VIDEO: UH football team practices under lights of Aloha Stadium for first time

Midway through last night's 2-hour practice, the Warriors' defensive leader — middle linebacker Brashton Satele — walked onto the FieldTurf.

A day earlier in Los Angeles, Satele underwent season-ending shoulder surgery. Satele arrived in town last night. But instead of heading to his Mililani home, he opted to attend the Warriors' practice.

"I wanted to see the coaches, see my brother (defensive end Liko Satele), see the guys," Satele said. "I'm glad to be back home. And I'm glad to be here to watch them."

It was a quick turnaround for Satele, who arrived in Los Angeles Tuesday morning. The 2-hour surgery involved two procedures to his left shoulder: mending the chip fracture in the rotator cuff and repairing the torn labrum. Satele said Israel Kamakawiwa'ole music played on the operating-room speakers before the surgery.

"It made me feel like I was at home," he said.

Satele's appearance at Aloha Stadium brightened what had turned into a gloomy practice after Chris Leatigaga, a senior defensive tackle, suffered a severe knee injury.

Leatigaga was hurt during a one-on-one drill. His left knee buckled, and he fell to the turf in a dazed heap. Leatigaga was face down for about 10 minutes while trainers tried to offer medical assistance.

Later, Leatigaga was carried into a van, and taken to the hospital for an MRI.

"It was really disappointing," head coach Greg McMackin said. "We have to see how it turns out. I hope everything is OK. ... It was a freak thing. Nobody went down low. He sort of jammed his knee. It wasn't like anybody was going on his knees. I pray he's OK."

As a sophomore at Foothill College in 2006, Leatigaga was named as a junior college All-America defensive lineman. There are 72 community college football teams in California, and being named to the All-California team is regarded as earning All-America status.

But Leatigaga redshirted in 2007 after suffering a torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee. Ineffective play kept him on the scout team last season.

But Leatigaga, who is 6 feet 4, reported to spring practice in improved shape. He weighed 260 when he signed with the Warriors in February 2007. But after the knee injury, he ballooned to 305 pounds. He now weighs 290.

Leatigaga worked his way into the playing rotation in spring training. On the recently revised depth chart, he is listed as a No. 2 defensive left tackle.

The Warriors usually conduct morning practices on their grass practice field or at Cooke/Ching field. But McMackin wanted a night workout at the stadium to acclimate the newcomers and test the communication system.

There were referees to monitor the passing drills. The Warriors did not scrimmage, and tackling was prohibited.

"We got to do a lot of things," McMackin said. "And we really got into our kicking game."

Alex Dunnachie, a freshman from Australia, launched several towering punts.

Dunnachie warmed up by booting punts, from 25 yards away, over a 50-foot-high netting behind the North end zone goal posts.

"That's what I used to do at practices to work on my hang time," Dunnachie said. "I used to stand under a large pole or a tree, and try to kick it over. That's a pretty good hurdle for me to practice."

Left wideout Rodney Bradley, who transferred from Navarro Junior College (Texas) in January, noted that Aloha Stadium's worn-down turf provided fast traction.

"It really did," Bradley said. "It was good to be out here. We have to get used to it before we start playing."

Freshman linebacker George Daily-Lyles was making his debut at Aloha Stadium.

"I really wanted to scrimmage," he said, "but it didn't happen. I'll wait for next time."

The Warriors met at the UH athletic complex, where they could hear the marching band rehearse.

They traveled in three buses to the stadium. They had a meeting in the locker room before walking onto the field for the practice.

"The school had the band going, and you come out here, and you've got the lights," quarterback Greg Alexander said. "You definitely get that vibe. It felt good. I'm getting excited. I'm definitely getting ready for game time."

Slotback Kealoha Pilares said: "We're one week away. We're getting anxious. That's why it felt great to get out here."

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