The football season’s first snap is two days away, but the University of Hawaii’s offensive line has been fending off attacks most of the summer.

Left tackle Austin Hansen said enough is enough, and that he hopes UH’s football history will repeat itself.

"Go in the archives," Hansen said. "The same guys who think they’re so clever writing about how we don’t have any experience … they were talking about the same thing in ’06. Not that (those linemen) didn’t have any experience, but the question mark was going to be the offensive line.

"You look back at those guys (who started) on the offensive line in ’06, and all five of them are in the NFL or had stays in the NFL. So what does that tell you? There’s nothing to write about in July, so why not talk about the offensive line?"

Hansen said he believes the offensive line will be productive this season, despite injuries at center. Matagisili Lefiti, who is recovering from foot surgery, and Brett Leonard, who will undergo arthroscopic surgery for a sprained left knee, each will miss the first three games.

Hansen said left guard Brysen "Bulla" Ginlack is "ready to play old-school football and hit you in the mouth all day."

Hansen described right guard Adrian "Aussie" Thomas as a "big, physical man. I remember (former Warriors defensive end) David Veikune telling me the thing about Aussie once he has his hands on you, you’re done. His upper-body is so powerful. He’s so powerful with his forearms."

Hansen said right tackle Laupepa Letuli, a sixth-year senior, is "an athletic freak. He’s more talented, more athletic than anybody on the line."

Hansen noted that center Bronson Tiwanak is a black belt in kenpo.

"He can come out and karate-chop you in the chest and give you something to think about," Hansen said.

Of the line’s overall skill, Hansen said, "We’ll find out on Thursday. And even if Thursday is a rough night for us, we’ll go on to the next week. We’re coming on Thursday to try and be physical and execute our offense to the best of our abilities and play as hard as we can. That’s pretty much it. There’s no back story."

Kicking it up a notch

This year, punter Alex Dunnachie is heel over head.

It was limited flexibility that hindered Dunnachie when he first reported to UH in August 2009. With a background in Australian rules football, Dunnachie was used to compact kicks.

Tutored by former UH punter Tim Grasso, Dunnachie improved his flexibility, allowing him to easily launch punts with a swing in which his right foot goes above his helmet.

He also has worked extensively on his drops. During the nonkicking segments of practice, Dunnachie will walk around, bouncing the football.

"I try to do as many reps as I can," he said. "Even when I’m watching TV, I’ll drop the ball, with the laces up every time. I’m not thinking about it. It’s muscle memory. The ball will drop the same way every time."

Veteran at the haka

Jake Heun‘s position is middle linebacker.

For the haka, he is front and center.

"I love being there," Heun said of his alignment in the Warriors’ pregame chant.

Heun said he knows all of the moves, including the tongue-wagging finale.

"We’ve been doing this for three years," said Heun, who was raised in Alaska. "I’d better know it by now."

USC’s Markowitz out

Punahou School graduate Abe Markowitz, the backup center for USC, will miss Thursday’s season-opening football game against UH because of a broken right foot, Trojans head coach Lane Kiffin said.

Markowitz, a 6-foot-1, 285-pound sophomore, was expected to see duty at center and guard until suffering the injury in Sunday’s practice.

"Unfortunately, he is going to have to have surgery and will probably miss the trip," Kiffin said. "It just happened last night."

Kiffin said Markowitz "was playing backup guard and center and really doing a tremendous job for us. He’s frustrated, but hopefully he’s going to battle back. There’s a good chance he can come back for the second half of the season."