In college all-star football games such as the Cornerstone Bancard Hula Bowl, practice time is precious.

There is little time to waste when you have nearly 100 players split into two teams and only a couple of days to get them on the same page.

The Kai (West) team actually headed out the North end zone tunnel and walked through some plays in the Aloha Stadium parking lot while the 'Aina (East) team finished up practice. It wasn't too bad Tuesday, but the following day things seemed a bit odd as Swap Meet patrons looked on in curiosity.

UNLV coach Mike Sanford will handle the offense for the Kai in today's game, while Oregon State coach Mike Riley will run the defense.

"I'd say we're trying to do a combination of things: make it simple, but also, like they say, have enough bullets in your gun so you have something to shoot with. There's a balancing act there," Sanford said. "You only have three-and-a-half days of practice so you've got to do a combination of keeping it simple, but have enough so you can hopefully score some points."

The Hula Bowl, in its 62nd year, will kickoff today at 1 p.m. at Aloha Stadium. The game will be televised live on the VERSUS network (Ch. 47/Dig. 210).

Boston College's Jeff Jagodzinski will lead the 'Aina offense, and Illinois' Ron Zook will coach the defense.

"To have the opportunity to be around these exceptional players; it's fun when you put them all together from different schools," said Zook, who led the Fighting Illini to a 9-4 record and berth in the Rose Bowl this season.

Zook coached in the 1998 NFL Pro Bowl as part of Bill Cowher's Pittsburgh Steelers staff.

"Obviously, it is a privilege, it's an honor to be able to come over to this beautiful island," Zook said. "Obviously, there is a lot of tradition here and a beautiful stadium. I was fortunate to be able to coach here in the Pro Bowl. It was a great experience."

Many of the players should be game-ready after competing in bowl games this season. Of the 32 bowls, 11 were played since the New Year started.

"It's interesting because we have quite a few guys who played in bowl games and that's great about the timing of this game because we have a lot of guys who played recently," Sanford said. "But there are some who haven't played for a while and that's difficult."

One of the players with much to gain from today's game is Hawai'i receiver C.J. Hawthorne, who switched from defensive back prior to this season.

"Me going back to receiver is where I'm most comfortable and at my best," said Hawthorne, one of nine Warriors on the Kai team.

For all the players, how they perform this week will affect their futures in football.

"I love the attitude of these guys," Sanford said. "It's a great opportunity for them. They want to prove what they can do for the NFL scouts. At least one scout from every team in the NFL is here and that's a real plus. They can show what they can do in practice and obviously show what they can do on game day."

KAHEAKU-ENHADA GETS PRAISE FROM TEAMMATE

Navy slotback Reggie Campbell has been impressed with Kapolei High alum Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada, a junior quarterback for the Midshipmen this season.

"He did a great job," said Campbell, a member of the 'Aina squad. "Kaipo is one of those players who always maintains his composure. Especially during pressure situations, he always led the team to victory when he could."

One of those times was Nov. 3, when Navy ended a 43-game losing streak to Notre Dame with a 46-44, three-overtime victory in South Bend, Ind.

In the third overtime, Kaheaku-Enhada hit Campbell on a 25-yard touchdown pass and the two hooked up on the two-point conversion to put Navy up 46-38.

Notre Dame answered with a touchdown, but was stuffed on the two-point conversion attempt.

At the time, Paul Johnson, a former University of Hawai'i offensive coordinator, was Navy's head coach. He has since left to take over at Georgia Tech. Radford High alum, and former UH quarterback and assistant Ken Niumatalolo is now the Midshipmen's head coach.

"(Johnson) opened up a lot of windows of opportunities for the whole team. He did a great job leading up to coach Niumatalolo," Campbell said.

CAVANAUGH COACHING SOME UH PLAYERS AGAIN

Oregon State offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh is back and he's coaching two of his former players in Hawai'i's Hercules Satele and Larry Sauafea in the Hula Bowl.

"We had a chance to talk a lot and it's pretty special to be coaching their last game in Hawai'i," Cavanaugh said.

Cavanaugh was the Warriors offensive line coach from 1999 to 2004.

"It's awesome. I miss everybody," he said. "I've been having a lot of fun visiting with people and it's great to be back to eat the food, too."

When asked which foods he missed the most, Cavanaugh said, "Everything!"

Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com.