Notebook
Thursday, October 16, 1997
The game against Fresno State last Saturday left the University of Hawaii football team badly battered and bruised. Defense hurting
for BYU gameThe Rainbows paid a heavy price for their first Western Athletic Conference win because down lineman Bob Pigott didn't make the trip to Provo, Utah, today due to a sprained knee and ankle.
"He just didn't look good in practice," UH head coach Fred vonAppen said after yesterday's workout at Cooke Field. "We've decided we're going to have to leave him behind."
Pigott recovered a fumble in the win over Fresno State before leaving the field late in the second quarter with a sprained knee ligament. He also injured his ankle on that play.
"I only have six games left in my career," Pigott said. "I don't want to miss any of them."
Fellow defensive lineman Matt Elam didn't make the trip, either. He is still bothered by a neck injury. That leaves the Rainbows with only six healthy linemen -- Ellie Kapihe, Ben Bright, Sam Collins, Miles Garner, Tony Tuioti and Olen Rosehill.
The news was only a little better at linebacker and in the secondary. With Stephen Gonzales out for the season and fellow linebackers Doug Rosevold (knee), Rufus Ayeni (knee) and Rinda Brooks (shoulder) slowed with minor ailments, that position isn't as deep as it was during fall camp.
Cornerback Al Hunter has recovered from the flu and a shoulder injury. He will start this weekend, but the news isn't as good for strong safety Chris Shinnick.
Not only does he still have a bad shoulder, but he suffered a minor concussion in the win over Fresno State as well. Doctors won't clear him to play until kickoff to make sure his head is OK.
"Concussions are very serious, no matter how mild," team physician Andrew Nichols said. "There can be a cumulative effect if you have serious head injuries over a period of time. Chris hasn't had a concussion since high school, but we want to watch him to make sure he's ready to take another blow to the head."
The Rainbows are beat up on the offensive side of the football, too. Quarterback Josh Skinner was stepped on during the Fresno State game, and hasn't been able to run wind sprints after practice.
Running back Charles Tharp won't be 100 percent, due to a shoulder injury he sustained on his second touchdown run last Saturday night. Trainers hope he will be 90 percent by Saturday's kickoff at BYU.
"It's still a little tender, but I'll be all right," Tharp said. "I'll be in there, no doubt about it."
Hawaii's offensive line also is nursing some nagging injuries. Guard Gary Krug has a bad knee and tackle Adrian Klemm is still slowed by a leg injury he sustained at Colorado State.
To make matters worse, center Shane Oliveira hasn't practiced this week because of strep throat. But he said he would be ready come Saturday.
"They're just resting me," Oliveira said. "I don't want to have any trace of this when we play in altitude. It's tough to breathe."
VonAppen conceded his team was banged up, but wasn't willing to offer any excuses.
"We have to play with who we have available to us," vonAppen said. "We're hurting right now, but so is everybody else at this point in the season."
NO WONG FEELINGS: Former Hawaii offensive lineman Hauoli Wong told the Salt Lake Tribune yesterday that there were no hard feelings between him and members of the UH football team.
"I just wanted to see the world," Wong said. "It wasn't because I wasn't happy at UH. I just needed a change."
Defensive end Ellie Kapihe was Wong's roommate last year at Barbers Point when Wong announced he was leaving the team the day before practice was to begin.
Kapihe will go face-to-face with Wong, who is the Cougars' starting left guard, this weekend.
"It will be fun going up against him," Kapihe said. "I remember him telling me the reason he was leaving was because he didn't want to play football anymore. Then the next thing I know, he's at BYU. So I'm not sure what to think."
Oliveira only smiled when hearing Wong's remarks. The center and Wong are cousins. He never told Oliveira his intentions of leaving UH or enrolling at BYU.
QUICK TRIP: The Rainbows practiced this morning at 6:30 before boarding a plane bound for Provo at 9:45 a.m.
VonAppen not only needed to get a full workout in, but he also wanted to hold a practice near the time of Saturday's kickoff, which is 8 a.m. (HST).
"We'll hold a light workout Friday at Cougar Stadium," vonAppen said. "We're coming back right after the game and will be back in Honolulu Saturday night."
--By Paul Arnett
If there is such a thing as a moral victory, Hawaii Pacific finished ahead on points last night. Silverswords make
By Cindy Luis
Seasiders work a little
Star-BulletinAgainst the NAIA's top-ranked Brigham Young-Hawaii women's volleyball team, the No. 24 Sea Warriors managed to:
Score in double figures, the first time the Seasiders had allowed that in seven matches;
"I can't tell you the last time I had to call a timeout," said Navalta after his Seasiders won the Hawaii Intercollegiate Athletic Conference match, 15-6, 15-5, 15-11, in 70 minutes. "I was waiting to call the timeout, wanting the girls to feel some pressure and work it out themselves.
"If we play to our level, we should take care of business. In the third set, we didn't do that and I give HPU credit for that. HPU played much better than the last time."
BYU-Hawaii, the three-time defending NAIA champion, left St. Andrew's Priory Gym with several streaks intact. The Seasiders (19-0) have not dropped a set in 12 matches and have not lost to the Sea Warriors in 14 meetings.
Beating BYU-Hawaii has become as difficult as blocking Arlete Silva, the Seasiders' sophomore middle blocker and leading candidate for NAIA Player of Year. Last night, Silva hit a phenomenal .900 in Game 2 en route to .700 for the match with 14 kills in 20 swings and no errors.
"Arlete is very quick and she can really juke a blocker out," said HPU hitter Nina McClinton, one of four Sea Warriors playing their last home match. "She jumps very high and is too quick for us.
"Still, it was much better than the first time we met them. We showed we still have heart and it's not over yet."
The win clinches the home court for the Seasiders in the NAIA Far West-Hawaii playoffs. The teams meet again at Cannon Activities Center next Wednesday.
"Hopefully, our girls got a taste of what it was to get on a roll and fight," said HPU coach Tita Ahuna.
http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu
