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Warriors Notebook

Injury list
keeps growing

The injury list for the University of Hawaii is growing more rapidly than defensive coordinator Kevin Lempa ever imagined.

At the start of training camp, the assistant coaches on that side of the football were bragging about the depth of the Warriors' squad. But no more.

Free safety Nate Jackson is the latest casualty of practice. Stretching out to knock down a pass during the team phase, Jackson came down wrong on his left foot, and suffered a mild sprain.

That injury alone wouldn't be cause for alarm, but it's one of several the Warriors have suffered in recent days. Also sidelined are defensive linemen Joe Correia (ankle), Doug Sims (knee) and Lui Fuga (shoulder), and safety Tavis Campbell (shoulder).

It's enough to keep Lempa up nights trying to figure out who will go where over the next several practices.

"None of the injuries are that serious, except for Lui's," Lempa said after yesterday's morning workout. "But we've got a lot of guys down who are missing important practice repetitions.

"I was looking out there today and I saw a lot of our starters standing on the sidelines. Suddenly, we're not as deep as we used to be.

"In 1984, our Boston College team that finished fourth in the nation had the same offensive and defensive starters in the opener as we did against Houston in the Cotton Bowl. Staying healthy is one key to a good season."

The defensive unit isn't the only one experiencing aches and pains. The offense lost quarterback Jared Flint (shoulder) for the season, while wideout Craig Stutzmann (ankle) and offensive lineman Doug Gosling (foot) have yet to return since suffering injuries last week.

"These injuries really aren't that serious," UH head coach June Jones said. "They are just aches and pains. We expect most of these guys to be back in there over the next few days."

Flint's surgery successful

Flint stood on the sideline yesterday morning, his arm in a protective sling, feeling fortunate the season-ending surgery he had on Saturday went well.

"They told me I would be in this sling for two to four weeks," Flint said yesterday. "They didn't find anything in there that they didn't already know.

"It's disappointing to miss the season, but they said I should have my full range of motion back and be able to compete by next spring. That's good news."

Team doctors said there was a tear to the rotator cuff in Flint's right shoulder. He will be sidelined from six to nine months.

"I'm going to petition the NCAA for a sixth season," said Flint, who already has used his redshirt year. "I know it's a long shot, but all they can say is no."

Defensive shifts

For anyone who has attended practice the past several days, you might have noticed cornerbacks Shawndel Tucker and Feiamma Armstrong flipping sides of the field.

Tucker is normally lined up on the left side with Armstrong taking the right half of the field. Last week, Lempa and his assistants had them switch so they can learn how to play each other's spot should an injury occur.

"We want them to be comfortable on both sides of the field in case we need to switch them," assistant coach Rich Miano said last week. "Normally, you have your strongest cornerback on the left because most of the time teams throw to the right side."

Lempa didn't limit that theory to only the secondary. The UH defensive coordinator also switched the defensive ends this week so they could be familiar with those respective spots on the field should an injury occur.

Chris Brown shifted from left end to right end yesterday, partly because Correia is down, but also so he could learn to play both end positions.

"Last year, when Joe went down for a couple of games and had to switch ends when he came back, we didn't really have anybody we could just put in there," defensive line coach Vantz Singletary said. "Joe, Chris and Laanui (Correa) are learning to play both sides, so that should help us as the season progresses."

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By Paul Arnett