Tuesday, August 28, 2001
Much of Warriors’ Three-fourths of the Hawaii football team's projected starting secondary was out of action at practice yesterday morning.
secondary on mend
Coaches say the injuries aren't
UH Notebook
serious, but worthy of attentionBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comSenior safeties Nate Jackson and Jacob Espiau and sophomore cornerback Hyrum Peters did some running, but were all sidelined by minor injuries. Those three are the only defensive backs who have started for the Warriors.
"I'm concerned," UH secondary coach Rich Miano said. "But the injuries aren't serious enough to worry about the first game (against Montana on Sept. 8) yet."
Coach June Jones echoed Miano.
"We're kind of still like last week with minor pulls, though Hyrum's was kind of major," Jones said. "We've still got two weeks so I think we'll be all right. If we had to play today those guys would play."
Espiau is bothered by a sore hamstring and a mild ankle sprain and Peters has had a pulled hamstring since last week. Jackson, undersized at 5-foot-10 and 168 pounds, is hobbled by pain from old foot and knee injuries.
"By letting (Jackson) sit out a couple days, that will help him," Miano said. "His body's so beat up, but obviously he needs to get back. But at the same time he needs to get stronger and rehab.
"Jacob's just resting his hamstring. Hyrum concerns me because it's been almost a week."
The only projected starter who fully practiced yesterday was cornerback Kelvin Millhouse; Miano said he's looked very good. Cornerbacks Abraham Elimimian, Josiah Cravalho and Gary Wright are battling for the spot behind Peters and Millhouse.
"The guys that back me up look solid," Peters said. "It's good they have more reps. They're improving every down."
Safeties Robert Grant, David Gilmore and Sean Butts have also made the most of the extra playing time with the starters out, Miano said.
"This is giving the other guys a lot of chances. I know Nate and Jake know what they're doing, I know they're going to play. I know Hyrum knows what he's doing, I know he's a good football player. We've got to develop depth," Miano said.
Espiau and Jackson, both named to the Western Athletic Conference second team last year, were in uniform yesterday. But they looked more like graduate assistants, showing younger teammates the way.
"Jake is my coach on the field," Miano said. "Jake Espiau is the consummate professional. He could step right into coaching. If I got sick today he could be a coach on the field.
"He's helping, Nate helps a little bit, too," he added. "All of them have to pay attention. We're working on some stuff that although they've done it before we need to get a lot better."
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