Injured linebackers
ready to return
Curnan and Moe expect to start
against Tulsa on Saturday
Ikaika Curnan and Tanuvasa Moe have two uninjured arms between them. But the Hawaii linebackers both practiced effectively yesterday and expect to start when the Warriors (0-2, 0-1 WAC) host Tulsa (1-3, 0-0) on Saturday at Aloha Stadium.
Curnan (torn elbow ligaments) and Moe (hyperextended elbow) were both injured in the Sept. 18 loss at Rice. A bye week of rest and rehabilitation helped the two juniors recover.
"I feel 100 percent already," Moe said. "When I'm on the field, I get the adrenaline going and I really don't feel anything. After the play you might, but not during."
Moe wore a protective sleeve while practicing yesterday, and Curnan used a bulky brace he said is legal to use in a game.
"It should be all right as long as I have protection," Curnan said after yesterday's two-hour workout. "The bye week was great. It's still sore a little bit, but every day it gets better. Practice was good. I feel the difference with the brace, but I just have to get used to it."
After two games, Moe leads UH with 18 tackles and Curnan -- who led the team in stops last year with 121 -- is third with 14.
"They're fine, ready to go," said Hawaii linebackers coach Cal Lee, who also coached both players at Saint Louis School. "You've got to play with some aches and pains. That's football."
Strongside linebacker Chad Kapanui joins Curnan in the middle and Tanuvasa on the weakside. Kapanui was in on a team-high 11 tackles against Rice.
In its two losses, UH has yielded a staggering 484 yards per game, which is 112th among 118 NCAA Division I teams. So far, the only personnel change among the starters the Warriors have planned for Saturday is Lono Manners at safety instead of Lamar Broadway.
Lee said true freshman linebackers C.J. Allen-Jones and Khevin Peoples are getting closer to being ready to play.
"They're gaining, but our expectations are high," Lee said. "We've got to bring them along slowly, like good thoroughbreds. They'll play special teams again this week and possibly get their feet wet (at linebacker)."
On offense, UH could be without starting center Derek Fa'avi. The junior has started 19 consecutive games, but that streak is in jeopardy because of a sprained foot suffered in the Rice game.
"Derek Fa'avi, I'm not as optimistic," coach June Jones said, acknowledging that Curnan and Moe will likely be ready to play.
If Fa'avi can't go, starting right guard Uriah Moenoa moves to center, right tackle Brandon Eaton shifts to right guard, and Jeremy Inferrera plays right tackle. Phil Kauffman could also start at guard.
Receivers Se'e Poumele (leg nerve) and Britton Komine (hamstring) are listed as starters for Saturday after missing all or part of the Rice game due to injury.
Also, two backup players joined the injury list as a result of last Friday's "Scout Bowl" scrimmage. Third-string junior running back Bryan Maneafaiga (separated shoulder) and true freshman quarterback Tyler Graunke (broken collarbone) are out, Jones said.
Sophomore Kalu Latuselu becomes the backup at running back to Michael Brewster and West Keli'ikipi. Graunke, one of three first-year quarterbacks behind Tim Chang, Kainoa Akina and Jack Rolovich, was not expected to play Saturday.
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