WARRIOR FOOTBALL
Hamstring keeping Soares on sidelines
The sad, mysterious saga of Blaze Soares and his injury woes continues.
Fresno State (6-3, 5-1 WAC) at Hawaii (8-0, 5-0)
When: Tomorrow, 6:07 p.m.
Where: Aloha Stadium
TV: ESPN (blacked-out locally), Oceanic PPV, Ch. 255
Radio: KKEA 1420-AM
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Yesterday, two days before undefeated and 14th-ranked Hawaii's biggest game to date, against rival Fresno State, the hard-hitting linebacker was minus his helmet at practice, hanging out on the sideline.
"I'm on vacation," Soares said, trying to make the best of it with a joke.
On Monday, the fan favorite re-aggravated the pulled hamstring that kept him out of the first four games. Although the Warriors are fine at linebacker with Brad Kalilimoku, Adam Leonard and Solomon Elimimian, a healthy Soares would give UH a big boost against the physical Bulldogs.
"He's day-to-day," defensive coordinator Greg McMackin said of Soares, not sounding very hopeful.
"I don't know what else to do," said Soares, who has used rest, hydrotherapy and massage to try to rehab the hamstring. A recurring shoulder stinger doesn't help either.
Starting running back Kealoha Pilares has also not practiced and is not expected to play.
Fresno State, underdogs by more than two touchdowns, also have injury woes.
Running back Ryan Mathews and tight end Bear Pascoe are among the ailing Bulldogs, but both could still play tomorrow.