Rosevold declared himself fit for duty after yesterday's practice, but conceded his playing time in tomorrow's Western Athletic Conference game with Fresno State could be limited.

"My knee is still not stable, so I figure if I get hit wrong I'm going down," the senior linebacker said. "I felt the same way in the UNLV game about my shoulder.

"I knew it was just a matter of time in that game when I wouldn't be able to play anymore. It just happened to occur in the third quarter. The same thing could happen again with my knee."

UH head coach Fred vonAppen didn't said he didn't think Rosevold was completely recovered from the mild knee sprain he suffered in last week's loss at Colorado State. So, Rosevold's playing time will be determined by the coaches.

The decision for Shinnick isn't quite as clear-cut. He suffered some nerve damage in his shoulder during the second quarter at Colorado State. He still has some numbness loss of strength.

The senior strong safety, who is tied with Rosevold for the team lead in tackles with 43, was set to see a doctor today to determine if there was a problem in his neck that was causing the numbness.

If not, and the numbness in his shoulder goes away before tomorrow night's kickoff, Shinnick also could play. But his status is still doubtful, while Rosevold's remains questionable.

"I'll probably have to tackle somebody from the sidelines to keep close to Doug," Shinnick said, then smiled. "I'm still going to suit up, regardless of whether I play or not, to help the guys on the field. If it were up to me, I would play. But it isn't. I don't want to do any permanent damage down the road, that's for sure."

Ron Wood will replace Shinnick at strong safety. The rotation at linebacker isn't quite as clear, but Mark Jenkins, Stephen Gonzales, Matt Paul and Kekoa Kilcoyne will figure in the equation.

The news was similar along the defensive front. Top left tackles Matt Elam (neck) and Ben Bright (ankle) are still bothered by chronic injuries. Elam is definitely out; Bright is listed as doubtful. As vonAppen put it, "Ben still has a cut tire as they would say in Winston Cup."

CAREY TAKING TOSSES: Tim Carey has spent the last two days throwing and playing catch with members of the UH training staff as part of his rehabilitation.

The senior said yesterday he hopes to be back later this month. He has been sidelined since injuring his shoulder late in the Nevada-Las Vegas game nearly three weeks ago. The UH trainers said they are hopeful he'll be ready to play against Air Force Nov. 1.

"I feel a lot better," Carey said after Wednesday's practice. "I can throw it about 10 yards. I still have to wear the harness, so I don't lift my shoulder too quickly."

SMITH DONATION MADE: The California Hotel donated $5,000 to the Shannon Smith Memorial fund. It's the largest single donation so far.

This donation brings the total to $23,000. The fund was established in memory of Smith, who drowned last spring, while saving the life of vonAppen's youngest son.

The donation is in association with a tailgate party that took place before the Hawaii-UNLV game. About 900 people took part in the California Hotel function.

"We're very appreciative of the California Hotel for their long-standing support of UH athletics, and this donation is another outstanding example of their loyal support of the Rainbows," UH athletic director Hugh Yoshida said in a press release.

Additional donations are being accepted by the UH foundation office. For more information, call Helena Sena at 956-6748.

MACON BACK AT PRACTICE: Wide receiver and backup quarterback Johnny Macon returned to practice yesterday after missing Wednesday to be with his wife, who suffered her second miscarriage this year.

VonAppen said Macon would remain the No. 2 quarterback behind starter Josh Skinner. Redshirt freshman Jerimi Bourland is No. 3.

Wahine lose one only
a mudder could love

By Al Chase
Star-Bulletin

The University of Hawaii women's soccer team will not be known as mudders after last night, at least not until every Wahine decides to wear shoes with molded rubber cleats.

Minutes before the start of the Western Athletic Conference Pacific Division opener against Utah at Ala Wai Field, the rain came down hard and held steady through much of the match.

The portion of the field that includes the baseball infield between first and second base was a quagmire. The ball didn't bounce, it skipped like a flat rock thrown across a quiet pond, accelerating instead of slowing.

The elements, combined with the quickness, speed and, for most of the match, deft one-touch passing of Utah, was too much for the Wahine (6-6-1 overall, 0-1-0 conference). The Utes scored early and late for a 2-0 victory.

"I think Hawaii has a lot of speed up top (forward line), but we had better team speed," said Utah head coach Amy Freeman Wins-low. "We played with the feet, we played well, but when we played long ball we were in trouble."

Dominique Barcellona scored both goals for Utah (7-6-0, 1-0-0 WAC).

The first came at seven minutes, 11 seconds off a sweet pass from Staci Burt, who, with her back to the goal, flicked a ball over the head of a UH defender to the waiting Barcellona.

The second came with seven minutes to play. Barcellona was in the right spot as the UH defense botched an attempt to clear the ball. She intercepted and scored from 20 yards out.

