ATLANTA — As the Hawai'i football team's season opener against Florida nears — geographically and time-wise — it appears Greg Alexander is closing in on the starting quarterback's job.

Alexander yesterday took 45 of the 57 snaps during 7-on-7 and team drills.

"If the game (were) today, I'd go with Greg," UH head coach Greg McMackin said after yesterday evening's two-hour workout at Georgia Tech's practice facility in downtown Atlanta.

The Warriors practice again for two hours this morning at Georgia Tech, then leave this afternoon for Florida.

They will have a walk-through practice tomorrow in "The Swamp" — Florida's Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

Two weeks ago, sophomore Brent Rausch, a transfer from College of the Desert, was named the No. 1 quarterback. But last week he suffered discomfort in his right forearm and then right biceps of his throwing arm.

Rausch did not practice the past Friday and Saturday. The team did not practice Sunday. He threw lightly on Monday.

Yesterday, Rausch said he is "100 percent" recovered from the arm ailment.

But the competition reopened because of Rausch's missed time and Alexander's improved play since recovering from foot and ankle problems.

"What's happening is that Brent's arm got hurt," McMackin said. "While Brent's arm was hurting, Greg started healing up and playing well. ... We're going to play the guy who gives us the best chance to win. ... Both of them are getting plenty or reps right now. Greg is getting reps with the No. 1s (first team)."

Rausch and Alexander, a junior who transferred from Santa Rosa College, arrived in Honolulu in early May to participate in the summer conditioning program.

Rausch has been praised for his accurate passes.

Of Alexander, McMackin said: "He's mature. He's got a strong arm. He has great size (6 feet 4, 225 pounds). He has 22 college games under his belt. I believe he can go out there and not get intimidated by their fans."

Alexander said: "It's the coaches' decision, but I have to be prepared like I'm going to be the guy. ... No sense in stressing myself out about it. I can only control what I do. The decision is going to happen one way or the other. I can't stress about it."

The Warriors arrived in Atlanta early yesterday, then slept until the afternoon.

They traveled a day earlier than usual in an attempt to get acclimated to the six-hour time change and the South's summer humidity.

But the bad news was good weather: Overcast with gentle breezes for yesterday's practice.

"Let's hope this weather now translates over to the Florida game," kicker Dan Kelly said. "Coach has us prepared for the worst. If we get the second-to-worst (weather), hey, we're better off."

McMackin was pleased with yesterday's practice, the first this week in which all of the starters participated in team drills.

"We got a lot of things done," McMackin said. "I thought they were loose and in good spirits. Their attitude is great. They ran around good."

The final drill was six 50-yard sprints. All but one of the 66 players competed in the sprints. Kelly did crunches on the sideline.

The Warriors have used the same itinerary for this trip as they did in 2005, when they trained in Atlanta for two days in preparation for the season opener against Alabama.

This time, linebacker Solomon Elimimian said, the Warriors are more focused. He said it helped that many players participated in the Sugar Bowl in January.

"A couple of years ago, the guys were star-struck a little bit," Elimimian said. "A lot of young guys kept looking around and around. ... The Sugar Bowl was a big stage. It definitely will help us."

McMackin said the Warriors are "humble and hungry. That's what we talked about. ... There's a lot of inside confidence on this team, a lot of winners on this team. We just need game reps. It's time to get some game reps. That's what we need to do."

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