Two injured Hawaii football players, running back Mike Bass and cornerback Abraham Elimimian, were not on UH's tentative travel roster yesterday as the team prepared for Saturday's game at Boise State. Bass, Elimimian probably
won’t make road tripBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comThe Warriors were scheduled to practice once more on campus this morning before leaving this afternoon for the program's first visit to BSU. It was conceivable that the players could be added to the list if they practiced this morning, but that was unlikely. Elimimian, who has already missed one game with a pulled right hamstring, practiced yesterday morning. Bass, who has a partial PCL tear in his right knee, did not practice.
"I would anticipate he would not play this week," said Hawaii coach June Jones, who made a similar comment regarding Elimimian, who will be replaced again by freshman Kenny Patton.
"Probably not this week. I'm probably resting this week and coming back next week," said Bass, who leads Hawaii with 206 yards on 26 carries. "No need for surgery. Just rest it and let it heal a little bit."
Thero Mitchell remains the starter at running back, but junior John West will likely see a lot of action. West carried 10 times for 59 yards after Bass hurt his knee in Saturday's 42-10 victory over Southern Methodist.
"I've been waiting for this opportunity and I'm ready to take it on," said West, a 5-10, 180-pound Leilehua graduate. "I feel confident. There are some things I have to work on here and there, but I'll be ready."
Four quarterbacks are set to make the trip: redshirt freshman Jeff Rhode joins starter Tim Chang, Shawn Withy-Allen and Jason Whieldon. The Warriors normally travel with three QBs, but Jones said Tuesday he plans to take Rhode, whose family from Oregon will be at Boise for the game. B.J. Rhode, Jeff's brother, is the Broncos' starting quarterback.
Jones also said special-teams player Laiana Wong has made the travel squad. Wong, a recent walk-on, has worked his way onto the kickoff-coverage team and made two tackles last week.
The 5-foot-10, 213-pound freshman from Roosevelt said he was inspired to try out by former Rough Riders and current Warriors Chad Kapanui, Chad Kalilimoku and Chad Owens.
"I used to look up to those guys and want to be like them," Wong said. They're a big reason I came out here."
Old man: When Michael Miyashiro graduated from Pearl City High School in 1992, his UH teammates were in elementary school. Miyashiro, 28, recently walked on. The 5-6, 165-pound junior receiver is the oldest player on the team.
After high school, Miyashiro worked for a furniture company and in Polynesian shows before enrolling at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, Calif.
"I've always wanted to do this. It's a dream come true," said Miyashiro, who worked out in the summer with former Pearl City and UH receiver Johann Bouit. "This year I'll study up and hopefully get a chance to play next year."
It's healed: Chang said he thinks the broken bone on the pinkie of his right (throwing) hand doesn't bother him at all anymore.
"It's healed. They said seven weeks and it's been seven weeks," Chang said. "I think it's all done with."
Now that he doesn't need the "pinkie pillow" brace that trainer Eric Okasaki designed for him, will Chang send it to Kurt Warner of the St. Louis Rams, who broke his pinkie Sunday?
"Hey I was thinking of that. And I was thinking, hey, Eric could make some money because (Warner's) going to need something," Chang said. "I could not have played without that little device. It probably would have cracked and I would have needed surgery like Kurt did."
Short yardage: Boise State's Jay Swillie is listed as the Broncos' "Z" receiver, or flanker. But the 6-foot-3, 221-pound senior played some downs at tight end last week in BSU's 63-38 victory over Utah State. ... The Broncos have won nine consecutive home games -- their last home loss was to Washington State last year. ... UH has won five straight games at Aloha Stadium, with the last loss coming against Boise State. ... Hawaii running back Jonathan Kauka, out for the season with a knee injury, plans to appeal to the NCAA for an extra season due to medical hardship. ... Loa Emmsley, a 6-1, 276-pound junior from Kalaheo High School, is listed as Boise State's second-string defensive left end.