There will be a new twist today in the drama that is the Hawaii football team’s quarterback situation.
Head coach Norm Chow said Taylor Graham is expected to practice for the first time since suffering a subluxation of his left (nonthrowing) shoulder against Nevada on Sept. 21. Graham did not play in the Rainbow Warriors’ 42-37 loss to Fresno State last Saturday.
Ikaika Woolsey, a freshman who was on the scout team a week earlier, started in place of Graham. Woolsey departed soon after L.J. Jones’ 56-yard interception return boosted the Bulldogs’ lead to 42-3 with 6:15 remaining left in the quarter.
Sean Schroeder then threw three scoring passes and directed two other touchdown drives in a 34-0 surge, nearly pulling off the greatest comeback in NCAA football history.
Schroeder’s performance might not be enough to earn the start against San Jose State on Saturday at Aloha Stadium.
If Graham is healthy, Chow said after Tuesday’s practice, "he’ll play. He was a starter before he got hurt."
Chow said he is not anchored to the unwritten rule that a player cannot lose a job because of injury. Schroeder, after all, started 11 games last year, but never regained the No. 1 spot after undergoing back surgery on April 1.
Chow said Graham had the highest rating among the UH quarterbacks based on performances dating to the start of spring training.
"In my mind," Chow said of Graham, "he gives you the best chance to win — if he’s healthy."
Whether Graham is healthy enough is a matter that will be decided after practices today and Thursday.
"We’ll see where it goes," Chow said.
If Graham is unavailable to play, Chow said, the staff will determine if Schroeder is better suited as a starter or reliever. Schroeder and Woolsey split first-team reps on Tuesday.
Chow praised both quarterbacks, but noted each played under different circumstances against Fresno State.
"We were behind 42-3, and we cut it loose a little bit (after that)," Chow said, noting the strategy "was different with Ikaika in there."
Chow added: "We have a good bunch of quarterbacks. They support one another. That’s the way it’s supposed to be. They were watching, they were learning, they were cheering for the other guy."
Moleni passes test
Tight end Harold Moleni has passed the baseline test, the first step in being cleared to play in Saturday’s game against San Jose State.
Moleni suffered a concussion in the Sept. 21 game against Nevada and did not play against Fresno State.
Tight end Jordan Pu’u-Robinson suffered a partially torn MCL against Fresno. He is expected to miss two games.
Because Pu’u-Robinson will have a relatively brief absence, Craig Cofer will remain at defensive end and not move back to tight end.
