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Saturday, August 19, 2000

Good news
for Fuga:
No surgery

UH's starting defensive
tackle will miss practices and
will be playing in pain

Warriors football notebook

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By Paul Arnett
Star-Bulletin

The report on Lui Fuga's shoulder yesterday was mixed. The good news is, he won't require surgery that would have put him on the sidelines for good this season. The bad news is, much like last year, he will have to play through the pain of the strain he suffered in Thursday's practice.

"It's pretty similar to what he had last year," University of Hawaii head coach June Jones said after yesterday's nearly four-hour workout on the grass fields. "If he had surgery to repair the tear, he would be out for the year."

The starting defensive tackle will be kept out of practice until the week of the Portland State game. Even then, contact on the shoulder will be limited.

Fuga was relieved he didn't have to have season-ending surgery, but was disappointed he would be out of practice for the next two weeks. During yesterday's offensive-defensive line drills, Fuga watched attentively, congratulating players one minute, consoling others the next.

"I already miss it," Fuga said. "I was glad I didn't have to have surgery. I can play through the pain. I did last year."

Should it become too painful, Fuga has a redshirt year available to him. According to NCAA rules, Fuga could also seek a medical hardship if he doesn't play more than three games this season.

"We're just going to see how he is in a couple of weeks and take it from there," Jones said. "Hopefully, he can make it through the season because we definitely need him in there."

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