"The rain put us out of the game. That's not an excuse, it's a fact," UH head coach Pinsoom Tenzing said. "Half of the team wore flats instead of molded cleats. They say the shoes with cleats hurt their feet.

"The Utes were the better team on a rainy day and their one-touch killed us."

As UH midfielder Jennifer Hamm put it, "They played like it was a nice sunny day."

The best scoring opportunities for the Wahine came at the end of the first half on a close-range shot by Tricia Nishikawa, a direct free kick by Hamm and a 15-yarder by Valerie Marciel off a pass from Melissa Moore.

Utah goalkeeper Tawni Martineau was equal to the task. She blocked Nishikawa's shot out of bounds and made a leaping fist save on Hamm, punching the ball over the cross bar. Marciel's attempt sailed over the cross bar.

Martineau had six saves in the match. UH goalkeeper Amanda Paterson was credited with one.

The Wahine host Brigham Young tomorrow night at 7 at Ala Wai. The Cougars won't be in a very good mood after losing for the first time this season, 3-0, to San Diego State yesterday.

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Murrell tries
to keep island ties

By Pat Bigold
Star-Bulletin

Even though he's the toast of the Meadowlands these days, former Leilehua High School all-stater Adrian Murrell misses Hawaii.

"I think about it all the time," said Murrell, the National Football League's third leading rusher (behind Terrell Davis of Denver and Robert Smith of Minnesota) with 591 yards on 141 carries for the New York Jets.

"I try to get out there every year. Last year I didn't make it. But this year I think I'm going to be out there with my family," Murrell said.

He could be here courtesy of the NFL Pro Bowl if his season continues on its present roll.

"That's the accomplishment a lot of players would like to have, but it seems a little premature for me to say I think I'm going to be there," said Murrell.

Last season, he earned recognition as one of the NFL's most effective backs when he rushed for 1,249 yards despite playing for a team that won only one game. He was only the third running back in league history to gain over 1,000 yards for a team with such a record.

Now, on course for his NFL career-best season, Murrell has become a media magnet. His free time is swallowed up by TV, radio and print media interviews. He even has his own internet website.

Yet he longs for the islands where he spent four years of his life. And, from the tone of his voice, it's easy to tell that Murrell finds big-city life lacking in aloha.

"The difference here is the mentality of the people," he said. "It's a little friendlier environment in the islands. Out here, it's not really so bad with the cold weather, but the culture is different. It's hard to put into words how people act here, but let me just say it's different."

Murrell said there are people he still calls every now and then in the Wahiawa area.

"I had a lot of great experiences out there, even though I wasn't raised there," he said. "I had a lot of great memories. I have to give those people credit for letting me have those memories."

Asked if he ever thinks of his high school and its football team, Murrell was quick to respond.

"I definitely have thought about the Leilehua Mules," he said. "I wonder how they're doing and what the town is like out there these days."

Murrell had a career-high 40 carries while amassing 156 yards in the Jets' 31-14 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals two weekends ago.

"That was definitely the first time I'd carried 40 times in a game but it didn't feel that much different from carrying 30 or 25 times," he said. "In my running style, I don't take that many clean shots, so I felt good. My body felt OK."

The son of a U.S. Army command sergeant major, Murrell is used to discipline, so playing for Bill "The Tuna" Parcells, one of the NFL's toughest taskmasters, suits him.

In fact, he finds that he suits Parcells.

"Oh it's great. When Bill was coming in, he had high regard for me. He voted for me to go to the Pro Bowl last year. To get a vote from a guy like that is a big compliment.

"When I found out he was going to be the head coach here, we got together and talked and we have a good relationship right now."

What does he think he needs to improve?

"I've told people I want to be a better blocker coming into the season," said Murrell. "I was never called upon very much in high school or college to block, so I did not have a blocker's mentality. But that's what I'm trying to work on."

Former Kalaheo High lineman Siupeli Malamala plays offensive tackle for the Jets.

" 'Soup' and I spend quite a bit of time together," said Murrell.

BROSTEK ON INJURED RESERVE: The St. Louis Rams placed center Bern Brostek, hampered since training camp by a back injury, on the injured reserve list yesterday.

Brostek, 31, was a star at Iolani School in Honolulu and at Washington. He was a first-round pick in 1990 and had started 35 consecutive games before this season. The ailment has sidelined him since July 21, and he hasn't played since starting Sept. 14 at Denver.

TANUVASA NO. 2 IN SACKS: Mililani's Maa Tanuvasa, who had three sacks against the New England Patriots in the Denver Broncos' 34-13 win on Monday Night Football, is second in the NFL in sacks now with six.

Leading the league is Wayne Martin of New Orleans with 7.5.

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http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu