Robinson might
miss first game

The Rainbows' defensive back
sprains his ankle and is listed as questionable
for season-opener against Minnesota

By Paul Arnett
Star-Bulletin

The play appeared routine, the results were anything but.

As University of Hawaii cornerback Robbie Robinson turned up field in man coverage during yesterday's practice, his right ankle remained planted in the Cooke Field turf, resulting in a nasty sprain.

For about 30 minutes, Robinson lay still in the Cooke Field stands, his bandaged right ankle resting precariously on his helmet. The Los Angeles senior was eventually escorted into the training room. He is listed as questionable for the season opener with the University of Minnesota.

"I don't know how bad it is, but I know it's not good," a dejected Robinson said. "It's already stiff and sore, but I've got four days to get ready. So we'll see."

Robinson isn't interested in passing this way again, but days before last year's season opener with Boston College, the starting right cornerback pinched a nerve in his neck and missed the game.

"It's kind of weird," starting left cornerback Al Hunter said. "The same kind of thing happened to him last year. I don't know what to think about that."

Neither does Rainbows head coach Fred vonAppen, who will wait and see until Saturday before making a final determination.

"Anybody that we figure on playing, who turns an ankle on Tuesday, you're concerned about," vonAppen said after practice. "But he's young. We'll rub some dirt on it and see how he feels."

Should Robinson be sidelined, there are several options vonAppen has at his disposal. Backups are senior Blase Austin and junior college transfer Donnell Williams.

The Rainbows also could rotate senior free safety Eddie Klaneski to corner, shift strong safety Chris Shinnick to free and bring in junior college transfer Ron Wood to play strong.

"But our secondary doesn't communicate as well in that situation," Klaneski said. "Until the two plays I had today, I haven't gone in at corner since last year's Wisconsin game."

For obvious reasons, vonAppen doesn't plan on revealing anything until game time.

"I wouldn't want to tell (Minnesota head coach) Glen Mason anything anyway," vonAppen said.

PLAYERS ON THE BUBBLE: It appears incoming freshman Robert Parker will be back on a plane to Los Angeles soon.

There is little hope of the NCAA clearinghouse giving him its blessing, which means he'll have to attend a junior college and try again next year.

VonAppen said linebacker Punahou Aina is on the academic bubble. He has an incomplete he needs to make up or he won't be eligible this season.

"I don't like this situation one bit," vonAppen said. "He knows that he doesn't go back on scholarship under these circumstances until he properly performs for the entire semester."

Aina was one of nearly 20 players who flunked out last summer. His problem is meeting the requirements of the 75 percent rule.

Seniors must have at least 75 percent of the credits completed in their major, while juniors must meet 50 percent. That could trip up junior college transfer Jovon Jiles. The defensive back is still waiting on his transcripts.

WORTHY CAUSE: Donations will be accepted at the Aloha Stadium gates this Saturday to help defray the medical costs for Donna Collins, the wife of UH defensive end Sam Collins.

Collins was diagnosed with breast cancer over the summer, and only has a 5 percent chance of survival through regular chemotherapy treatments. If she undergoes a special bone-marrow treatment, the survival rate increases to 25 percent. The problem is, the cost is prohibitive.

The Oahu Educational Employees Federal Credit Union has established a fund to help with the $100,000 expense of the treatment that could take place next month. For more information, call 534-4300.

COACHES MEET WITH UNION: The UH coaching staff met with officials of the Hawaii Government Employees Association yesterday morning to see if they should represent coaches in their contract negotiations.

Coaches pay union dues of approximately $100 a month. Members of vonAppen's staff want to be represented, something that hasn't occurred so far.

"It was a very favorable meeting," vonAppen said. "They were very open to suggestions and we indicated that we thought we had some things that needed their representation if we were going to be in the union.

"They concurred, said they would get back to us in seven days with some answers. We had an agenda. Some of it they were unprepared to deal with at that point and time. The only one not represented was men's basketball."

VonAppen said the meeting dealt primarily with retirement, contracts, relocations and salary scale.