With its 2012 campaign in need of a boost, the Hawaii football team turned to a former Governor for support.

"It’s a privilege," said Michael Lafaele, a former UH defensive lineman who will serve as the Warriors’ honorary captain for Saturday’s game against Boise State at Aloha Stadium.

Lafaele was scheduled to be captain later this month. Instead, he is filling in for Skippa Diaz, his head coach when both were with the Farrington Governors. Diaz was forced to postpone because of scheduling and health issues. Diaz will serve as captain on Nov. 25.

This actually will be a title renewal. Lafaele and quarterback Colt Brennan were co-captains during the Warriors’ 12-0 regular season in 2007.

That point in the program’s history was emphasized during Lafaele’s address to the Warriors on Thursday afternoon.

"Being a Warrior isn’t about putting on the jersey and walking out of the tunnel," Lafaele told the players. "It’s about hard work and being responsible and having character. You’re not a Warrior only on the field. You’re a Warrior everywhere you go."

He added: "You have to have pride in what you do. You can’t have a sense of entitlement. You have to have a sense of pride and respect for the program."

Lafaele said there were "pieces of greatness" on the team, but that it was up to them to fulfill their promise.

He recalled how he joined the Warriors as a center and, two years later, moved to defensive tackle, a position he had never played previously.

"I had to start new," Lafaele said. "I had to earn it."

He said he spoke of the need for the defense to be angry if it allowed a touchdown.

He implored players to play with "emotion, to be (upset)" when things go wrong, and not to act as if it were "normal. Back when we played, it wasn’t normal."

At times, Lafaele’s speech took a harsh tone. The Warriors are 1-7 overall and 0-5 in their inaugural Mountain West season.

"The only way to support the team is to be honest," Lafaele said. "If you sugar-coat it, you’re not doing them any good. I shared with them the things I thought were lacking."

Lafaele emphasized that the players were now part of a life-long fraternity.

"Whether you guys know it or not," Lafaele told the players, "you represent everybody who has ever played for the Warriors."

WRs gaining health

There was a spark of optimism when receivers Billy Ray Stutzmann and Chris Gant resumed practicing on Thursday. Both left Wednesday’s workouts with injuries.

Stutzmann has recovered from a sprained right ankle. X-rays did not show any significant injury.

On Wednesday night, Stutzmann went to his family home, where he received ice treatment and a Reiki massage from his grandmother. It helped enough that Stutzmann was able to run without a limp on Thursday.

Gant also was able to practice at full speed. He had been suffering from an arm ailment.

But coach Norm Chow acknowledged that wideout Trevor Davis probably will not be available because of a neck strain.

Also, safety Bubba Poueu-Luna, who was supposed to have a featured role this weekend, won’t play after suffering from concussion-like symptoms.