Hawai'i football player Tank Hopkins grew up in the self-proclaimed "Mineral Water City" of Marlin, a Texas town of 6,000.

"The first time I saw an ocean was when I came (to Hawai'i) on my recruiting trip," Hopkins said. "I didn't look out the window (of the plane) because I was too scared. It was my first time flying, too. Every little noise I heard, I jumped. Turbulence is crazy."

Despite his anxiety, he decided to accept a scholarship from the Warriors. Since then, Hopkins has become a frequent flyer.

It is his willingness to confront and then conquer obstacles that make Hopkins a suitable fit at cornerback.

"I always say, playing corner is like playing Russian roulette," said associate head coach Rich Miano, who coaches the UH cornerbacks. "You've either been beat or you're going to get beat. That's just a matter of time. After that, you have to have a short memory. You have to play the next down, move on."

In UH's 34-33 loss to Nevada-Las Vegas, 6-foot-3 wideout Phillip Payne out-jumped 5-9 Hopkins in the corner of the end zone to make the winning catch.

The Rebels had run that play three times to Hopkins' side. On the first, Hopkins forced Payne out of bounds. On the second, he tipped away the pass.

On the third, Hopkins had blanketed Payne. Miano said Hopkins might have been helped a little if he had turned away from Payne to look at the airborne football.

"That would have helped him in terms of jumping and getting up earlier," said Miano, who conceded, "it was a little bit of a physical mismatch."

Hopkins was admittedly dejected. After showering and dressing, he walked directly from the locker room to the bus, refusing to answer questions from reporters.

Yesterday, Hopkins said, "(Payne) just made a good play. I have to get better when it comes to my side. I have to make a play, just like he did. He got the best of me that time. I have to learn from it, and move on."

Wideout Rodney Bradley, Hopkins' roommate at Navarro Junior College and UH, said: "He was dwelling on it. After a while, you realize you can only do what you can control. He did what he could to make the play. The other dude had the advantage and made the play. That's part of being a corner. You have to bounce back. You can't make every play. That's the thing about Tank. If somebody does make a play on him, he's going to go even harder the next time to make sure it doesn't happen again."

Hopkins, who appears to have recovered from an injured hip flexor, has worked on his technique this week.

Hopkins is set to start in Wednesday's road game against Louisiana Tech. Miano said Lametrius Davis and Lewis Walker also will get significant playing time at left corner.

Of his 40 plays against UNLV, Hopkins received a "minus" grade on four.

"Unfortunately, the last play was one of them," Miano said. "That's the thing about being a corner. He was this close to being a hero. ... He's getting better in terms of consistency. We're looking for consistently good rather than occasionally great. The main thing is Tank works hard, has good effort, and is a pleasure to be around."

Well, unless you're one of his roommates.

"Tank is really goofy," Bradley said. "He walks around and tries to look serious. But when he gets comfortable with you, he's goofy."

Davis said: "He's the most childish person on the team. Tank, Chizzy (Dimude) and A.G. (Alex Green). They'll take your drink from you and drink it, or they'll take your food and eat it. In the (hotel) room, Tank will take my pillow and throw it. It's always Tank."

But it's difficult to remain mad at Hopkins, who often flashes a gold-toothed smile. He said it's a family tradition to install a gold cap on a front tooth. His mother, father and two of his brothers have 14-karat caps.

The precious metal matches his mettle.

"I'm a competitor," Hopkins said. "I was raised that way. My brothers and sisters competed in whatever we did. Everything I do, no matter if it's playing a game or playing around the house, I'm always competing."

LETULI WON'T PLAY

Right tackle Laupepa Letuli will not play against Louisiana Tech because of a knee injury suffered during a weight-training session Wednesday.

Letuli yesterday missed his second consecutive practice. He wore a brace on his left knee. UH head coach Greg McMackin had hoped Letuli would be well enough to resume practicing. But it was decided yesterday to not take Letuli on the trip.

McMackin said Adrian Thomas will start at right tackle. Kainoa LaCount also will be part of the playing rotation. McMackin said he hopes Letuli will be back for the Oct. 10 game against Fresno State.

ON SECOND THOUGHT

A day after announcing he would redshirt, freshman lineman George Daily-Lyles now will serve as the replacement for linebacker Aaron Brown.

Brown, who has been suffering from an injured right hamstring, will not play against Louisiana Tech.

During a meeting on personnel yesterday, it was decided that Daily-Lyles will be added to the travel roster.

The Warriors leave tomorrow for Dallas, where they will spend two nights.

On Tuesday, they leave for Monroe, La., where they will prepare for Wednesday's nationally televised game in Ruston, La.

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