You have to appreciate that University of Hawai'i quarterback Greg Alexander isn't afraid to tuck the ball under his arm, lower his shoulder pads and run. And not just for the nearest soft landing spot, either.

We admire what — and who — he's willing to take on to get a first down, especially since some of his predecessors in the position considered such action beyond their job description.

But, really, 16 carries by a UH quarterback?

Is there a running back inside the tight end-like 6-foot-3, 230-pound frame yearning to run free? Because, that's how many times Alexander toted the ball in the Warriors' 25-20 season-opening victory over Central Arkansas Friday night.

If it seemed like a lot it was because it was four more times than the rest of his teammates combined. Not even a UH running back has carried the ball with such frequency since Nate Ilaoa three seasons ago.

And it had been 167 games since a UH quarterback had lugged the thing that often. The last one being Johnny Macon in 1998. Macon, however, ran the option. Alexander operates, or so it has been advertised, a passing offense.

It isn't like UH doesn't have the people to do the heavy running, either. This year the Warriors actually seem blessed with running backs. In addition to Leon Wright-Jackson and Jayson Rego, junior college transfers Alex Green and Chizzy Dimude show considerable promise.

Yet whether by the breakdown in protection, coverage of his receivers or difficulty in reading all the progressions — and, at times it seemed some of each Friday — Alexander was hoofing it plenty in the opener.

Even if you subtract the four sacks, which for statistical purposes are assigned as rushing attempts, that's 12 carries. Still a bunch for a UH quarterback, which is why it should serve as a warning.

It is something UH was supposed to have moved past with the coming of the 2009 season. That the Warriors were able to get away with and, at times even prosper, was largely because it was against a Football Championship Subdivision (formerly known as Division I-AA) member in UCA.

But from here on out they might not want to make a habit of it for a couple of reasons. For one, exposing your quarterback to that kind of bullseye targeting is asking for problems, not to mention a new quarterback, even if he is sliding more. For another, it can take away from getting the passing game into a rhythm.

The Warriors figure to go as far as Alexander can lead them this year. But that's mostly with his arm and head, not his feet.