Rainbows Notebook

Head injury puts
Brooks’ future in doubt

Just when Rinda Brooks will play again is anyone's guess.

The top outside linebacker for the University of Hawaii underwent tests yesterday afternoon to make sure there's nothing wrong with his head.

The UH medical staff believes it's concussion-related, but team physician Andrew Nichols wants to be sure before allowing Brooks to buckle his chin strap. At this point, he is doubtful for this weekend's game with Arkansas State.

"He had a mild concussion last September after the UNLV game and another one during our bye week this year," Nichols said. "He took a good knock in Saturday's game that left him dazed. He also had a little amnesia, but I'm expecting him to play again this season. What we have to watch out for is the cumulative effect of these concussions."

UH head coach Fred vonAppen took a more pessimistic point of view. He recalled a player exhibiting similar symptoms during his coaching days at Pittsburgh.

"That guy just stood there when the play began," vonAppen said. "He had similar problems to Rinda's and doctors eventually wouldn't let him play. So we'll have to make a determination before we put Rinda back out there in the heat of battle."

Brooks has fought through a variety of ailments since joining the UH team nearly two years ago. He suffered a bad hamstring pull before fall camp that limited his playing time in the season-opening loss to Arizona.

"If Rinda can't go, our top two linebackers on that side are Mark Mollner and Houdini Jackson," UH defensive coordinator Tom Williams said. "Jackson has really come on the past few weeks. It's nice to know we'll have him for three more years.

"Hopefully, we can get Rinda healthy and back in there. But anytime you have a head injury, it's serious. You don't fool around with a head injury."

Hawaii has several other walking wounded. Cornerback Celnell Bobbitt and running back Anthony DiIeso will miss this game with stress fractures.

It also appears that strong safety Daniel Ho-Ching, outside linebacker Yaphet Warren and tight end Adrian Klemm will see limited playing time because of ongoing leg injuries.

ONE CAUGHT, ONE NOT: After further review, members of the UH coaching staff determined that Wesley Morris didn't catch his possible touchdown pass in the end zone. But they're convinced Dwight Carter caught his.

"Wesley's started to come off his hip as he fell to the turf," UH assistant Tim Green said. "But Dwight's was a catch. He had possession long enough for a touchdown. He didn't lose it until he hit the ground."

Morris, who hadn't seen the replay, was reluctant to give up the argument. But perhaps secondary coach Mickey Pruitt said it best, "They shouldn't have dropped either one of them. If they come up with the footballs on those two plays, we win."

QUARTERBACKS IN PLACE: UH offensive coordinator Don Lindsey wasn't ready to name a starter at quarterback, but it's likely to be Dan Robinson. The American Fork, Utah, native is No. 36 in the nation in passing efficiency. He has completed 23 of 49 passes for 363 yards with two touchdown tosses and no interceptions.

"He still has to come out here and earn it," Lindsey said. "I'm not going to give it to him. It will be that way every week."

VonAppen said if the game were tonight that Robinson would be the first under center. But that doesn't mean Josh Skinner won't see playing time. He came in and ran the option well on several key plays in the 30-21 loss at Utah.

MOVING ON UP: If the Scripps-Howard computer poll is accurate, Hawaii should be a 10-point favorite over Arkansas State.

The Rainbows jumped from No. 114 to No. 96 with a power rating of 81.8. By comparison, Ohio State is No. 1 with a rating of 117.2. The computer ranks the 233 teams that play Division I and Division I-AA football. Arkansas State is ranked No. 125 with a rating of 75.3.

To figure a possible line, you subtract the total rating points between the two, then add four to the home team.

IS IT A RECORD? It's not clear whether Kamuela Cobb-Adams' 97-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown is a UH record, but most folks are ready to concede it.

Longtime UH observers believe a 91-yard return for a touchdown in 1988 by cornerback Robert Lan was the previous long. Obviously, Cobb-Adams hopes it is.

"It would be great if it's the record because it felt good to make a play like that to help the team," Cobb-Adams said. "I just wish we could have won the game."

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By Paul Arnett