The University of Hawaii football team opens its season in 10 days.
But it will be another day, at least, before it announces its starting quarterback.
Coach Nick Rolovich had hoped to name the top signal-caller following a 100-minute scrimmage last Saturday.
But after Monday’s uneven practice, Rolovich told reporters it will be “probably a few more days.”
WARRIORS’ 2016 SCHEDULE
>> Aug. 27: California, Sydney, Australia
>> Sept. 3: Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.
>> Sept. 10: UT Martin, Aloha Stadium
>> Sept. 17: Arizona, Tucson, Ariz.
>> Oct. 1: Nevada, Aloha Stadium
>> Oct. 8: San Jose State, San Jose, Calif.
>> Oct. 15: UNLV (Homecoming), Aloha Stadium
>> Oct. 22: Air Force, Colorado Springs, Colo.
>> Oct. 29: New Mexico, Aloha Stadium
>> Nov. 5: San Diego State, San Diego, Calif.
>> Nov. 12: Boise State, Aloha Stadium
>> Nov. 19: Fresno State, Fresno, Calif.
>> Nov. 26: Massachusetts, Aloha Stadium
Ikaika Woolsey, the only UH quarterback to have played in an NCAA game; second-year freshman Aaron Zwahlen; and junior college transfer Dru Brown are considered the top candidates.
Woolsey is widely regarded as being in the lead. Woolsey had limited work on Monday, but he still took the first snap in each four-play rotation turn in 7-on-7 drills. Zwahlen, Brown and Cole Brownholtz took the remaining snaps. During the season, the quarterbacks usually do not throw on the Monday following a Saturday game.
“I feel pretty good about Ikaika, Aaron and Dru right now as far as being able to run the offense and execute,” Rolovich said. “We’ll get a few more days in, and probably shoot for (an announcement on) Wednesday.”
Woolsey said he is focusing on “trying to improve.” Woolsey, who was raised in the Bay Area, has trained in Hawaii since the Christmas break.
“I’m here for this team,” Woolsey said. “I have the rest of my life to take a family vacation.”
During Saturday’s scrimmage at Aloha Stadium, Woolsey was 12-for-18 for 100 yards, including a 20-yard scoring toss to slotback John Ursua. Zwahlen was 9-for-14 for 128 yards, including a 22-yard touchdown to slotback Dylan Collie. Brown was 12-for-17 for 130 yards.
“I felt they all played pretty well,” Rolovich said. “We missed probably two possible touchdown throws, at least, but I thought the operation was good. They’re all starting to do the little things. For me, it’s more of what’s going on, not necessarily during the play, but all the little things going on in practice. I think that matters.”
Zwahlen has not played in a game for three seasons — two because of a church mission, and last year as a redshirt. In a previous scrimmage, Zwahlen said, “I kind of struggled, and I was down after that. This scrimmage, I felt like a different person. I felt like I was in high school, just confident in all the reads. I felt like I belonged out there for the first time in a while. It was fun. It felt like a real game. We all played really well.”
Rolovich said Brown has made an easy transition. Brown was set to return to College of San Mateo for his sophomore season when he received an offer from UH in June. He then enrolled in Summer Session II.
“It’s a definite credit to him and his approach to be that comfortable in that (scrimmage) situation with, really, two weeks of training camp and what he got in summer school,” Rolovich said.