In sizing up the countdown to his first NCAA start, Hawai'i quarterback Bryant Moniz said: "I have some big shoes to fill. I've got to make my feet grow."

Moniz, a third-year sophomore, has been named the successor to Greg Alexander, who underwent season-ending surgery yesterday.

In Wednesday's 27-6 loss to Louisiana Tech, Alexander suffered tears to his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), medial collateral ligament (MCL) and meniscus in his left knee. Alexander said the recovery is between six and nine months.

With No. 2 Brent Rausch unavailable to play for at least another two weeks because of a fractured right pinkie on his throwing hand, Moniz will open in Saturday's game against Fresno State.

"I didn't have any expectations," Moniz recalled of his goals when he joined the Warriors in January. "I came out here to help the team any way I could."

Still, Moniz, a walk-on, embraces the opportunity.

"What's better than playing in front of your home crowd?" he said. "It's every little kid's dream to play for the home team, especially for a local boy."

Moniz is a lifelong Wahiawa resident. "I was born in Wahiawa General," he said, proudly.

He described his hometown as "God's country."

"It has natural AC," he said, smiling. "It's never hot."

Moniz played for the Mililani team that won the state Pee Wee title in 2000. He alternated at running back with Liko Satele, now a UH defensive end.

As a sophomore, he led Leilehua to the state title game.

He also used to regularly attend Warrior games as a kid.

"I followed them as best as I could," he said. "I was distracted as a kid, playing in the stands, running around the stadium. You know those little kids playing in the stands when the game is going on? That was me."

The restlessness, he said, was because "I'd rather play."

Now he gets his chance.

"I'm taking it one day at a time," Moniz said. "I'm enjoying everything. I'm having fun."