Fuga makes
UH travel roster
Lui Fuga's latest comeback begins against the same opponent he began his Hawaii football career against in 1999.
The defensive tackle's broken ankle is finally healed enough to make coach June Jones feel Fuga can make a contribution. Fuga is on the travel squad for Saturday's game at fourth-ranked USC, the same team UH lost to 62-7 in Jones' and Fuga's first game as Warriors in 1999.
"It looks like he'll be making the trip," Jones said yesterday.
Jones did not reveal the rest of the travel roster.
Fuga, UH's best defensive lineman in 2000, missed the entire 2001 season with shoulder injuries. He missed all of last year except for a few plays of last year's season-opening game against Eastern Illinois. He suffered a broken ankle that he has spent the last year rehabbing.
"It still hurts sometimes, but I can play," said Fuga, who has moved up to the second-team defense. "Watching the first game was kind of hard, because it was a year since that sad day. But I'm ready to go now."
Fuga will help spell starting tackles Isaac Sopoaga and Lance Samuseva.
Injured Trojans: Tight end Alex Holmes (back), wide receiver D. Hale (ankle), safety Terrell Thomas (shoulder) and cornerback Eric Wright (hamstring) are listed as out for USC.
Defensive end Van Brown (groin), fullback Brandon Hancock (ankle), offensive tackle Eric Torres (ankle), defensive end Jay Bottom (leg) and linebacker Marco Chavez (foot) are all questionable.
Linebacker Lofa Tatupu (concussion) and safety Darnell Bing (ankle), both starters, are listed as probable.
Tatupu is the son of former Punahou, USC and New England Patriots running back Mosi Tatupu.
Chavez attended UH and spring drills in 2002 before transferring to USC.
Nicked up Warriors: Starting slot receiver Chad Owens remained on the sideline with an infected cut on his left ankle, but is expected back today.
Owens was joined yesterday by starting right wide receiver Jeremiah Cockheran (mild strain of right knee) and starting right tackle Brandon Eaton (cramps). Both are expected back today or tomorrow.
Offensive lineman DeJuan Gatling (high ankle sprain) and linebacker Timo Paepule (shoulder surgery) are both out and are likely to redshirt, anyway, since both are true freshmen.
Around the WAC: Louisiana Tech running back Ralph Davis, Nevada defensive end Jorge Cordova and Fresno State kicker Brett Visintainer were named the Western Athletic Conference players of the week.
Short yardage: USC offensive coordinator Norm Chow's brother, Mike, is scheduled to be the pilot of UH's charter flight to the mainland Thursday. ... Trojans wide receiver Keary Colbert is a cousin of former UH receiver Justin Colbert.
