HOUSTON — Yesterday was the sixth day — the hump day — of an 11-day road trip, and the Hawai'i football players had found the routine of practices, meetings, study halls and meals to be, oh, so, routine.

"You've got to make things interesting," safety Jacob Patek said.

Sequestered two time zones from Las Vegas, site of Saturday's game against UNLV, and under the watch of security director Manny Rezentes, the Warriors had to find amusement in limited time and spaces.

And that was why safety Viliami Nauahi was aiming a mango-shaped decorative piece at a propped-up menu 25 feet away in the hotel's third-floor lobby.

"Nothing to it," said Nauahi, who rolled a strike.

Several yards to the side, cornerbacks Ryan Mouton and Myron Newberry were playing one-on-one basketball — without a ball. Newberry backed his way into the imaginary lane, then turned around and swished a jumper. But a basket is in the eye of the beholder, and Mouton argued that Newberry's imaginary shot was nowhere near the imaginary basket.

"Un ... be ... lieveable," said cornerback Gerard Lewis, who served as referee. "You're really arguing about nothing."

The Warriors had a piano-playing contest, with eight taking turns. Linebacker Adam Leonard, who did not rehearse, was surprisingly good. But head coach June Jones, serving as Simon and Paula, declared student manager Kyle Kamau as the winner. Kamau's father, Keoki, was an NFL trainer, and his grandfather, George, was a Pro Bowl trainer.

The piano competition paled to the contest in which offensive linemen were asked to give their best impersonation of left tackle Keith AhSoon.

AhSoon waves his arms wildly when he flashes the sign for a particular offensive formation.

"They always make fun of me," AhSoon said. "They said I look like a gorilla when I make the calls."

Center John Estes said: "When you see him doing it on film it's pretty funny, especially from the end-zone camera. The defense is probably like, 'What's wrong with him?' He just does weird stuff because ... well, I don't know why. It looks funny on film because we rewind it, play it in slow-motion, rewind it. It's pretty hilarious."

Offensive line coach Dennis McKnight could not pick a winner.

"Nothing is as good at the original," right guard Larry Sauafea said.

AhSoon said: "Whatever makes the team happy, I'm good with it."

Jones added: "We do things differently on this team."

The day's highlight was the distribution of Texas-styled beef jerky. Patek's parents, Gay and Gary, picked up several packages of sticks in a store between Houston and Victoria, Texas. The jerky is wrapped in paper, as if it were deli meat.

"It's a great place," said Patek, who was raised in Victoria. "When we were kids, we used to always stop there. We used to get sausage wraps — sausage and barbecue sauce wrapped in bread — and jerky, all kinds of meat."

Each of the defensive backs receives the jerky. Patek also worked out a trade agreement with slotback Ryan Grice-Mullins, whose mother sends pre-cooked meals.

"The first time I tasted some of (the jerky) was in (Patek's) dorm room," safety Keao Monteilh said. "It was on his counter. I took a piece. I asked for more, and he gave me more. Everyone loves it."

Lewis, who was raise in Houston, said: "There's something special about Texas beef jerky. It's tough and spicy — just like players from Texas."

LAELI LOOMS LARGE

The way defensive tackle Fale Laeli played in a 45-44 victory over Louisiana Tech, he might need a larger helmet.

Players earn special decals based on performance-based scoring system.

"I'm not so sure Fale wasn't the most consistent player," defensive coordinator Greg McMackin said.

Laeli, a fourth-year junior from Saint Louis School, played sparingly in previous seasons because of injuries. He currently is suffering from tendinitis in his left knee.

While evaluating the defensive personnel during the offseason, McMackin, who was hired in April, noticed that Laeli kept making plays.

"What I saw was a powerful athlete," McMackin said. "He reminds me of (All-Pro defensive tackle) Warren Sapp. He's got quickness. He's really a good athlete. Plus, he's 300 pounds."

McMackin said Laeli has the skill to play tight end or linebacker.

"He's just a good player," McMackin said. "He beats the heck out of the guys up front."

Against Louisiana Tech, Laeli faced center Lon Roberts and 6-foot-6, 325-pound right guard Bill Jones. Laeli said the key was to make a move at the snap.

"The right guard and the center were big guys, but they were heavy," Laeli said. "Most of the time they weren't quick."

In the trenches, leverage is important. "They tried to block us low, but one of the guys was 6-6, and he looked uncomfortable," Laeli said.

Laeli said he also received a boost from an electrical stimulation machine that uses shocks to numb sore areas. He used the machine when the defense was on the sideline.

"It really helped," Laeli said.

FONOTI FLIES FAST

No wonder defensive end John Fonoti is used as a speed rusher.

Fonoti was told Monday morning he would be added to the Warriors' travel roster. He was on an airplane that night, and he arrived at the hotel in Houston before 1 p.m. yesterday.

Although he missed the morning practice, he attended the meetings and, more important, the study hall.

Fonoti was supposed to be on the 64-player roster for last Saturday's game against Louisiana Tech. But he was told he needed to finish incomplete school work. Fonoti said he finished the work last week Wednesday, the day the Warriors left for the Mainland.

"I tried to make it," Fonoti said. "But that's in the past now."

Because there are no roster limits for non-conference games, Fonoti was summoned to join the team in preparing for the UNLV game.

"He's one of our best players," Jones said. "We need him."

Fonoti said he had difficulty sleeping on the plane because of the cramped seat.

"I'm tired, big time," Fonoti said. "I have to thank coach Jones for bringing me out here."

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.