Lefotu dinged up, but says he’ll play

Two things to know about Hawaii football offensive lineman Dave Lefotu: His first name is not "David" and he will start in Saturday’s game against Southern California.

"I had a little bump in the road, but I’ll be ready to go this Saturday," said Lefotu, who is the Warriors’ starting right guard.

The week before the 2011 season opener, Lefotu suffered a bone bruise to a knee and missed the first three games.

"That hit hard," Lefotu said.

A week ago, he had some issues with a wrist.

"You do worry about it because of what I went through last season," Lefotu said. "That’s always in the back of my mind."

Intensive physical therapy proved to be the cure.

"Starting against SC is a big thing," Lefotu said. "I’m going to play my heart out."

There is concern about Frank Loyd, a utility player on the offensive line. He is recovering from an ankle ailment.

Time running out

With the clock running, defensive lineman Jordan Pu‘u-Robinson still has not received word on his petition to play this season.

Pu‘u-Robinson relinquished a scholarship and starting job to transfer from Washington State to return to Hawaii for family reasons. Players transferring between FBS schools are required to redshirt at the new school. The NCAA may grant an exemption based on special circumstances. Two USC players received such exemptions.

"I’m sure they had legitimate reasons," coach Norm Chow said. "They’re immediately eligible. We have a guy who’s walking on, and you know he’s sincere. He gave up a full scholarship because of what’s happening with his personal situation. … It’s extremely unfair. We’ll deal with it."

Cleared for takeoff

Freshman cornerback Ne’Quan Phillips received clearance from the NCAA Clearinghouse to play this season.

There was a holdup while the clearinghouse tried to determine whether one of Phillips’ classes was considered a core-requirement course.

"He was down when he thought he wouldn’t be able to contribute," Chow said. "But after being cleared, he looked as good as usual."

Phillips is part of a rotation at cornerback.

Phillips is one of seven true freshmen who will be on the Warriors’ 64-player travel roster.

Players kicking in

Backup kicker Kyle Niiro will make the trip to Los Angeles.

Chow said defensive end Beau Yap will be the understudy long snapper to Luke Ingram.

Fullback Jared Leaf got extensive reps during the Warriors’ 90-minute practice on Tuesday. He is on the travel roster.

StubHub, anyone?

University of Hawaii quarterback Sean Schroeder‘s "big concern right now is finding enough tickets so he can have his family there" for the Warriors’ opener, Chow said.

Schroeder, a native of Laguna Niguel, Calif., "has waited a lifetime to play in that stadium (the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum)," Chow said on the Mountain West Conference coaches’ teleconference Tuesday.

The game will be the first college start for Schroeder, a junior who transferred from Duke, where he was a lightly used backup for two years.

"I think he will be fine," Chow said. "He is mature. He understands and he is looking forward to it and all. And, so far, his nerves have been OK. He’s been calm and ready to go. We’ll find out on Saturday morning where it all goes."

Asked if it was necessary to calm Schroeder, Chow quipped, "I think we have to calm the whole team down. Everybody is excited, Sean especially."

Kiffin unsure of UH

Southern California football coach Lane Kiffin worked alongside Chow at USC for three years, but says he doesn’t know what to expect from Chow and the University of Hawaii in Saturday’s season opener.

"I don’t think we know," Kiffin said on Tuesday’s Pac-12 coaches teleconference. "He’s not been a head coach before, so I think there are a lot of unknowns of what they are going to do schematically."

Kiffin said, "Are they going to come out attacking? Is he going to come out running the ball? I just think, because of (his) staff being new, new to their personnel, the personnel changes they are going through, I don’t think any of us know."