Hawai'i went from 0-12 in Fred vonAppen's last season as head coach to 9-4 under June Jones in 1999. In 2000, the Warriors fell to 3-9 — the only losing season in Jones' first five years at UH.

Before hiring Gary Nord in 2000, Texas-El Paso had not had a winning season since 1988. In Nord's first season, the Miners won a share of their only WAC regular-season title. But after the Miners went 6-30 during the next three seasons, Nord was unemployed.

Tulsa coach Steve Kragthorpe, whose team plays UH on Saturday at Aloha Stadium, hopes to avoid the sophomore jinx.

Kragthorpe relinquished his job as the Buffalo Bills' quarterbacks coach to take control of a Tulsa team that was 1-11 in 2002. Using an offense featuring two tight ends and an aggressive defense, the Hurricane finished tied for second with a 6-2 WAC record in 2003.

But the Hurricane opened this season with three non-conference losses before Saturday's 49-7 rout of Division I-AA Southwest Missouri State.

Kragthorpe acknowledged "it's a challenge every week in the WAC."

He said his returning players' experience in his system will help as he tries to implement new plays "to continue to give ourselves a competitive advantage."

Although the sophomore slump could be traced to opponents becoming more familiar with a coach's style or a reverse in home-and-home scheduling — UH's road opponents were 11-22 in 1999 and 25-18 in 2000 — Jones dismissed talk of a jinx.

"Football is tough, man," Jones said. "It's tough to win games, and it's tough to win close games. Every year you win your close games, you feel good."

Jones defends lack of full-contact practices

During his weekly news conference yesterday, Jones offered a told-ya-so argument to his belief in not conducting full-contact practices.

Jones said freshman quarterback Tyler Graunke (broken left collarbone) and running back Bryan Maneafaiga (shoulder separation) were injured during last Friday's 40-play controlled scrimmage featuring redshirts and reserves.

Graunke, who was scheduled to redshirt, was hurt on the first snap. He went on to compete in nine more plays. "It tells you how tough he is," Jones said.

Maneafaiga, who won't play this week, was listed on the depth chart behind starting running back Michael Brewster and senior West Keli'ikipi. But with Keli'ikipi, who has not fully recovered from knee surgery, limited to a situational role, and senior Michael Bass seeking a medical hardship, the Warriors are scrambling for an extra blocking back. Chris Cole, who is recovering from a sprained ankle, and Kala Latuselu are the top candidates.

Ailing linebackers compete in practice

Starting linebackers Ikaika Curnan and Tanuvasa Moe, each suffering from a hyper-extended left elbow, competed in practice yesterday.

Curnan, who has partially torn ligaments in his left elbow, wore a heavy brace.

"It feels like a knee brace," he said. "It's pretty bulky."

Curnan, the middle linebacker, said his rehabilitation program includes light weight training and ice treatments.

"There's a little pain, but a little pain is all right, as long as it's not broken," Curnan said.

Moe, who is aligned on the weak side, also said he experiences some pain. "But once you get on the field, you don't really feel anything," he said. "I'm ready to go."

Middle linebacker Watson Ho'ohuli and weakside linebacker Lincoln Manutai are the immediate backups.

Jones said he is not "optimistic" Fa'avi will be available to start against Tulsa. Asked about his status, Fa'avi said, "I don't know yet. It still hurts."

Right guard Uriah Moenoa has filled in at center. If Moenoa plays center, right tackle Brandon Eaton or Phil Kauffman will open at right guard. If Eaton moves to guard, Jeremy Inferrera will start at right tackle.

Moenoa competed in practice yesterday, but was excused from running sprints because of a "tweaked" left knee.

"Distance running makes it hurt," he said. Then again, he noted, "offensive linemen work in the 10- to 20-yard radius, anyway. We don't need to run far."

Sample could receive more playing time

Ian Sample, the top backup to starting left wideout Jason Rivers, is pushing for more playing time.

Against Rice, Sample caught four passes. His yards-after-catch average was 4.8 yards. Yesterday, he worked with the first team during several passing drills.

"The more I do, the more comfortable I get," said Sample, who redshirted last season after transferring from Bergen Community College in New Jersey.

From sliding on Rice Stadium's AstroTurf-12 surface, Sample suffered a flesh wound on his left leg the size of five inches of masking tape. He wears an elastic medical bandage during practices.

"It's still really nasty and pink, but it's getting better," he said.