With the suspensions lifted, Hawaii football ended the suspense Monday, reinstating linebacker Aaron Brown as a starter and giving Darius Bright a share of the left wideout’s job.
Both had been suspended following their Aug. 28 arrests because of their alleged involvement in a Waikiki fight. The past weekend, athletic director Jim Donovan and head coach Greg McMackin decided neither player merited additional suspensions.
"They served their punishment," McMackin said. "They’ll have some other things to do. They’re back on the football team. We handled it."
In last Saturday’s 34-17 victory over Colorado, co-captain Corey Paredes started at weak-side linebacker and George Daily-Lyles opened at middle linebacker. For this Saturday’s road game against Washington, Brown will start at weak-side linebacker and Paredes will return to the middle.
"I’m ready to jump back into things," Brown said.
In the first three practices last week, Brown, who was allowed to work out, was on the scout team.
"I got kicked off of scout team because I was going too hard," Brown said. "I wanted to get my work in. I didn’t want to take any plays off."
Brown and Bright apologized to teammates and coaches for their arrests.
"I do have regrets," Brown said. "Life is full of decisions. You have to learn from them. It was a bad decision I made. I have to move forward from here."
Despite a sprained toe that kept him from practicing most of preseason training, Bright was considered the No. 1 left wideout. Allen Sampson, who started against Colorado, and Bright will rotate.
"There’s a place for Allen in our offense, definitely, the way he played this weekend," offensive coordinator Nick Rolovich said. "Some of the things he did away from the ball were the best we’ve had in years around here."
Sampson had two catches for 21 yards, but one came while he faced the setting sun.
"I couldn’t see it until it got into my hands," Sampson said. "I trusted it would get there. (Quarterback Bryant Moniz) did a good job.’
Sampson was praised for running full-speed routes, drawing defenders away from the other receivers.
"He was opening windows for other receivers running across," slotback Miah Ostrowski said.
Rolovich said Sampson "can run all day long, and that wears out (the defensive back). He was unselfish. He did his job, and he did it enthusiastically."
Sampson credited the offseason conditioning program.
"They did a good job of getting us in shape," he said. "If we all work hard, it opens up our passing game and our running game."
