"It was like playing on the rough side of Velcro," UH quarterback Tim Chang said. "When you fall or slide on it, it really takes off chunks of your skin. I had a chunk of my skin taken off."

During yesterday's practice, Chang's left calf was covered with medical tape.

Against Rice, receiver Ian Sample suffered a leg scrape that was the size of a five-inch strip of masking tape. He left practice yesterday when the wound reopened, despite it being covered with medical tape.

Starting right wideout Britton Komine said he believed the hard surface contributed to a strained left calf that forced him from the game. He wore a protective boot yesterday.

Starting linebacker Tanuvasa Moe said he suffered a hyper-extended left elbow when he landed on the turf. He did not practice yesterday.

"It was a hard surface, that's for sure," UH coach June Jones said.

As for the number of scrapes, Jones added, "we had a ton of them. Some of them are really ugly. Ian Sample's is really bad. Hopefully, we can keep him from getting infected."

AstroTurf-12 is similar to the surface used at Aloha Stadium through 2002. A layer of padding is placed between the turf and concrete base. At the urging of Jones and the National Football League, which stages its Pro Bowl in Hawai'i, Aloha Stadium switched to FieldTurf, which features blade-like artificial "grass" and a base made of rubber granules.

"I can see why coach Jones and the other players and the NFL wanted the FieldTurf," Chang said. "It gives a little when you fall on it. You wouldn't end up with these big scars and big strawberries on your legs and knees and arms. That turf (at Rice Stadium) is unforgiving when your skin comes into contact with it."

BRITTON KOMINE

Komine said he expects to be available for the Oct. 2 game against Tulsa. The Warriors have a bye this weekend.

"My leg just got tight," Komine said. "Some guys were telling me their calves were tight. They think it's because (Rice's) turf doesn't have a lot of give."

Line's focus now centers on Moenoa

Center Derek Faavi, who missed the Warriors' final two series of the Rice game because of a sprained right foot, yesterday wore a protective boot. Jones is hopeful Faavi will play against Tulsa.

During yesterday's practice, right guard Uriah Moenoa was at center, right tackle Brandon Eaton moved to right guard and Jeremy Inferrera played right tackle.

With Faavi's short-term availability in question, Moenoa said, "I'm preparing as if I'm the starting center."

As a freshman in 2001, Moenoa started 12 games at right tackle. He practiced at center during the 2002 spring practice in the anticipation of making a permanent switch. Instead, left tackle Lui Fuata moved to center for the 2002 season. After Fuata suffered a late-season knee injury, Faavi ascended to the job.

"It's been a while, and I have to get back into it," said Moenoa, a fifth-year senior. "I'm so used to seeing (only) the right side of the field. Seeing both sides at one time, I'm not getting the (blocking) calls quick enough. That's what I have to work on. I have to study it and make it second nature again."

Roloviches lose their grandmother

Quarterback Jack Rolovich yesterday rejoined the team. The grandmother of Jack and his brother, Nick, a student manager and former UH quarterback, died this past weekend in California.

"We paid our last respects to her. She would want us to do our hardest over here and to give 100 percent. She's up there looking out for us."

Freshman tackle Laeli lost for season

Defensive tackle Fale Laeli, a freshman from Saint Louis School, will miss this season after undergoing surgery on his left shoulder. He also is scheduled to undergo surgery on his injured right shoulder, a procedure that likely will keep him from competing in spring practice.

Laeli said he experienced discomfort in his shoulders in high school, but during UH's training camp, "they gave me problems."

Jones said starting middle linebacker Ikaika Curnan, who continued playing after suffering a hyper-extended left elbow in the first half of the Rice game, should be available to play against Tulsa.

Starting defensive left tackle Lui Fuga yesterday did not practice after aggravating a sprained right knee. He said he suffered the injury when he was chop-blocked by a Rice lineman.

"They chopped me really bad," he said. "They blind-sided me. I aggravated it. I need some time to heal."

Daniel Murray, a special teams player, wore an arm sling yesterday.