What's more, freshman running back Andrew Pearman told the coaches there is a possibility he will return to the East Coast at the end of the season.

"He's homesick," Jones said of Pearman, a 2004 graduate of Providence High in Charlotte, N.C. "He's been homesick for about a month and a half, two months."

Jones said Pearman has not announced a final decision "to me. He has to make his own decision. Obviously, I encourage all of them to play through their difficulties."

In the end, Jones said, "it's his decision. There's nothing you can do."

Pearman is considered to be the jewel of UH's 2004 recruiting class. In 14 games as a Providence High senior last year, Pearman rushed for 2,268 yards, breaking the Charlotte-Mecklenburg County record, and scored 37 touchdowns.

He is one of the Warriors' fastest players, sprinting 100 meters in 10.3 seconds and 40 yards in 4.3 seconds.

With two seniors sharing UH's lone running back position, Pearman worked out at right wideout during training camp. But he suffered a pulled hamstring, dropping to No. 4 on the depth chart. He is practicing at running back while redshirting this season.

Hogan, who played in seven of nine games this season, received the Captain's Award as the Warriors' best special teams player for 2003. He served as the gunner, the player assigned to initially cover the returner on kickoffs and punts. Hogan, a fourth-year junior from Houston has 16 tackles, including 14 solo.

Hogan was not on the travel roster for last week's game against Fresno State.

Hollingsworth, also a fourth-year junior, was a reserve cornerback. He started against Texas-El Paso, and has one interception.

Kirschner, a freshman from Sherman Oaks, Calif., was redshirting this season.

Kafentzis may replace ailing safety Broadway

Safety Lamar Broadway did not practice yesterday because of a groin injury.

For now, Landon Kafentzis is expected to replace Broadway as the right safety in tomorrow's game against Idaho.

Strongside linebacker C.J. Allen-Jones resumed practicing yesterday after missing Wednesday's workouts because of a bruised shoulder. If healthy, Allen-Jones, a freshman, will start his third consecutive game.

The other strongside linebacker, Chad Kapanui, did not practice yesterday because of a pulled muscle. His availability has not been determined.

Reserve defensive end Nkeruwem "Tony" Akpan, who is suffering from a subluxed left shoulder, practiced yesterday but is expected to be held out tomorrow.

Offensive lineman Uriah Moenoa, who has hamstring and knee injuries, also will not play. He did not respond to an injection of painkillers.

So, for those keeping score, eight players who started the season opener will not play because of injuries.

"I've coached here for six years and, by far, this is the most injuries we've had overall," assistant coach Rich Miano said. "You can't make excuses for that. Everybody has nicks and bruises this time of year. We had two byes early and now we're playing straight through. Some guys have hamstring injuries, some guys have groin injuries. We have to make sure they're injured and not just having a boo-boo. It just happens there are a lot of guys hurt right now."

Idaho QB picks older brother's brain for tips

And how was your day?

Idaho quarterback Michael Harrington remembered his older brother coming home and announcing to the family: "I'm going to have a billboard in Times Square."

The $250,000 advertisement was part of the Heisman Trophy campaign for Oregon quarterback Joey Harrington in 2001.

He didn't win, but his experiences at Oregon and as the Detroit Lions' No. 1 draft pick in 2002 have been helpful in chats between the brothers.

"It's a good resource, talking football, being able to have a guy who's gone through just about everything," Michael said. "He's had his highs at Oregon, his lows at Detroit, just as far as the win-loss columns. He's got a lot of good stuff to help me get through things."

In 2002, when Michael was a freshman and Joey was an NFL rookie, their teams ran the West Coast Offense.

"It was nice to be able to talk football with the exact terms," said Michael, adding they talk "a couple of times a week."

Michael said Idaho was the only Division I-A school to offer him an immediate scholarship. Oregon invited him to walk-on, and a few other schools asked him to delay enrolling for a semester.

"That wasn't what I wanted to do," he said.

At Idaho, there was an opportunity to be mentored by quarterback John Welsh in 2001, and to earn the starting job by his sophomore season.

"Everything offensively was there," he said.

He started five games last season and, after a coaching change during the offseason, all 11 games this season, throwing for 2,026 yards and 10 touchdowns.