"It still hurts," Fa'avi said, "but it's slowly healing."

UH coach June Jones said Fa'avi will be available in an "emergency situation."

UH line coach Mike Cavanaugh said Moenoa should not have a difficult move from right guard. During the 2002 spring practice, Moenoa worked out exclusively as a center.

"That was a whole spring— 15 practices," Cavanaugh said. The move is "not as big a deal because he practiced there and because he's smart. He's a football player."

But the switch, so to speak, is not a snap. The center is responsible for making the initial blocking calls, identifying the alignment of the defensive front and detecting potential blitzers. While snapping, he also has to make an initial one-handed block. Further complicating Moenoa's role, Tulsa uses a nose guard positioned directly in front of the center or across from one of the shoulder pads.

"It takes a while to get used to it," Moenoa said.

Thomas Frazier, who portrays Tulsa's nose guard during workouts, poses a rough practice test. While the right-handed Moenoa shot-gun snaps the football to the quarterback, Frazier will slap at Moenoa's left arm, hoping to induce Moenoa to lose his balance.

"I'm working on him," Frazier said. "I figure the Tulsa guys won't be friendly, either."

Moenoa said: "Frazier is giving me a good look. He's coming off (the line of scrimmage) hard. He's helping me a lot."

Moenoa admittedly struggled with his shot-gun snaps earlier in the week.

"He's OK now," quarterback Tim Chang said.

"I feel my snaps are getting better," Moenoa said. "The quarterbacks aren't complaining as much, anymore. There have been one or two that have been errant. That's not too bad, is it?"

Eaton continues move across offensive line

Known as "The Big Friendly," offensive lineman Brandon Eaton remains upbeat as he prepares for another position change when he starts at right guard against Tulsa. He was the starting right tackle in the Warriors' first two games.

In four years at UH, Eaton has been used in this order: right tackle, right guard, left guard, left tackle, left guard and right tackle.

"I'm happy as long as I can help out," Eaton said.

Eaton recently has been flashing a brighter-than-usual smile. During UH's road trip to Houston to play Rice, Eaton was fitted for a mouthpiece made of white gold that covers the top row of teeth.

He said he is saving for gold caps for his bottom teeth. "I'll be good to go in about three weeks," he said.

Mills experienced highs, lows at Tulsa

Tulsa tight end Garrett Mills has experienced football's extremes.

In three seasons as a starter, Jenks (Okla.) High went 40-1 and won three Class 6-A state titles. During his senior season in 2001, Jenks finished No. 2 in the USA Today national rankings.

"In that community, kids look up to the high school players," he said. "A lot of kids in other towns want to be pro football stars. Kids in that community are hoping to play high school football. (The Jenks coaches) always stress to 'watch your actions because kids are looking up to you.'"

During Mills' freshman season in 2002, Tulsa lost its first seven games, extending its losing streak to 17. The Hurricane was 8-4 last season under first-year coach Steve Kragthorpe.

Although he could have transferred after Keith Burns was fired as head coach in 2002, Mills said, "I didn't feel it was the right thing to do, to walk away from the situation. I wanted to give whatever coach was coming here a shot. I love it here."

In deciding to play this season, Mills turned down an opportunity to go on a two-year mission for the Mormon Church.

"I wasn't ready to do that yet," he said. "I wanted to stick around a little longer. ... I'm leaving that option (of going on a mission) open. Whenever I'm done (with school), I'll see where I'm at and see if that's something I still want to do."