Bass may redshirt
if knee doesn’t improve

The Hawaii senior aggravated
a nagging knee injury during
the opener against Florida Atlantic

Hawaii running back Michael Bass may redshirt this season due to a knee injury, Warrior head coach June Jones said yesterday.

Mike Bass: The senior running back could receive a medical redshirt

Bass, a senior, had been bothered by the injury over the summer and aggravated it in UH's season-opening loss to Florida Atlantic on Sept. 4. Jones said he won't be available for Saturday's Western Athletic Conference game at Rice.

"It's looking like we may medically redshirt him," Jones said. "We're trying to get it well, and we've got some senior running backs right now, so we'll see how it goes."

Bass, who led UH in rushing as a freshman in 2001, saw limited action against FAU, carrying the ball twice for a total of 5 yards. He didn't participate in practice over the past week.

"It's been a nagging injury, he's had it almost all summer and just hasn't been up to par," UH running backs coach Wes Suan said.

"It's a knee and leg kind of deal. It just doesn't have the strength and it's always tight on him. There's no sense trying to get him to play when he's not ready."

Bass hasn't used a redshirt year since arriving in Manoa in 2001. He ran for a team-high 591 yards in 12 games that season. He played in 11 games each of the next two years, gaining 319 yards in 2002 and 311 last year. He has rushed for seven touchdowns in his UH career.

Bass has also caught 53 passes for 457 yards and a TD.

"It's just too bad in his senior year because I know he's worked hard in the weight room and he's a veteran guy," Suan said.

Should Bass redshirt, his return next season would give the Warriors a seasoned ball-carrier as UH's top two backs on the depth chart -- Michael Brewster and West Keli'ikipi -- are also seniors.

Brewster carried the ball just six times in the opener, but took two into the end zone in the Warriors' 35-28 overtime loss to FAU. He also caught six passes for 26 yards.

The Warriors had a bye week to stew on the loss and prepare to face a Rice team that also had a week off.

"A bye week drains you because you watch the other games and you want to play," Brewster said. "To get back on the field again is a wonderful thing."

Keli'ikipi's recovery from knee surgery slowed his progress in the offseason and he didn't suit up for the FAU game. He recently returned to practice and is slated to back up Brewster this week.

Keli'ikipi said he is more ready than ever after finally putting two knee surgeries behind him. Last year, he scored the first touchdown in UH's 41-21 victory over Rice.

"I think I'm more mature at my position this year. I know where the blockers are, who to pick up and what angles to take," he said. "I'm really happy and excited to be playing. Now's my chance to shine."

Junior Bryan Maneafaiga has also worked his way into the running back rotation during practice and will make the trip to Houston.

Maneafaiga was born in Waianae but graduated from a California high school and transferred to UH from Los Medanos College. He caught the attention of the coaches during spring drills. Then known as Bryan Hinton, Maneafaiga carried three times for 50 yards in the Warriors' spring game.

"He's not a true veteran yet, but he's showing some signs of being a capable player and that's kinda fun," Suan said.