NCAA is considering
12-game season for all

The NCAA Division I management council took the first step yesterday for schools to add a 12th regular-season game in football, starting with the 2002 season.

Under current rules, only Hawaii, teams playing at Hawaii, and those playing in preseason exempt games may play 12 regular-season games.

The proposal must go before the Division I membership before any other action can be taken.

The council also gave initial approval to a proposal that would eliminate all preseason exempt games in football after the 2002 season. A 12th game would be allowed only in years in which there are 14 Saturdays from the first authorized playing date through the last one in November.

There will be five 14-Saturday seasons over the next two decades, in the years 2002, 2003, 2008, 2013, 2014 and 2019.

"Both the athletic director (Hugh Yoshida) and myself are concerned about this because it will have an impact on us," UH head coach Fred vonAppen said before yesterday's practice. "It means we're going to have to pay a travel subsidy those years and that will have an impact on our bottom line.

"I don't think it's in the best interest of our team to play 13 games those seasons, even if the NCAA lets us. It's tough enough getting the kids through school playing 12 games, and primarily, we're in the education business."

HO-CHING RETURNS: Safety Daniel Ho-Ching returned to the lineup yesterday after missing a week because of the chicken pox. He will see plenty of playing time Saturday against New Mexico.

"We're glad to have him back," vonAppen said. "It would be presumptuous of us to expect him to play the whole game. He won't be able to start."

VonAppen will go with Nate Jackson at free safety and Damien Arafiles at strong safety. The backups are Ho-Ching and Anthony Smith, who is the leading tackler on the team with 39.

"I was really pleased with the play of our young freshmen safeties," vonAppen said. "Those guys have earned the right to start back there. Damien's a really good kid. He doesn't say a lot, but he's in there making the right decisions."

Arafiles went down in fall camp with a nasty ankle sprain that forced him to miss the first month of the season. The premed major started last week against BYU at strong safety, finishing with seven tackles.

"The young guys have stepped up and done a good job," Ho-Ching said. "It seems like it's always something with me, but I don't let all the illness and injuries get me down. You just have to play through it and help the team any way you can."

Donnell Williams took part in yesterday's practice with a cast on his right hand. He had a pin put in his thumb on Monday to correct ligament damage. The senior will play at cornerback, but will not start.

SKINNER MUST PLAY: UH junior quarterback Josh Skinner was hoping to redshirt, but vonAppen and offensive coordinator Don Lindsey don't believe he can.

Skinner has played in four games, one more than the minimum allowed by Western Athletic Conference rules for a 12-game season. The catch is, he only had one snap in the loss to Arkansas State and he held for one play in the San Diego State game.

"Precedence is still against him," vonAppen said. "He still appeared in four games and that's one too many to get a medical hardship."

Skinner has been plagued with concussions and a nasty hamstring pull for several weeks. He has taken only two snaps the last four games, but still figures in the rotation this weekend.

"The third guy would be either Josh or Shawn Withy-Allen," said Lindsey, who already has said Withy-Allen will redshirt barring some kind of disaster. Starter Dan Robinson was dinged twice in the last two games, putting backup Bronson Liana on alert.

"We think Dan is going to be fine," Lindsey said. "But one blow to the head could sideline him."

BACK AT QB: Defensive back Ricky Lumford got to show off a little of his option skills during yesterday's workout.

The cornerback displayed good footwork against the UH defense, simulating the option phase of New Mexico's offense quite well.

"It felt good to be out there playing quarterback again," Lumford said. "It's fun. It also helps our top defense get a look at what New Mexico might run, so I'm making a contribution."

INJURY UPDATE: The list of players out for this weekend's game is long and distinguished. The top players missing in action are linebackers Jeff Ulbrich (knee), Rinda Brooks (concussion), and Steve Dietschy (knee), safety Phil Austin (knee) and fullback Calvin Mims (knee).

FALLING DOWN: Hawaii slipped to No. 150 in the latest Scripps-Howard computer poll that rates the 232 Division I and I-AA teams.

The Rainbows' power rating is 70.6. Ohio State is No. 1 with a power rating of 118.8. That means on a neutral field, the Buckeyes would be favored by seven touchdowns.

This Saturday's opponent, New Mexico, is ranked No. 107 with a power rating of 79.8. Factoring in the four points for home-field advantage, Hawaii should be a 5-point underdog. The spread out of Nevada has New Mexico favored by 71/2 points.

---

By Paul Arnett, Star-Bulletin