There comes a time when the student surpasses the teacher.

Time's up.

"If you look at the timeline, going by the number of snaps in a game, I would argue that Greg Alexander has been the most comfortable in the shortest amount of time in the run-and-shoot offense," Hawai'i quarterback coach Nick Rolovich said.

Rolovich, who was a UH quarterback in 2000 and 2001, added: "I was probably where he is now after a year."

Rolovich said Alexander, who will be making his fourth consecutive start, has full comprehension of the read-based passing offense.

"When he first came in," Rolovich said of Alexander, who transferred from Santa Rosa Junior College in May, "I told him one day he'll be able to look this way" — Rolovich pointed to the right — "and know what's happening on the back side. I think he's getting to the point. It's because of the reps. It triggered in his mind: What would it be like if I were able to do that?"

Alexander said: "I'm definitely grasping it a lot better."

Alexander has not thrown an interception in 118 consecutive passes. His quarterback efficiency rating of 149.3 would rank 15th nationally if he played in 75 percent of the Warriors' games. He has played in six of 11 games.

Alexander is actually the most accurate on deep passes (traveling at least 20 yards from the line of scrimmage). He hit 80 percent of his deep passes in last week's 49-17 victory over Idaho.

"There's less teaching now, and more: 'How are we going to attack this defense?' " Rolovich said. "He's becoming more vocal. He doesn't say a lot, but when he talks, people listen to him. He's a great leader. People see how hard he works."

Here's a look at tonight's game between UH and Washington State: