Warriors may be
without Owens
against BroncosHawaii's leading receiver has
been on crutches with turf toe
and may be a game-time decision
A foot injury could keep Hawaii's leading receiver on the sideline for the Warriors' regular-season finale against Boise State on Saturday.
Junior receiver Chad Owens has been on crutches with an injury described as turf toe since Monday and UH head coach June Jones said after yesterday morning's practice he wasn't counting on having Owens for the game against the nationally ranked Broncos.
Hawaii vs. Boise State
When: Saturday, 6:35 p.m.
Where: Aloha Stadium
Tickets: $33 sideline, $27 south end zone, $22 north end
zone (adult), $17 north end zone (students/seniors, age 4 through high school), UH students free (super rooter only). Available at Aloha Stadium, Stan Sheriff Center, UH Campus Center and Windward Community College's OCET Office. Or call 808-944-2697 or etickethawaii.com on the Internet.
TV: Live on ESPN2
Radio: KKEA, 1420-AM
Parking: Gates open at 3 p.m. Parking is $5. Alternate parking at Leeward Community College, Kam Drive-In
and Radford High School.
Traffic advisory: 1420-AM is the official traffic advisory station and provides updates before each home game.
"It'll be a luxury if he's back," Jones said.
Owens said his availability would likely be a game-time decision.
"I just have to stay off of it and let the swelling go down more and let the pain go away," he said.
The Warriors (8-4, 5-2 WAC) close the regular season against Western Athletic Conference champion Boise State (11-1, 7-0 WAC) on Saturday at Aloha Stadium. The Broncos enter the game ranked 18th in the Associated Press Top 25.
UH receivers coach Ron Lee said the injury improved yesterday and hopes Owens can return to practice today, but he said the team is preparing for the possibility that Owens won't be ready.
"He's frustrated, he wants to get out there," Lee said. "But if he doesn't go the other guys will have to step up."
Lee said the coaches will have a better idea of Owens' availability after today's practice.
Lee indicated that the development of freshman Jason Rivers at outside receiver could allow junior Britton Komine, the team's third-leading receiver with 40 catches for 484 yards, to move inside. The Warriors have depth at receiver and could also turn to Se'e Poumele, Ross Dickerson or Clifton Herbert. Gerald Welch has started the last 11 games at the other inside receiver spot.
Owens has 79 catches for 1,051 yards and eight touchdowns this season. He ranks second in the nation in receptions per game with 7.9 and seventh in yards per game with 105.1.
Owens missed two games earlier this season due to a suspension. Dickerson started in Owens' place against Rice and Tulsa and has eight catches for 57 yards this season.
Senior safety Hyrum Peters also sat out yesterday's practice after experiencing muscle spasms in his neck earlier this week. He said he hoped to return to practice today and plans on being back in action for Saturday's game.
"(Tuesday) it was real stiff, today it's little bit better and hopefully tomorrow morning I'll be ready to go," Peters said.
Recruiting watch: Record-setting quarterback Taylor Humphrey of Miramonte High School in Northern California said he'll wait until after he visits the UH campus later this month before deciding whether to commit to the Warriors.
"Based on my trip I'm going to judge how I like Hawaii and the facilities and everything like that and then I'll make my decision based off of that," Humphrey said yesterday.
Humphrey, who said he'll be on campus Dec. 18-19, has also been contacted by Fresno State, Syracuse, Oregon State and Kentucky, although UH is the only school to offer him a scholarship as yet. The first day recruits can sign a national letter of intent is Feb. 4.
"Right now Hawaii looks like a great opportunity and one that I plan to look into fully," he said.
Humphrey became Miramonte's all-time leading passer last week, passing former Miami (Fla.) standout Ken Dorsey's mark of 4,968 yards. He will lead the Matadors into Saturday's CIF North Coast Section 2A East Bay championship game against San Lorenzo at Network Associates Coliseum in Oakland.
Just a reminder: Saturday's game is scheduled to start at 6:35 p.m., 30 minutes later than the normal start time for Warrior home games. Stadium gates open at 3 p.m.
Also, Ford Island will not be available as an alternate parking site this week. The Aloha Stadium parking lot opens at 2:30 p.m. Parking will also be available at Leeward Community College, Radford High School and Kam Drive-In.
Around the WAC: Nevada athletic director Chris Ault, the winningest football coach in school history, agreed yesterday to return to the head coaching job a third time. The move came three days after Ault fired Wolf Pack coach Chris Tormey. Ault, 57, posted a 163-63-1 record during 19 seasons at Nevada -- 1976-92 and 1994-95. ... Jack Bicknell will return to coach Louisiana Tech for a sixth season. Bicknell's job status came into question after a 5-7 campaign and a season-ending 49-14 loss at home to Rice. The loss dropped Tech to 3-5 in the Western Athletic Conference, which tied it for sixth place in the 10-team league.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
