4,000 tickets remain for season opener on Maui

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

There are 4,000 tickets available for the college football game between Hawai'i and Montana Sept. 8 at Wailuku's War Memorial Stadium.

UH officials said they are issuing 20,000 tickets, although the seating capacity appears to be less than that.

A spokeswoman for Ticket Plus said the only available seats are in the end zone.

There should be enough support for the Warriors, who are bringing the pep band, cheerleaders and Rainbow Dancers to the game.

• False start: Defensive end Travis Laboy, who has been sidelined for three weeks with a tear in his hamstring, said he will participate in contact drills today.

Laboy was expected to provide depth on the defensive line. But he suffered the injury while running — he said he did not stretch properly — and has not participated in any of the practices.

Even if Laboy is deemed healthy, it is unlikely he will play much, if at all, against Montana. Kevin Jackson has emerged as the top backup at defensive end.

Laboy, the son of former UH defensive lineman Cliff Laboy, was raised in California and attended Utah State in 1999. He transferred to UH last year.

• Waiting game: Coach June Jones said it is fortunate the Warriors will not open their season tomorrow, as originally planned.

"I think the guys would like to play a game this weekend, but I'm glad we're not," he said. "We're still not quite there."

Several starters have minor injuries, including defensive tackles Wayne Hunter (sprained ankle) and Mike Iosua (shoulder sprain), right guard Vince Manuwai (sprained wrist) and cornerback Hyrum Peters (pulled hamstring).

"We're hurting, but we'll be ready next week," Jones said.

Iowa State canceled tomorrow's scheduled game. Brigham Young replaced Iowa State, but decided to play here on Dec. 1 instead of the start of the season.

• The answer is maybe: Quarterback Jared Flint has been told he will be granted an extra year of eligibility, although he is awaiting written consent.

"It's kind of up in the air right now," he said. "I was told contradicting things."

Flint redshirted as a freshman at Indiana in 1997. He played two years at Orange Coast College in California before transferring to UH. He did not play last season following surgery to repair torn ligaments in his right rotator cuff.

Flint is appealing the NCAA for a medical hardship for last season. Without the waiver, this will be his final season of college football.

"The situation looks pretty promising," Flint said.