Michigan won't give up its scrimmage tape to Hawaii

Michigan football players have said that they watched Hawaii's season opener against Cal live in their homes Friday night.

But despite being favored by as many as 41 points, U-M has declined to make it an even field, in terms of pregame scouting for Saturday's contest (noon, ESPN).

"With them not having a game and us having a game, we asked if they would send us their scrimmage," Hawaii coach Nick Rolovich told reporters in Hawaii on Tuesday. "But they wouldn't. ... So there's a little bit of uncertainty on our side."

As for why U-M wouldn't share, Rolovich figures one position is the main the issue.

"I guess they're trying to hide the quarterback for a reason," he said. "I guess it's a little bit of a strategery and maybe something for us to talk about, but there's enough to worry about than us worrying about who the quarterback's going to be. Anything can happen in 60 minutes. The ball's funny shaped and bounces funny sometimes."

Rolovich hopes Hawaii has at least one advantage, having a game under its belt.

"There could be some first-game mistakes being made, and at least we have played a game and we understand each other and understand the mistakes we made," he said.

Hawaii played at Ohio State last year -- though Rolovich wasn't the Rainbow Warriors' coach -- so the intimidation factor should be less than other teams making a first trip to the Big House. Hawaii trailed OSU only 7-0 after one quarter and 14-0 at halftime.

"I saw that film," Rolovich said. "For me, personally, it's not that big a deal. But for them, it should give them a lot of confidence that they went in and played an incredibly talented Ohio State team and played them incredibly tough. They sent a strong message to the Mountain West when that game was played because that film went around the league, and people said, 'Look at this Hawaii team.' It was typical Hawaii football with toughness and how hard they played. And they weren't scared. That means it's in them."

Notes: Guard Kyle Kalis said the left tackle position remains the lone unfilled starting spot on the U-M offensive line. He said three players — sophomore Grant Newsome, redshirt sophomore Juwann Bushell-Beatty and true freshman Ben Bredeson — are still competing there. “I don’t even know what’s going to happen,” Kalis said. “It’s still a battle to this point.” … Safety Delano Hill is in a unique spot, having his brother Lavert as a freshman on the team. “He’s doing pretty well,” Delano said. “He’s adjusting. (I tell him) take it one day at a time, don’t get too excited. Everything will work out.” … Coach Jim Harbaugh was asked Tuesday whether Michigan would be willing to play at Hawaii and said he would be in favor of that, noting that he played there with U-M in 1986, and Tom Brady’s U-M team played there in 1998.

U-M survives Harbaugh’s fall camp, feels more prepared than anybody

Contact Mark Snyder atmsnyder@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter at @mark__snyder. Download our Wolverines Xtra appon iTunesandAndroid!