Two days into Hawaii’s fall camp, life as the Warriors’ first-team center is going as smooth as a clean shave for senior Bronson Tiwanak.

Only one problem: Tiwanak prefers a full beard. The last three years—two at Fresno City College and one on the UH scout team—have ingrained the Damien graduate with rougher experiences.

First it was being away from home and living with unfamiliar people. Then, upon his return from junior college, the difficulties came in picking up a vastly more complex scheme in the Hawaii offense.

That might explain why the senior sounded almost surprised as he spoke the words, "So far, things are going pretty smooth."

Bronson Tiwanak:

The senior is the first-team center for the Warriors this season

Good thing, too. With projected starting center Matagisila Lefiti pegged to miss the first three games of the season after suffering a foot injury in the spring, the 6-foot-1, 310-pound Tiwanak has been pressed into service as the successor to all-conference center John Estes.

"I thought it was going to be a little tougher for me because unfortunately Sila got hurt," Tiwanak said. "I had to step up. I thought it was going to take some time for the guys to get used to me in there. But just from doing drills and getting to know each other over the summer, it feels like I’ve been with them this whole time. These first two days have been real easy."

Putting the ball on target is nothing new. He’s been a center going back to his days as a Monarch, and has perfected his chosen delivery technique when no one else is around. The effect of something as simple as throwing the ball vertically over one’s head, with repetition, apparently pays off.

Offensive line coach Gordy Shaw doesn’t consider anyone a lock to start the Sept. 2 opener vs. USC at this point. But he likes the enthusiasm of a unit put together seemingly from scratch (left tackle Austin Hansen is the only returnee with consistent starts last season) and especially what he’s seen in the middle from Tiwanak.

"He had a good summer; he came in on his own and studied extra," Shaw said. "He seems to be in tune with what the calls are and the fronts, and his snaps are very consistent, that’s the most important thing. We can’t have a center who can’t get the ball to the quarterback in the gun; then everything else breaks down. He’s done a very good job of that. I’m pretty pleased where he’s at right now. He came back a little lighter, much stronger, and he’s ready to go."

On the current edition of the first team, Tiwanak is flanked on the left by Hansen (tackle) and Brett Leonard (guard) and on the right by Laupepa Letuli (tackle) and Adrian Thomas (guard).

Should Bryant Moniz reclaim his starter’s job at quarterback, there’s some familiarity between him and Tiwanak; they were teammates at Fresno City. Of course, it’s no certainty that Tiwanak will be the guy for an extended period, either.

London Sapolu is working at center behind Tiwanak with the second group. And Lefiti isn’t exactly MIA while his foot heals. He stood right behind the O-linemen as Shaw put them through drills on the UH practice field yesterday.

Though Tiwanak is a relative newcomer, his linemates have his back—including the veteran Letuli, a sixth-year senior.

"I think he just needs experience right now," Letuli said. "Sila’s been here since ’07. He knows pretty much what’s going on at center. But Bronson’s picking up fast. It helps us out, so we gotta help him out with that."

Things won’t come easy for the center forever; the anticipated date with the Trojans draws near. But for a blissful couple of days, it’s been a snap.