The Broadway show is relocating.

"It's fun to change things," said University of Hawai'i defensive back Lamar Broadway, who will start at free safety in Saturday's road game against Nevada.

Broadway, a fifth-year senior, had played safety before moving to cornerback two weeks ago. But cornerback Kenny Patton has recovered from injuries to his right shoulder and left quadriceps, necessitating another shift for Broadway.

"It's musical chairs," Broadway said. "Isn't it beautiful? I'm just happy to have a chair. As long as you can do your part, whether it's on defense or special teams, you feel part of it."

Patton, who is UH's best cover defender, and Turmarian Moreland, who made three interceptions in the past two games, will open at cornerback. Broadway and Lono Manners are the safeties.

"We're trying to get the four best guys on the field," said Rich Miano, who coordinates the defensive secondary. "Kenny's healthy, and we need to get him out there somehow, some way."

Broadway said he does not have a preference between corner and safety.

"The mentality of defense seems to be more important than the position," Broadway said.

Broadway, who redshirted in 2001, has battled for playing time ever since.

"I love the game," Broadway said of his many roles. "That's the statement I'll make from now until I die. I've loved football since I was 7 years old. Every year, I couldn't wait until the summer (for the start of the youth season). ... I always wanted to play football. I would go out and play with the neighborhood kids. Every game was like the playoffs."

In the fourth quarter of last week's ABC regionally televised game against Fresno State, Broadway recalled, "I seriously stopped, I froze, and looked around at everything, and I said to myself, 'You're living the dream.' I remember as a kid watching all of those games on ABC, and I said, 'I want to do that.' And it was actually coming true."

There are four, maybe five, games remaining in Broadway's NCAA career — elapsing time that he refuses to consider.

"You don't think about it," he said. "You think about what you're doing now. You work hard so you don't regret anything. You don't look back. You have fun every day. That's why I wake up early every morning. That's why I make it on time to every meeting. That's why I stay out of trouble in everything I do — football, school — because I don't want any excuses to take away this game from me."

RUNNING RIGHT PLAYS

It is football's fickle nature, running back Nate Ilaoa acknowledged, that UH fans are now wishing he would receive more carries. In the 27-13 loss to Fresno State, Ilaoa had 10 carries for 95 yards, but only three attempts in 19 UH plays in the red zone (between FSU's 20 and goal line). UH managed two field goals and a touchdown in eight red-zone drives.

"If something doesn't work, the fans want to see something else," Ilaoa said. "If it works, they're happy. But we're not trying to run plays that aren't going to work. People think when a play doesn't work, that coach (June Jones) made a bad decision. But we run things that are designed to work. If they don't, then it's because of something we didn't do or something they did. We're not out there trying to lose games."

Ilaoa, who first enrolled at UH in August 2001, missed all but one game because of injuries during the 2003 and 2004 seasons. He said he was told he is a candidate for a medical hardship that will allow him to play next season as a sixth-year senior. Former UH defensive tackle Lui Fuga received an extension under similar circumstances.

Ilaoa said the school will apply on his behalf. An applicant must wait until the end of the season to seek a medical hardship.

Ilaoa said he is on schedule to earn a bachelor's degree in May. He is majoring in history, a field that he hopes will lead to jobs in teaching and coaching.

If he were to coach, he would implement Jones' run-and-shoot offense.

"My offense," Ilaoa said, smiling, "would have more running plays."

GRAUNKE'S GUARANTEE

Jones is admittedly the rare football coach who believes in on-the-job training.

Jones said Tyler Graunke, the primary backup to starting quarterback Colt Brennan, will play a few series against Nevada as a means of gaining game experience.

"I know the game is different from practice," Jones said. "You have to have the game experience."

Graunke and Brennan split time in the first two games before Brennan emerged as the starter.

"I have two good players in Colt and Tyler," Jones said. "It's fair to them and it's fair to the team that I get them both ready to play. The quarterback is featured in our offense. The second guy has to be ready."

Jones said he made a mistake in abandoning the plan to use Graunke in the second quarter against Fresno State.

In the first two games, UH designed several special plays using Graunke as a run-option quarterback. That role, Jones acknowledged, inaccurately depicted Graunke as a "running quarterback."

"I look at him as a passer," Jones said. "He does a good job when he's in there. He just needs experience to get better. ... He's accurate. In the game, he's a better passer than he is in practice. That's what you're looking for. You're looking for a guy who elevates his play in the game."

During a school fair on Sunday, Graunke said he would consider a position change during the offseason. But told of Jones' plans to expand his role, Graunke said, "That what I needed to hear to stay at quarterback. ... I'll probably stay now."

IT WAS IKAIKA

Although Patton received the credit officially, defensive end Ikaika Alama-Francis actually blocked Fresno State kicker Carl Zimmerman's point-after attempt in the third quarter.

"It's always a dream to block a kick," Alama-Francis said. "You get lucky sometimes."

As for being misidentified with the 6-foot, 184-pound Patton, Alama-Francis, who is 6-6 and 250 pounds said, "It's OK Kenny got the credit. As long as we blocked it, that's all that matters."

ELIGIBLE RECEIVER

Left wideout Jordan Slye said he harbors no bitterness over a "glitch" that forced him to miss three games. After playing against Boise State Oct. 1, Slye was told there were questions about his junior-college transcripts.

Slye played at Washington as a freshman and at Compton College last year. He earned an associate degree, an eligibility requirement for an incoming transfer.

"I knew I could play," he said. "I had to get my transcripts together. They had a couple of questions about it. I had to sort it out."

Last week, Slye was declared eligible. He played in two series against Fresno State.

"It was very frustrating for me," he said. "I had to fight through it. The coaches told me 'not to worry about it. It's a long season. You can make plays at the end of the season.' "

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.