Wednesday, August 21, 1996
The redshirt freshman quarterback believes it's only a strained rotator cuff, but coach Fred vonAppen isn't so sure.
This is the second time in less than a week that Young has experienced a burning sensation in his shoulder after throwing the ball.
"I think I just came back too fast and didn't give it time to rest," Young said. "I don't think it's torn. If it is, then I'm out for the season.
"They told me to take at least two weeks off. I'm really disappointed because I'm missing so much time in practice, but there's nothing I can do. At this point, I just have to be patient."
Young said he isn't sure how he hurt the shoulder, but vonAppen has a theory.
"Hunter sets up so quickly and precisely, that I think he's putting a lot of pressure on that shoulder when he turns and throws," vonAppen said.
"I know this much, it's not good. It puts us down to three quarterbacks because Johnny Macon is taking a lot of reps at receiver. We'll have to see what happens."
Because of the numerous injuries, vonAppen decided to have his quarterbacks wear yellow jerseys so the defense knows not to drill them.
"We're getting close to Boston College, so we don't want to lose anyone unnecessarily," he said.
Hawaii began freshman orientation two weeks ago with six quarterbacks. VonAppen has since moved Macon and freshman Jerimi Bourland to receiver.
That leaves starter Glenn Freitas, freshman Josh Skinner and freshman John Gurasich in the mix. Gurasich is still nursing a groin muscle pull.
"We're also concerned about a nagging back injury that seems to be bothering Shane Oliveira," vonAppen said. "He's been down several days with spasms, and he's our best guy up there."
With Oliveira out of the afternoon workout, the Rainbows struggled with the snap exchange between center and quarterbacks.
"It's not good," vonAppen said. "Especially with our opener barely a week away."
UH defensive coordinator Don Lindsey did get some good news. Linebacker Mark Jenkins returned to practice this morning after missing several sessions with a sprained knee, the same one that was operated on last year.
Defensive end Brian Chapman missed all of last week with a knee sprain, but has made his presence felt in practice since returning on Monday.
VonAppen hasn't lost any players to grades since fall camp began last week, but he hasn't added anyone, either.
Linebacker Punahou Aina still has a good chance of rejoining the club since becoming an academic casualty two weeks ago.
"I haven't heard anything on Punahou," vonAppen said. "To my knowledge, he hasn't been officially suspended academically, so he still has a chance."
Since midterm, the Rainbows have lost more than a dozen players to academics. VonAppen feared even more would be dropped this week, but that hasn't been the case so far.
Former University of Hawaii wide receiver Brannon Kennedy was put on the injured reserve list by the Washington Redskins yesterday as they made it to the 60-man cutdown limit.Kennedy is the only UH player off last year's team to still be in the National Football League. In 1995, he finished third on the team in receptions with 17 for 188 yards and one touchdown.