No Green-White game
again for ’Bows

By Paul Arnett, Star-Bulletin

For the second consecutive year, the University of Hawaii is unable to conduct a Green-White game.

Lack of linemen on both sides of the football will force head coach Fred vonAppen to hold only a limited scrimmage tomorrow at 10 a.m. at Cooke Field.

Not that the second-year coach is disappointed by that fact -- quite the contrary. He believes spring games are overrated.

"They were something you could do 10 years ago when you had 130 people suited up to play," vonAppen said. "But times have changed. We used to have a draft with both sides fielding offensive and defensive teams.

"All we will do on Saturday is the offense will go against the defense for maybe 60 plays. We just don't have the horses up front to conduct a full-blown scrimmage. To us, this is only practice No. 14."

Hawaii's 15th and final practice is scheduled for Monday. VonAppen isn't sure what his team will do. It depends on what happens in tomorrow's scrimmage.

At this point, no positions will be won or lost in the spring. That's because 17 players will join the team this August for fall camp.

"And we expect several of those lads to compete for starting jobs," vonAppen said. "This scrimmage will be much like last Saturday's format only extended by 15 plays.

"Unlike the public, we aren't preoccupied with a Green-White scrimmage. We need the work, but it's only in a developmental stage for our football team."

At this point, Hawaii is ahead of last year's schedule, but as vonAppen put it, "That's a master of the obvious. We're more proficient throwing and catching the football.

"We're running it more effectively. We're quicker on the perimeter defensively, but we're still real light in the pants on the defensive and offensive fronts."

Tomorrow's scrimmage starts at approximately 10:20 a.m. and should last about an hour.

INJURY UPDATE: Offensive guard Gary Krug sprained his ankle during yesterday's workout, but he said it felt fine.

"I'll be ready to go in the scrimmage," Krug said. "Count me in."

UH trainers felt the injury wasn't serious. They also announced tight end Jimmy McClain's to practice. An MRI showed no serious damage to the junior college transfer's right knee. He missed several practices after injuring it on a routine pass play.

Defensive lineman Ben Bright is still bothered by a hamstring pull, while nose guard Tony Tuioti is down with a bad back. Defensive back Scott Sherwood strained his knee and is out for the spring.

GOLF TOURNEY TODAY: The UH football team didn't practice today so the coaches could take part in the annual Na Koa Club golf tournament at Hickam.

The money raised for this event goes to the football booster club to help defray costs in the program.

"It's a good thing where people can come out, have a good time and help our program raise money," vonAppen said. "We need help wherever we can get it."

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Wallace pleased with recruits

By Mike Fitzgerald, Star-Bulletin

University of Hawaii head coach Riley Wallace is pleased with the official signings of two men's basketball recruits earlier this week.

Chad Hook, a 6-foot-2 guard who played at Marshalltown (Iowa) Community College, and Casey Cartwright, a 6-5 small forward from Seminole State (Okla.) Junior College -- where Wallace once coached -- both signed letters of intent to join the Rainbows for next season.

"Hook is a good ballhandler and should really fit in with this team," Wallace said yesterday. "He's a good shooter, but he likes to pass the ball. I really like his court demeanor."

UH assistant coach Jackson Wheeler agreed.

"He can play both guard spots and is very athletic and tough," Wheeler said. "He is a good player -- and he can shoot."

Wallace on Cartwright: "He can run the floor and shoot the 3. He will complement Micah Kroeger real well."

"He is very athletic and was a track star in high school," Wheeler said of Cartwright. "And he's coming out of a good program."

With the signing of post player Erin "Helicopter" Galloway last fall, the Rainbows expect to have three more scholarships available.

Wheeler said that the plan is to sign a high school guard and two big men. UH is currently recruiting four 7-footers.

The Rainbows' top 7-foot target is reportedly down to a decision between UH and UNLV.