Tuesday, September 29, 1998
UH loses Gonzales
for a month
The Dick Butkus Award
By Paul Arnett
nominee suffered torn
ligaments in his ankle
Star-BulletinStephen Gonzales didn't wear his crutches well.
Hawaii's only Dick Butkus Award nominee watched the first of at least a month of practices yesterday from the sidelines at Cooke Field. Most of the time the senior inside linebacker for the Rainbows looked down at the soft cast on his left ankle, shaking his head in disappointment and disbelief.
What was first thought to be a mild sprain has transformed into three ripped ligaments in the left ankle that will sideline Gonzales for at least four games.
"I was engaged with the guard and their tight end came down and stepped on the back of my foot," Gonzales said of the third-degree ankle sprain that occurred in the second half of the 20-0 loss to Arkansas State.
"At first, it didn't hurt that much. I was able to run, but my ankle kept wobbling," the Newport Beach, Calif., resident said. "That's when I first suspected that something was really wrong."
Jeff Ulbrich, who has played two games with a broken hand, will step in for Gonzales. Joaquin Avila will see some playing time as well at that inside spot opposite Matt Paul. Redshirt freshman Bobby Morgan also moves into the rotation. He shifted to linebacker after being recruited from Benicia (Calif.) High in 1997 as a fullback.
But no matter what moves defensive coordinator Tom Williams makes, Gonzales will be sorely missed.
"Guys looked for him to make big plays," Williams said of Gonzales, who has 16 tackles in three games, including one quarterback sack. "Anytime you don't have that element, it kind of holds you back."
This is another in a long line of injuries for Gonzales since he joined the team in 1996. He earned a medical hardship last year because of chronic back problems and an ankle injury.
"It's disappointing because I won't be able to help our guys on the field," Gonzales said. "I'll just have to find other ways to contribute until I can get back in there."
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