Grass fields
unfit for practice

If you want to see what the Hawaii coaching staff believes is symbolic to the many problems plaguing the football program, go take a look at the lower campus field.

Late last week, campus officials mowed the grass and put holes in the field to help soften it, unaware that a torrent of rain would hit the Manoa area over the weekend, leaving the football practice field looking like a quagmire.

''I saw some students sliding all over the mud and just having a grand time,'' place-kicker Eric Hannum said, who helped tend his high school football field. ''You couldn't practice on that thing for at least three weeks. There's no grass left.''

It's rare for a Division I program not to have its own closed-in grass field. This is one of the things UH head coach Fred vonAppen believes is necessary to provide the proper practice environment.

''It's not like we're asking for things that probably every Division I program already has in place,'' vonAppen said. ''An enclosed grass practice field affords some privacy and keeps the field in safe shape.''

UH trainers don't want to venture a guess how many leg and shoulder injuries were attributed to the grass fields. But suffice it to say, Hawaii preferred to practice on the rock-hard artificial surface of Cooke Field.

Hawaii had 54 players treated for injuries prior to yesterday's light workout. Several players said the two fields have taken their toll on the team.

''Something has to be done about it, no matter who is here,'' vonAppen said.

LIGHT PRACTICE: So many coaches remained on the mainland after the loss at Fresno State to do some recruiting, vonAppen decided to have a light practice to allow the players some time to sooth their physical aches and mental pains.

''I didn't even go to the Quarterback Club because we were a little behind on our preparations,'' vonAppen said. ''Some of the guys got in so late, we needed all day to catch up.''

The Rainbows will get back to their regular routine today in preparation for Saturday's game against Northwestern. All they did yesterday was review film and do a little running in the light rain at Cooke Field.

RECRUITING TRAILS: Hawaii's coaches did some heavy recruiting on Sunday in preparation for the 1999 signing period.

UH recruiting coordinator Don Dillon said the Rainbows already have about half the scholarships locked up with walk-ons and players they grayshirted last season.

He also said the Rainbows probably won't bring in any junior college prospects in the early signing period next month. The only player Hawaii brought in last year at the midterm was linebacker Jeff Ulbrich.

''We're going to target certain areas with the 13 or so scholarships we'll have left,'' Dillon said. ''We need to sign a breakaway back and some high school linemen we can develop over a couple of years.

''We also want to give scholarships to some of our current players like Bronson Liana and Nate Jackson. We're making some progress on the mainland and with our local recruits.''

Hawaii is in the running for talented local running back Joe Igber of Iolani School. He seemed to enjoy his visit the weekend of the Brigham Young game. UH coaches believe the main competition is California.

INJURY REPORT: Quarterback Bronson Liana (ankle) and cornerback James Polk (shoulder) were upgraded to probable yesterday by the UH medical staff for this Saturday's matchup with Northwestern.

After Saturday's game at Fresno State, Polk didn't appear fit for duty. Neither did Liana, who missed most of the game with a sprained ankle. Linebackers Rinda Brooks (concussion), Steve Dietschy (knee), and Jeff Ulbrich (knee), and quarterback Josh Skinner (hamstring) are out. Linebacker Stephen Gonzales (shoulder), and offensive linemen Aaron Leverenz (knee) and Adrian Klemm (knee) are doubtful.

---

By Paul Arnett