Injured Warriors expected to play in opener

University of Hawaii offensive lineman Elijah Tupai is expected to be available to play in the football opener against Colorado on Sept. 3, according to coach Norm Chow.

Tupai, who had been practicing as the No. 1 left guard, suffered a knee injury during Tuesday’s practice.

John Wa‘a replaced Tupai on the first team during Wednesday’s 11-on-11 drills. Asotui Eli and Wa‘a have been practicing at center in place of Brenden Urban, who also is rehabilitating a knee injury. Urban also is expected to be ready for the opener.

Right tackle R.J.Hollis, who has missed the past few practices because of concussion-like symptoms, is expected to resume practicing on Thursday.

During Wednesday’s practice, quarterback Max Wittek suffered a finger tweak on his left (non-throwing) hand.

“But I popped it back (into place),” said Wittek, who did not require medical attention or ice treatment. A teammate also inadvertently stepped on Wittek’s foot. He was held out of a portion of team drills to avoid further mishaps.

”They were giving me the baby treatment,” said Wittek, who is fine and will not miss any practice time.

Saint Juste gets low

There was an emphasis on short-yardage situations during Wednesday’s practices. That meant calling more running plays than usual.

“Today we had to lower our shoulders because we were mostly inside zone,” running back Diocemy Saint Juste said. “We had to prove how tough we are.”

Saint Juste was recruited as a speed back. But he has expanded his game, and now is an efficient between-the-tackles runner.

“To make it in the big time, you have to have many attributes to contribute to the team,” Saint Juste said. “You have to be good in all aspects of playing football.”

Saint Juste indeed has come a long way, physically and geographically. The distance is 4,847 miles between Honolulu and Saint Juste’s family home in Boynton Beach, Fla.

“It’s very hard,” he said of being away from family, “but I have a job to do, and I have to do that job.”

He was listed as the No. 1 running back exiting spring training.

“I felt like it motivated me to work harder and, I guess, prove everybody wrong,” Saint Juste said.

Back to Aloha Stadium

For the second time in as many Thursdays, the Warriors will practice at Aloha Stadium. It will be the second of three pre-season workouts in the stadium.

In past years, the Warriors usually had one stadium practice as a dress rehearsal. But they expanded the stadium practices to three to get acclimated to the conditions and background.

Because of cost restrictions, the Warriors cannot practice under the lights at the stadium. Instead, they plan to stage a night practice before the Sept. 3 opener against Colorado. That game will start at 7 p.m.