The University of Hawai'i football team broke camp yesterday, with the players free to leave the two dance studios they called home since Aug. 2 and move to the dormitories, apartments or their homes.

But defensive ends Francis Maka and Nate Russell, and cornerback Keenan Jones were happy to stick around.

The three received their summer-school grades, and each met the academic requirements to play for the Warriors this season.

"I didn't just make it, I did pretty well," Maka said.

Maka had missed a week and a half of the six-week session to attend his sister's high school graduation in California. Because he was on stand-by status, his return to Hawai'i was delayed.

Maka said he needed to earn at least a C-plus in a calculus class. He recently received an e-mail from his professor.

"I didn't read the e-mail; all I saw was 'B-minus,' " Maka said. "I was so happy. Then I thought about it: Did he give me a B-minus for the last test or the class?' I had to e-mail him back. He said it was for the class."

Maka impressed the coaches with his off-the-edge quickness during spring training.

"Against the pass, which is what we've seen, he has played really good," defensive coordinator Greg McMackin said. "He's got an excellent motor. We have to see him against the run. We have to see everybody against the run."

Because he was enrolled in school, Maka was allowed to participate in training camp. But he had missed several practices while attending classes. Maka is a backup to left end Amani Purcell and right end Karl Noa.

"By learning both sides," McMackin said, "he doubles his chances."

Maka, who enrolled at UH in January, is listed as a senior, having played at Arizona and College of San Mateo. Because he was injured during one season at Arizona, he will petition the NCAA for a medical hardship that will allow him to play as a sixth-year senior in 2008.

Russell was cleared to practice after completing summer-school work.

"It's good to get into the feel and motion again," Russell said. "I'm trying to work hard and keep the level of intensity up."

INJURY UPDATE

There still is no diagnosis on safety Erik Pedersen's injured right knee.

Pedersen underwent a magnetic resonance imaging to determine if he suffered damage to his anterior cruciate ligament. He was told the ACL felt loose.

Starting linebackers Adam Leonard (hamstring), Solomon Elimimian (hamstring) and Blaze Soares (deep shoulder bruise) did not practice again.

At the end of practice, linebacker Brad Kalilimoku was wearing an ice pack on his left knee.

"I'm not hurt," Kalilimoku said. "I'm a champ. (The ice pack) is precautionary."

Although the Warriors attack out of a 4-3 base scheme, McMackin described Kalilimoku as a "No. 1 linebacker."

Indeed, Kalilimoku has played well this training camp. He also has gained about 15 pounds.

"I've been stuck on 205 (pounds) for a long time," Kalilimoku said. "I always trained and worked hard. During the summer I went to Vegas, and I guess I had a lot of the buffets, and I was taking all of my (protein) shakes every single day. One day, I woke up, jumped on the scale, and it was, 'holy smokes.' "

In testing, he bench pressed 225 pounds 39 times, second best on the team. His maximum bench is 450 pounds — 50 pounds fewer than his brother Chad's best lift.

"My goal is to bench 500 one day," he said.

LAST DANCE

Most of the Warriors were happy to check out of the dance studios known as the University Hilton.

"I'm excited to go back to my house," said quarterback Colt Brennan, who lives in an off-campus apartment. "I miss it."

Since the start of camp, the Warriors slept 50 to a studio.

"You can only stay in those cots and in that room for so long," Brennan said. "We had fun doing it, but it's been a couple of weeks. It's time to go home and go back to our normal schedule."

Punter Tim Grasso, a junior-college transfer, said staying in the studios "helped in getting to know people, especially for me. The initiation was fun."

Head coach June Jones decided to keep open the studios through Saturday, the last day of three-hour practices. Jones also lifted the midnight curfew.

"If anyone wants to stay, they can stay," Jones said.

A few decided they wanted a late checkout.

"My home is too far away," said Kalilimoku, who lives in Kapolei. "I'm going to stay over here. It's my senior camp, my last camp."

Running back Jason Laumoli also decided to remain.

"It's close to the locker room and the weight room and the field," said Laumoli, who lives in an off-campus apartment. "It'll help me be on time."

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