Former Hawaii safety Nate Jackson underwent successful surgery to repair a heart valve yesterday, according to a family member. Jackson undergoes
successful surgeryBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comJackson will remain in the intensive care unit at Queen's hospital for a few days, but full recovery is expected, the family member said.
"We're hoping he'll be out in a week, but we can't count on that yet," she said.
Jackson was hospitalized Oct. 24 with a virus in addition to the heart problem.
Jackson, who was planning to play on the UH baseball team again this season, is expected to petition the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility. Such allowances are rare, but sometimes granted for catastrophic illnesses away from the playing field.
Last night, a fund-raiser was held at Murphy's Bar & Grill to help defray medical expenses for Jackson, who has no health insurance.
Also, there will be several ways to make donations at tomorrow's UH-Cincinnati football game at Aloha Stadium.
>> Na Koa, the UH football booster club, will have 6,000 Nate Jackson rally towels for sale at $2 each.
>> "Friends of Nate Jackson" will have tables set up for donations.
>> Distributors of Star-Bulletin and Advertiser stadium editions will have donation cans. Inserts in the Star-Bulletin stadium edition will include complete information on how to assist Jackson.
Player's choice: Cincinnati plays its home games on Fieldturf, which was installed at Nippert Stadium in 2000. Senior offensive lineman Kirt Doolin said he loves the surface, which is expected to be installed at Aloha Stadium in the offseason.
"Fieldturf's outstanding. It's my favorite surface to play on," Doolin said. "It's easy on your joints. You don't get turf burns. With a facility like this, if you put Fieldturf in I can't think of any place that would be better."
The day after: The second day back is often the key when returning from an injury, and UH inside receiver Chad Owens reported no problems yesterday after his second day in a row of practice.
Owens sprained his right knee five weeks ago. He's not back to full speed yet, but might be able to play tomorrow.
Standing by his statement: A day after his prediction that quarterback Tim Chang will win the Heisman Trophy in two years, UH coach June Jones wasn't backing down -- not much, anyway. He did add an "if."
"I will say he will win the Heisman Trophy if he maintains what he's doing," Jones said yesterday after practice.
Jones was quoted on ESPN.com on Wednesday as saying: "He will probably break Ty Detmer's (career passing) record and I'm sure he'll be the Heisman Trophy winner as a senior."
Return of Huggins: Cincinnati associate sports information director Brian McCann said Bearcats basketball coach Bob Huggins is back to his old self after suffering a heart attack Sept. 28.
"He's back coaching," McCann said. "He got a technical in the exhibition game and told the ref, 'How can you do that to a sick man?' "