The University of Hawai'i football team is learning that the School of Hard Knocks offers summer classes.

"Summer time is grind time," said center Samson Satele, a fifth-year senior. "Games are won in the offseason. I've seen that for five years. The offseason really helps. I've seen a lot of guys go from out of shape to in shape during the offseason."

Yesterday's start of the Warriors' offseason conditioning program was a sweat-dripping success. All but two offensive linemen — center John Estes and tackle Daniel Johnson are on the Mainland — participated in the morning weight-lifting session. Running sessions were offered in the morning and afternoon on UH's grass practice field. Satele participated in the weight-lifting workout and both running sessions.

Satele trains alongside his cousin, defensive end Amani Purcell, who transferred from Penn State. Purcell is on track to meeting the academic requirements needed to play in 2006. For now, Purcell mimics Satele's training methods, but does not participate in any UH program nor take instruction from UH assistant conditioning coach Mel deLaura, who coordinates the summer workouts.

"He's here on his own," Satele said. "I always run with Amani every day. He's way faster than me. I try to keep up with him. If I can, good things will happen."

Satele said yesterday's sauna-humid conditions were not inconvenient.

"I don't care if it's hot or not," Satele said, noting UH's Sept. 2 season opener will be played in Alabama. "Tuscaloosa is going to be way hotter than this. We have to get used to this."

Several players created their own conditioning drills to prepare for deLaura's program. Running back Nate Ilaoa, quarterbacks Colt Brennan and Tyler Graunke, and slotback Davone Bess played basketball daily to keep in shape.

"It's not the same as running with coach Mel," Ilaoa said. "I like working out with the team. There are a lot of people pushing you. You get more work done out here. It's more structured."

This summer, Ilaoa is hoping to lose weight. Running back Jayson Rego and inside linebacker Joshua Rice are hoping to gain.

"I'm trying to bulk up," Rice said. "I'm trying to get bigger and faster to compete with those guys out there."

Rego said: "Your success during the season depends on how hard you work during the offseason."

DeLaura said he expects few players to be out of shape for the start of training camp in August.

"We'll take care of that," he said. "We've got seven weeks. We've got a lot of time.

SATELE, ALAMA-FRANCIS ON AWARD WATCH LISTS

The nation's eyes are on Satele and defensive end Ikaika Alama-Francis.

Satele was among 54 players — including three others from Hawai'i — named to the 2006 Outland Trophy watch list. The award goes to college football's top interior lineman.

Ikaika Alama-Francis was named to the watch list of the Ted Hendricks Award, which honors the nation's best defensive end.

"(Satele) was on (the watch list) last year, and he had a pretty good season," UH coach June Jones said. "If he has another good year this season, good things will happen."

Satele said: "It means a lot to me. It's an honor. I thank my heavenly father upstairs for blessing me with this honor. Hopefully, I can bring home the trophy to Hawai'i and make everybody proud."

Satele is making the move from left guard, where he has played most of his UH career.

"He'll be one of the best centers in the country," Jones said. "He's got strength, power, balance. He's a good football player."

Satele spends his free time working on his snaps. "That's why they have the offseason, to work on stuff like that."

Enoka Lucas of Oregon, Jeremy Perry of Oregon State and Tavo Tupola of Utah are the other Hawai'i players on the Outland list.

Alama-Francis expressed surprise at his recognition.

"I'm trying to play as hard as I can, and I get this honor, and it is an honor," he said. "I'm going to take it and run with it. Whatever they give me, they give me. I'm going to go out there and play my hardest every down. That's all I can do, and all I've been doing. I'm so looking forward to next year. I can't wait. I'm bubbling already, the adrenaline is going, but I have to wait another month and a half."

NCAA AWAITING MORE INFO FROM MANEAFAIGA

Running back Bryan Maneafaiga said he needs to provide more information before the NCAA will rule on his request for an exemption that would allow him to play as a sixth-year senior in 2006.

The NCAA allows a player five years to play four seasons. He played two seasons at a junior college, but his eligibility clock started ticking in 2003, a season in which he was not enrolled in school.

"I had to work because my family was broke," he said. "My grandma was taking care of six kids. She didn't have the money. I worked and saved to come (to UH)."

He said compliance officials told him he needs to provide "more documentation" to prove the financial hardship prevented him from attending school in the fall of 2003.

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.