm Beach, Fla.) likes SpongeBob. I wear it to remember her."

Monteilh, a freshman from Saint Louis School, moved from cornerback to safety last month after the position was depleted by injuries. Monteilh said he welcomes the opportunity to brush up on his cornerback skills.

"I've played corner my whole life," he said. "I'm OK over there."

Jones said middle linebacker Ikaika Curnan (sprained right ankle), weakside linebacker Tanuvasa Moe (strained hamstring) and backup defensive end Nkeruwem "Tony" Akpan (subluxed left shoulder) will not play this week. Curnan and Moe traveled to Fresno last week but did not play.

Weakside linebacker Brad Kalilimoku and strongside linebacker C.J. Allen-Jones were in the opening lineup last week. Both are freshmen.

Jones said Kalilimoku "played very hard and made a lot of plays," and Allen-Jones "did a lot of good things. He can run and make some things happen."

Running back Stickler back to practicing

Running back Ryan Stickler, who suffered an injury to his right shoulder on the season-opening kickoff, practiced yesterday.

Stickler, a third-year sophomore, was told his chances were slim of earning a medical hardship for this season. He redshirted in 2002.

Stickler said he was told he might be ready for the Dec. 4 season finale against Michigan State.

"My dad's coming down for that game," he said. "I decided, if I can go (against Michigan State), that would be great. If I can't, maybe I'll shoot for a medical redshirt."

During yesterday's practice, Stickler worked with the offensive scout team. "I tried to block with my left shoulder as much as possible," he said.

Freshman Pearman laments lost chance

Freshman Andrew Pearman said it was "disappointing" that a hamstring injury sabotaged his plans to serve as the deep-threat receiver this season. He suffered the injury in training camp, and by the time he recovered, he was behind Britton Komine, Ross Dickerson and Rene Melson at right wideout.

After that, Pearman turned down the chance to remain at wideout, instead opting to practice at running back.

"Coach Jones left it up to me," Pearman said. "I came to college to play running back. That's what I've always wanted to do."

Pearman, who can run 100 meters in 10.3 seconds, said the daily workouts have dropped his weight to 170 pounds.

He said he has improved his strength through the weight-training program, and hopes to report to spring practice weighing 185 pounds.