Football Notebook

Extra day off comes
at right time

Fred vonAppen decided the best thing for his University of Hawaii football team was a three-day weekend.

The UH coaches are taking part in the annual Na Koa Club golf tournament today. VonAppen had thought about making up a missed practice tomorrow, but decided against it after looking at the injury list.

"We're pretty banged up right now," vonAppen said. "The players need a break and so do we as coaches. We'll come back on Monday ready to go at it again."

Hawaii didn't conduct a scheduled practice last week because of rain. That one will probably be made up on Tuesday, April 28. VonAppen already had a Monday practice set for that week to make up for the one missed today.

"We can have 15 practices in the spring," vonAppen said. "So far, we've had eight. We're going to have five next week and probably two the following week. But just how much contact we'll have depends on our health."

VonAppen has all but abandoned the idea of holding any scrimmages. According to NCAA rules, teams are allowed three. But with only two healthy quarterbacks, one available center and three offensive tackles able to have full contact, it seems unlikely that anything resembling a game will be played.

"Scrimmages and spring games are things of the past, especially with the scholarship limits," vonAppen said. "You don't have the depth you used to have. We want to work some guys, but we have to be careful how we do that."

INJURY UPDATE: Defensive backs Jason Vaughn and Donnell Williams were unable to practice yesterday because of injuries.

Williams said he was out for the spring because of a nasty hamstring pull. He tried to come back on Monday, but wasn't able to go full speed.

Vaughn injured his neck in Wednesday's practice, but said he will be ready for full contact by Monday's workout.

Center Chris Smith is out with a sprained ankle. Running back Afatia Thompson and tight end Zeff Ah Quinn also missed full contact with hamstring pulls.

Quarterback Jason Skinner could return early next week to throw the football, but team physicians said yesterday he will not have any more contact because of the concussion he suffered Monday.

Daniel Ho-Ching missed yesterday's workout because his 1-year-old baby was ill.

OSWALT WON'T KICK: Former UH place-kicker Carlton Oswalt turned down an offer to play with the Hawaii indoor football team.

"After the tryout Wednesday night, they offered me the job, but I turned it down," Oswalt said. "I'm going home to Georgia in a few weeks and I didn't want to play in only three games, then leave them high and dry."

Oswalt is hoping to be accepted into a physical therapy school in Georgia. He said he would know in the next few days.

"I could have used that extra money, but it wouldn't be right," Oswalt said. "I told them I was a team player and I think they appreciated that."

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--By Paul Arnett