The University of Hawai'i football team is preparing as if defensive end Ikaika Alama-Francis will not be available for tomorrow's homecoming game against Idaho.

Alama-Francis suffered a lumbar strain on the eve of last Saturday's 49-30 road victory over New Mexico State. He started that game, playing 51 downs — the most among UH's defensive linemen — but complained of back spasms during the return flight to Honolulu. He has not practiced since then.

"We'll see how he is Saturday, and we'll go from there," UH coach June Jones said.

But defensive line coach Jeff Reinebold said: "I coach the guys who are healthy. Would I hope that he could be? Would I like him to be? Yes, but I've also learned: 'Don't plan on things that you can't count on.'

"I know I can count on the guys who have practiced all week and are healthy," Reinebold added. "Until somebody tells me something differently, they're the ones who are going to go. That would be tremendous if Ikaika would be available. But I don't anticipate it. If the doctors can give us some good news, I'm all for that. Right now, it's the guys who have practiced all week who are going to play."

Keala Watson has practiced as the No. 1 right end.

Jones said Renolds Fruean and David Veikune also will play there as part of the Warriors' rotation system.

"When I look at our d-line, I see eight guys who are starters," Jones said. "They're all capable."

Watson said he has recovered from flu-like symptoms that caused him to lose more than 20 pounds.

"I got sick for about two weeks," he recalled, noting his weight dropped to 310 pounds. "I had everything from a fever to stomach problems. I was eating, but I couldn't keep it down. It drained me a lot."

Watson said he began feeling better before the trip to New Mexico State. Before departing, each member of the traveling party received a bag of cookies.

"We needed to get him big again," defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville said. "He's a dozen cookies away from being All-Pro. I gave him my cookies. Why don't you print: 'For (number) 93, Glanville tosses his cookies.'"

Watson, a third-year sophomore, also received TLC from his future wife, Leona Wright. They have dated since their junior year at Nanakuli High School.

They met because he was lost, having transferred from Kaua'i High School, and she offered directions.

"She really helped me out," Watson said.

Wright, also a UH student, attends every practice.

"She's my No. 1 fan," Watson said. "That's what I tell everybody. Everybody on this team has fans who come to games. I have a fan who comes to every practice. When I make a play, even in practice, I look to her."

GRAUNKE ON TARGET

This season, followers are marveling at the accuracy of the UH quarterback.

And Colt Brennan isn't bad, either.

Brennan has completed an astonishing 72.9 percent of his passes, making him the second-most accurate Warrior quarterback.

His backup, Tyler Graunke, has completed 14 of 17 passes, an accuracy of 82.4 percent.

Graunke's efficiency is impressive because he enters games cold, and he receives limited work in practice.

In UH's practice format, Brennan takes two snaps to Graunke's one.

"It's more important that Colt gets the most reps," said Dan Morrison, who coaches the quarterbacks.

Still, Brennan, Graunke and Inoke Funaki are expected to know the same amount of plays. Morrison said Graunke and Funaki are asked to take "mental reps" — envisioning how they would act in each situation while watching Brennan.

"You can't replicate playing time," Morrison said. "The guy who gets the most reps throwing is the one who is going to improve the most dramatically."

Graunke said he tries to make the most of his limited opportunities.

"It seems whenever I get into a game, it's really wide open for me," Graunke said. "It's easy to make the reads. It's a matter of putting the ball on the spot. Once I get more playing time, I think my percentage will start dropping a bit."

Brennan said: "He's never gone in there and not done well. He's always been a very productive quarterback when you put him in there. He has a great work ethic. Remember, Tyler was the starting quarterback before I ever got here. He was getting all of the reps back in the day. He was running the offense a year and a half ago."

Indeed, Graunke was tabbed as the successor to Tim Chang, who completed his NCAA eligibility at the end of the 2004 season.

Graunke was the No. 1 quarterback in the spring of 2005, and he started the first two games of last season.

Brennan, who transferred to UH in the summer of 2005, is a fourth-year junior. Graunke is a third-year sophomore.

"My time will come," Graunke said. "I can't complain. I can't take away anything from what Colt's done. I'm waiting, being patient. I'm going to take it where Colt leaves it."

Brennan said: "We're great friends. We're good buddies. We lived together last year. We root each other on. I'm one of his fans when he goes in. He's really a good kid. I always like seeing him go in. He obviously has a bright future here, along with Inoke."

CHEER THE WARRIORS

Some members of the University of Hawai'i football team and coach Jones are scheduled to appear at a football homecoming pep rally tonight at the UH dorms.

The pep rally, organized by The Associated Students of the University of Hawai'i at Manoa, is scheduled from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. There will be carnival games, booths and prize giveaways.

Two other events will be held at UH's Campus Center today. At 10 a.m., shave ice and food will be offered with music and activities provided by KTUH. At 9 p.m., a concert will feature Kani Makou, One Drop, Sashamon and Koa'uka.

UH students get into the concert free with a valid ID and can bring one guest.