Entering the offseason, defensive tackle Fale Laeli was at the crossroads of his University of Hawai'i football career.

"I haven't done anything yet," said Laeli, who will be a fourth-year junior this season.

Laeli chose to fight.

More precisely, he chose to train like a fighter.

He signed up for boxing lessons at Palolo Gym.

He jumped rope, worked on the speed and big bags, and sparred against the gym regulars.

He also took his workouts to the next level. "I ran hills to work on my explosion," said the 2004 Saint Louis School graduate.

Laeli and his brother ran daily in Nu'uanu, near the Pali Highway cutoff.

"There are steep hills there," Laeli said. "The training really helped."

Defensive coordinator Greg McMackin noticed the difference in Laeli, who reported to fall camp about 15 pounds lighter (he now packs 285 on his 6-foot-1 frame) and much quicker. This week, McMackin named Laeli as the No. 1 left tackle in the 4-3 base defense.

Despite a sprained left ankle, Laeli will retain the starting job when he resumes practicing today or tomorrow.

"Fale improved his endurance, and that's been a real benefit," McMackin said. "Plus, he comes off the ball quickly."

In the base defense, the two defensive tackles — Laeli and Michael Lafaele — are called "gold."

"If it weren't for them, we couldn't play our package," McMackin said. "When we're successful, it's because the tackles are making something happen."

At the snap, McMackin wants the defensive tackles to draw double teams, opening the way for the linebackers to swoop in, or storm into the gaps to make tackles.

"They're not standing up and reading," McMackin said. "They're beating their guy, and creating a second line of scrimmage. They're creating chaos. We can't run this defense without good tackles."

Jeff Reinebold, who coaches the defensive tackles, said Laeli is playing with renewed enthusiasm.

"Fale has always been extremely talented," Reinebold said. "He seems to have matured a little bit. His practice habits have been better than they've ever been."

Laeli said: "I had a wake-up call. I figure it's my junior year. I had to turn some heads."

In addition to the ankle injury, Laeli has tendinitis in his left knee and discomfort in his right knee. Last year, he was diagnosed with a sprained anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

Laeli opted to heal through rehabilitation treatments instead of surgery. He wears a brace to ease any stress on his right knee.

BRASHTON'S BIGGEST FAN

For Winnie Pestana, waking up as early as 4:30 a.m. is part of keeping a promise.

Pestana, who lives in Mililani, tries to get an early start to beat the townbound traffic and make it to the Manoa campus in time for the Warriors' 7 a.m. practices.

Pestana vowed to watch her grandson, linebacker Brashton Satele, practice as often as possible.

"She comes out to support me," Satele said. "It's always good to see her."

It's different for games. She said she prefers to watch the pay-per-view telecasts.

STAYING ON THEIR TOES

Right wideout Malcolm Lane is learning the many ways to prepare for football.

Last year, he took a tai chi class. "I didn't think it would be that hard," Lane said. "There's a lot of vigorous stuff, like standing on one leg for a long time."

The barre is raised this semester. Lane and teammates Greg Salas, Briton Forester and Spencer Smith are taking a ballet course.

"I thought it would help with my balance," Lane said. "And I wanted to take one kind-of-easy class during the season."

The four Warriors are the only male students in the class.

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