Shane Austin’s time as a college quarterback is waning, and how much he’ll spend on the field as a senior is uncertain.
But experience has taught him the value of vigilance.
Austin entered his final fall camp with the Hawaii football team as the backup to Bryant Moniz, the nation’s leading passer last year and now the center of a Heisman campaign. But maintaining the outlook of a starter is a key part of his job.
"You can get thrown in at any moment," Austin said. "So if you’re not mentally focused and ready to go in, it’s going to be tough.
"Even though Mo’s here, I try to prepare myself as a starter."
Austin knows how suddenly change can come, having seen significant playing time as a sophomore and junior.
He started in a win at San Jose State in 2009 and threw for 258 yards and two touchdowns when Moniz was knocked out of last year’s opener against USC. He ended the season by going 6-for-9 and scoring a rushing touchdown in UH’s Hawaii Bowl loss to Tulsa.
"You kind of feel for him a little bit because him and Mo are both seniors," UH offensive coordinator Nick Rolovich said. "But you’d take a backup quarterback with Shane’s experience, knowledge and ability any day of the week."
While this fall camp had many familiar features, intrigue on the depth chart at quarterback was conspicuously absent.
For the previous three years, if the starting job wasn’t up for grabs then the top backup spot was hotly contested. This year, the order has been stable from the start, with Austin and sophomore David Graves following Moniz in the practice rotation.
"It’s been a little different. Usually going in we have this big competition, so there’s a lot of pressure and stress, which is normal," Austin said. "I think now that we have more defined roles, we know where we are and can just get to business and worry about getting ready for Colorado rather than what’s going to happen."
That’s not to say the sense of competition has completely left the group in the orange jerseys.
"We’re still trying to compete every day to make Mo better," Austin said. "Dave makes me better, Cayman (Shutter) makes him better. We’re all pushing each other to be the best QB unit in the nation."
While preparing Moniz and Austin for the new season is a priority, Rolovich is also keeping close watch on the younger quarterbacks.
"Graves has really improved on his accuracy and his knowledge of the offense," Rolovich said, adding that Shutter also "is much improved this camp."
For Austin, going into his senior season as a backup probably wasn’t what he envisioned when he arrived in 2007. But neither is his place in the order a source of anguish.
"Obviously you come in as a freshman thinking you’re going to start your next year, everybody does," Austin said with a laugh. "So it is tough, but it’s a character builder for sure. It makes you stronger, mentally tough.
"It might not go as your plan, but the way I see it, I’m following not my own plan but His plan," he added, nodding skyward. "He’s got the ultimate plan for me. I’m not worried about it."
Warriors receive AP votes
Hawaii received four points in the Associated Press preseason poll released Saturday. The Warriors tied for 41st-most votes in the poll of media members. UH had eight points in the USA Today coaches poll, placing 39th.
Three UH opponents also received votes in the AP poll: BYU (15), Nevada (1) and Washington (1).
