Advertisement - Click to support our sponsors.
Friday, August 18, 2000
Pads go on, The first day of pads produced two serious shoulder injuries yesterday for the University of Hawaii football team.
injuries flare up
Two University of Hawaii
football players sustain
serious shoulder injuries
during practiceUH FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK
By Paul Arnett
Star-BulletinStarting defensive tackle Lui Fuga went down with a strain to his right shoulder in a drill with the offensive linemen and will find out this morning if he is lost for the season. Strong safety Tavis Campbell was injured in a pileup during a team drill and could be out two-to-four weeks.
"I'll be back in a week or so, you can count on it," said Campbell, who defensive coordinator Kevin Lempa said had just worked his way into the starting lineup in the dime package.
Fuga wasn't quite as confident.
"I'm pretty worried about it," said Fuga, who has a redshirt year available to him. "They say I might have to have surgery and could be out for the season."
Hawaii head coach June Jones wasn't prepared to make a statement like that after the light night workout. He is hopeful Campbell and Fuga will be back on the field in time for the season opener against Portland State.
"Lui's shoulder could be an old injury he had before," Jones said. "We'll know more about it in the morning. Tavis might be out a week or so. The injuries are the kind of thing you expect once you put on the pads."
Wideout Craig Stutzmann also will be out a week or so, although his injury isn't quite as serious. The junior wideout rolled up his right ankle Wednesday night and is expected to miss anywhere from three to 10 days.
"With an ankle injury, you never really know," Jones said. "But we figure to have him back in there no later than next week."
Stutzmann said last night he was ready to come back sooner, but the coaches wanted him to take it easy for a few days.
"I see all the guys out there having fun," Stutzmann said. "It's tough watching from the sidelines."
Fuga also said it was tough to watch with his shoulder in a sling. The sophomore lay motionless on the grass for several moments, before being helped from the field in a golf cart.
It's the fourth injury this season. Junior quarterback Jared Flint suffered a tear to his rotator cuff and will likely have surgery this weekend. If so, he will be lost for the season. He said earlier this week that he will seek a medical hardship year from the NCAA.
UH Athletics
Ka Leo O Hawaii