As part of a no-nonsense academic policy, cornerback Ryan Keomaka was dismissed from the University of Hawai'i football team for missing mandatory study sessions.

"He knew about it all week; he knew about it last week," UH coach June Jones said. "He's a good kid. He plays hard for us. But life's too short. We have more guys."

Keomaka said he mistakenly believed he needed to log a certain amount of time in study hall, not attend sessions nightly. The UH athletic department has study sessions throughout the day. The football coaches monitor the evening sessions.

"It's my fault because I didn't ask," Keomaka said. "I just, you know."

Asked if Keomaka could rejoin the team in the spring, Jones said, "Right now, he's not coming back. It's too bad."

Since February, Jones has tightened his team's academic requirements. Jones barred more than 10 players from participating in spring football practice because of low grades.

Jones also implemented a policy of awarding scholarships only to walk-ons whose cumulative grade-point averages are at 2.5. Three weeks ago, a prominent walk-on was passed over for a scholarship because his cumulative GPA is 2.4.

Three players — linebacker John Fonoti, running back/linebacker Mario Cox and safety B.J. Fruean — are redshirting this season to focus on academics.

Defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville said Keomaka, who was the second-team left cornerback against UNLV last week, will be missed on special teams and in the secondary.

"He's a guy who has so much athletic ability," Glanville said. "He can play, and he's a good person, a really good person. He just won't do what he's told."

Gerard Lewis was elevated to No. 2 left cornerback, replacing Keomaka.

Lewis, who is 5 feet 9 and 170 pounds, transferred from a junior college during the summer. He originally signed with Eastern New Mexico State, but requested — and received — permission to void that deal.

"I'm just working hard and being patient," said Lewis, who was raised in Houston. "The motto down there (in Texas) is: 'Go hard or go home.' "

ELIMIMIAN VOWS TO PLAY

Inside linebacker Solomon Elimimian, who did not play against UNLV because of a partially torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee, yesterday practiced with the first team and declared himself fit for Saturday's road game against 25th-ranked Boise State.

"He has to tell me (the right knee) is 100 percent," Glanville said. "If he says its 90 (percent), he's not playing."

Elimimian said: "I'm going to play."

For the UNLV game, Elimimian was in the coaches booth on the loge level, identifying the formations and relaying the information to Glanville.

"It was fun, but I missed being on the field with my teammates," Elimimian said. "It was hard. You have to fight to keep your sanity. It's my first time ever being hurt, really, since high school. I never missed a practice until now, when I missed a week and a half."

Yesterday, Elimimian and Adam Leonard were the inside linebackers on the first team. Brad Kalilimoku, who started in place of Elimimian, and Blaze Soares were on the second team.

"You never know what you have until you lose it," Elimimian said. "I remember (injured slotback Jason) Ferguson telling me how much he missed practice. I couldn't fathom that. Now I know how much it means to be out on the field. It felt good. Always count your blessings. That's what people forget. When you get injured, it gets you back to reality."

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