Hawaii running back Mike Bass was diagnosed yesterday with a torn posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) in his right knee. Coach June Jones and team medical personnel said it is doubtful Bass will play Saturday at Boise State. Bass likely out
UH wants to avenge last year
for SaturdayBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.com"It looks like he'll be out," Jones said yesterday. "We'll see how it is Thursday or Friday, but I'm not anticipating he will play."
Bass suffered the injury in Saturday's 42-10 victory over Southern Methodist.
A PCL injury is generally not as serious as damage to other knee ligaments. UH running back Pesefea Fiaseu had a similar injury before training camp began in August. He returned to practice a month ago without undergoing surgery.
If Bass doesn't play, UH continues a streak it really doesn't want -- after every game so far, the Warriors have lost a key player to injury (see chart).
Jones said he doesn't know if starting cornerback Abraham Elimimian, who missed last week's game, will be able to play Saturday.
"We'll see how he is later in the week," Jones said.
Elimimian, who attended practice but did not participate, said he will be ready.
Backup linebacker Keani Alapa is questionable with a sprained left knee, but he practiced yesterday. Another backup linebacker, Tyrone Brown, nursed a tender left hamstring, and backup defensive back Omega Hogan was limited by flu symptoms. Reserve defensive lineman Colin Wills iced a sore right shoulder.
Peters principle: Safety Leonard Peters practiced with the first team yesterday, and pronounced himself back to top form after more than a month off due to abdominal injuries. Another game, another big injury
Position, name Game Injury Status DT Lui Fuga E. Illinois, Aug. 31 Broken ankle Out, maybe for season ST Jonathan Kauka BYU, Sept. 6 Sprained knee Out for season CB Abe Elimimian UTEP, Sept. 21 Strained hamstring Doubtful Saturday RB Mike Bass SMU, Sept. 28 Torn right PCL Doubtful Saturday Peters, who was projected to start before getting hurt in training camp, made his 2002 debut late in the first half against SMU and also played quite a bit in the fourth quarter.
"It was good to get out there," he said. "I'm glad I didn't just jump into this game as my first game. I'm glad I got something under my feet. I think I'm ready to go."
Name game: UH safeties Leonard Peters and Hyrum Peters are not related. Neither are Warrior linebackers Chris Brown and Tyrone Brown. Linebacker Matt Wright and defensive back Gary Wright are not kin.
Boise State running back David Mikell and Broncos defensive back Quintin Mikell do not share the same family tree, either.
Rhode vs. Rhode?: However, UH backup quarterback Jeff Rhode and BSU starting quarterback B.J. Rhode are brothers.
The Warriors have tried to pick Jeff Rhode's brain about his brother, who passed for five touchdowns in the Broncos' 63-38 victory over Utah State on Saturday.
"I've been asking him about him for two weeks now," defensive coordinator Kevin Lempa said.
"We've been talking about him the whole year," UH quarterback Shawn Withy-Allen said. "Jeff's my roommate. We were in the car last night and he called."
Rhode is UH's fourth-string quarterback. He usually doesn't make road trips, but Jones said yesterday he hadn't decided whether to take him to Boise. Rhode volunteered for special-teams duty to make that more likely.
"I asked if I could, but they said there's not enough time to get me ready," Rhode said.
Short yardage: Dick Tomey will provide color commentary for the ESPN Plus broadcast of the game, with Barry Tompkins on play-by-play. ... Boise State coach Dan Hawkins said junior cornerback Machtier Clay is not necessarily out of the doghouse after he was suspended for the Utah State game. Tight end Kevin Louwsma also was suspended last week. He won't play this week, but he will practice, Hawkins said.