The University of Hawai'i football team yesterday completed the installation of its entire four-wide offensive scheme.

Now it needs to install a starting quarterback.

There should be a decision tonight on the summer-long competition among fourth-year junior Inoke Funaki, and junior-college transfers Greg Alexander and Brent Rausch.

Nothing, the coaches insist, should be read into Alexander taking snaps with the first-team offense during yesterday's afternoon practice, or Rausch observing from the side. Funaki had been the leadoff quarterback in the first nine practices.

"Inoke was still in the weight room when Greg was out here (warming up), so I had Greg go first," quarterbacks coach Nick Rolovich said.

Rausch, who has thrown more than 1,300 passes in training camp, needed to rest his right arm.

"It's no big deal," said Rausch, who promised to be 100 percent for today's practice. "I'm giving it a rest. I threw a lot of balls."

When camp opened last week, it was decided the three quarterbacks would receive an equal number of snaps. This rotation was established: Funaki, Alexander and Rausch.

Rolovich said Funaki earned the leadoff spot because he and Tyler Graunke were co-No. 1s coming out of spring training. Graunke has been withheld from team activities while he deals with academic issues.

Alexander has two years to play two seasons. Rausch has three years to play three seasons. Noting Alexander's smaller window of eligibility, Rolovich said, "If he's going to help us, he's going to (have to) help us now."

In the first few practices, Funaki and Alexander moved ahead of Rausch.

"Maybe that first round of reps, Rausch had to go with the new receivers," Rolovich said of Rausch's early inconsistency. "That might have had something to do with it. He's coming on."

Rolovich said Rausch has forced a three-way competition. Rolovich has rated every pass of every practice. Through Tuesday, only a few points separated the leader and No. 3 quarterback.

"It's very close," head coach Greg McMackin said of the search for Colt Brennan's successor. "That's why we don't want to rush."

Of the three, Rolovich said, Rausch throws "the prettiest ball. I know Colt's (passes were) pretty, but the sidearm (motion) was always the thing. Rausch can put it on you with the tight spiral. And he's 6-4, so the thing is coming. He almost has some anger to him on the field. When people doubt him, he's angry. He's really playing well lately."

Rolovich said Funaki has a great understanding of the four-wide offense.

"Inoke has some personal qualities that make him very attractive as a leader to his teammates," Rolovich said. "He has very good decision-making (abilities). He understands (the offense). His arm is not as strong as the other two, but he's been working on it a lot."

Alexander weighed 245 pounds as a Santa Rosa Junior College sophomore last year. He has lost nearly 20 pounds, mostly since arriving in town in late May.

"Greg stands tall," Rolovich said. "He's calm. He understands the position — throwing the ball, the wind. He's fairly accurate, especially on the short stuff. We haven't thrown enough down-the-field balls to see who's going to be the most accurate on deep passes. Greg has some intangibles. He doesn't get rattled. He's here to compete and play."

Alexander said: "I want the job. I've got to compete, and I have to earn it. That's what I'm trying to do. We'll see what happens. All I can do is control what I do out here. (The coaches) will make the decision."

A decision was expected yesterday. But the final installment of the offense was added during yesterday's three-hour morning practice. The coaches decided to wait until at least after today's practice, giving the top-tier quarterbacks an extra day to adjust to the offense.

"We put in the last major piece," Rolovich said. "Hopefully, they'll see it better (today)."

MIX AND MATCH ON LINE

When the line-dance music stopped during yesterday's morning practice, center John Estes was at left guard, left guard Keith AhSoon was at center, and apprentice Ray Hisatake was at right guard.

"It is what it is," offensive line coach Brian Smith said. "You'd rather have everyone healthy. When guys go down, you have to be a little more creative."

The shuffle was triggered because of injuries to Estes (sore right shoulder), right guard Clarence Tuioti-Mariner (sore leg) and reserve guard Raphael Ieru (sore knee).

To ease the strain on Estes, he was moved to left guard. By the afternoon practice, he was back at center.

AhSoon helped out by playing center, a position he last played at Tafuna High School in American Samoa.

"I thought he did great," Smith said. "No balls on the ground, which is way ahead of some of the other guys."

Smith reiterated that AhSoon would be used at center in "emergency" situations.

"John is still our center," Smith said, and Matagisila Lefiti is the primary backup.

Hisatake, Aaron Kia and Laupepa Letuli entered training camp as the competitors for the starting left tackle's job. But after the first practice, Hisatake was moved to guard.

"Even after spring, I thought Ray might be better at guard," Smith said.

Hisatake was a defensive lineman in junior college. He was recruited to UH with the intent of moving to the offensive line. He redshirted last season.

The recent plan called for Hisatake to back up AhSoon, who moved from left tackle to left guard. But with injuries to Tuioti-Mariner and Ieru, Hisatake switched to right guard. He has been No. 1 at that position this week.

"I actually feel a lot more comfortable at guard," Hisatake said.

But in a contact sport, to be sure, little happens smoothly. Letuli, who has played well at left tackle in recent practices, was sidelined with a "tweak" yesterday.

It is not considered to be serious, but he might not be able to practice until tomorrow.

That would be a shame, considering the coaches believe Hisatake's proverbial "light" — when comprehension and athletic ability mesh — was turned on this past Saturday.

"The light did go on," Letuli said. "I hope it burns even brighter."

PROVIDING A 'SERVICE'

Dozens of Warriors were called to "service" duty yesterday.

In UH's parlance, the scout team is now known as the "service" team. The service players portray the opposing team in drills against UH's starters.

Safeties Kenny Estes and Spencer were among the players summoned to the service teams.

"It's OK," said Estes, who was squeezed out because of the deep competition at safety. "It'll make me work even harder."

McMackin said it was a difficult call, but emphasized that service players fill a need.

"It's important that each guy finds a role," McMackin said. "We talked about that. The guys on (service) teams might have a chance to start on special teams. It's all about finding a role."

McMackin said the service players will earn meaningful work. For instance, Steele Jantz will receive almost all of the snaps against the Warriors' starting defense. If he remained with the regulars, he would not have any snaps in passing drills.

"You get more reps (on service teams), and we're still watching them," McMackin said. "If you jump off the screen, you can move (up the depth chart). It's another way of getting reps."

NEWCOMERS HELD OUT

Junior-college transfers Dustin Blount and Jovonte Taylor have been withheld from practicing while UH awaits certification of their associate degrees.

Both slotbacks already have been accepted into UH.

They completed summer-school sessions at their junior colleges last week.

There is no concern about their UH eligibility, but the missed time has them behind in the competition.

Visit Tsai's blog at http://warriorbeat.honadvblogs.com.