University of Hawai'i quarterback Tyler Graunke, defensive tackle Rocky Savaiigaea and linebacker Blaze Soares will not play in Friday's nationally televised road football game against 15th-ranked Boise State, UH coach Greg McMackin announced yesterday.

McMackin said Graunke is "physically not able to perform, in my opinion."

Graunke, who did not compete in training camp, suffered an injury to his right (throwing) hand in the third game of the season, against Oregon State. He struggled in the next game, against San Jose State, and has not played since.

Inoke Funaki has started three consecutive games, leading the Warriors to victories in the past two. Greg Alexander was the No. 2 quarterback the past two games.

Savaiigaea is expected to undergo surgery on his left triceps. Soares, who has not played this season because of a calf injury, had hoped to play against Boise State.

But the injury has not healed satisfactorily, and Soares did not practice Monday or Tuesday. The Warriors practice this morning, then depart this afternoon.

Savaiigaea, who initially suffered the injury in training camp, competed in drills Monday with the intent of playing against Boise State.

But he felt discomfort in his left triceps during a weight-training session Monday afternoon. He did not practice yesterday.

Instead, he met with a doctor and is scheduled to meet with a specialist today.

Savaiigaea is resigned to undergoing season-ending surgery.

"I'll find out, guaranteed" after today's examination, he said.

"I'm disappointed, but I didn't get my hopes too high," Savaiigaea said. "This was the week I wanted to come back. This was Boise. Every game is important, and we treat every game like a championship, but Boise is the top of the tops."

Savaiigaea said he was told surgery will require a rehabilitation period of up to six months. He said it would take two to three months before he could resume weight training.

He said if he has the surgery early enough, he would be able to participate in spring training in April.

"We're looking long term," Savaiigaea said.

While Savaiigaea would have helped in the defensive-tackle rotation, McMackin said, "we didn't want to risk injuring (the triceps) again. He has a good future in football. He needs to repair (the triceps). We'll get him the best surgeon."

Savaiigaea is a 2005 Aiea High graduate. He redshirted in 2005, then played in 2006 and 2007. He played in one game this season, against San Jose State, during which he aggravated the triceps injury.

Savaiigaea will be a fifth-year senior in 2009. But he is exploring the possibility of petitioning the NCAA for a special medical hardship that would allow him to play in 2010.

Former UH defensive tackle Lui Fuga successfully petitioned for a sixth season, citing a leg injury that limited him to one game in 2002, his junior season.

LAELI TOUGHS IT OUT

Despite a variety of ailments that reduced his senior season to a series of cameo appearances, defensive tackle Fale Laeli has remained upbeat, encouraging teammates and making the most of his sparse playing time.

"When you're injured, you do what you can do," said Laeli, who has endured tendinitis in his surgically repaired right knee and a sprained right ankle. "You can't really do anything, but you can pump these guys up and pray that they do good."

Laeli, who did not play last week, resumed practicing Monday. He will play against Boise State.

Laeli has served as a mentor to second-year freshman Vaughn Meatoga and Tuika Tufaga, who had not played in the previous three seasons.

"It's tough, to come from last year to this year, from playing to not playing, and going through everything I'm going through," Laeli said.

But he has found motivation from a conversation with a teammate.

"One of the guys told me when I was in rehab, 'You need a straw?' " Laeli recalled. "I was like, 'What for?' He said, 'To suck it up.' I was like, 'All right, I'll take that.' I need to suck things up. Sometimes in life, when things are hard, you have to find ways in life to motivate yourself, and do it."

Laeli said he has focused on his studies. He will earn a bachelor's degree in December.

"If you get your degree," he said, "you have something to fall back on. I give God all of the honor and glory. I thank God I'm about to graduate."