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Friday, August 18, 2000

Fuamatu-Ma‘afala
should be back for
Pittsburgh opener

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Staff and wire reports

Hawaii's Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala said he will miss the Pittsburgh Steelers' last two exhibition games but will be ready for the season opener on Sept. 3 against the Baltimore Ravens.

Fuamatu-Ma'afala, who played for St. Louis School and the University of Utah, accompanied the Steelers (3-0) to Mexico City where Pittsburgh will play the Indianapolis Colts tomorrow night.

He left last week's game against Carolina with bruised ribs after rushing for 19 yards on four carries and setting up a touchdown. Pittsburgh won the game, 13-0.

Fuamatu-Ma'afala believes he incurred the rib injury while rushing for 122 yards on 15 carries in a 13-10 victory against Miami the week before.

In the Miami game, he also scored a touchdown and broke a 60-yard run that set up a critical field goal.

"My ribs are getting better," said Fuamatu-Ma'afala, a third-year pro.

Mili is backup Seattle tight end

Fourth-year pro Itula Mili, who played for Kahuku High School and Brigham Young University, is a backup tight end for the Seahawks (1-1).

White competes for backup role

Former Farrington High School and University of California fullback Josh White will be looking for quality playing time in the San Francisco 49ers' game against host Seattle tomorrow.

White is competing with veteran Terry Jackson for the backup role behind starting fullback Fred Beasley. The club has indicated it will keep only two at the position and the final decision might come down to special teams play.

Jackson led the 49ers in special teams tackles last season. But White helped himself in Sunday's 33-10 win at Kansas City with a fumble recovery.

"You have to be perfect on everything you do here," said White, who's had plenty of time to show his blocking ability in an offense similar to what he ran at California.

White is rooming with former University of Hawaii receiver Dwight Carter, also a rookie.

While former UH linebacker Jeff Ulbrich seems assured of a job in his rookie season, White and Carter are crossing their fingers they'll make it past Tuesday's cuts.