Injured Fuga may miss Warriors' first two games
By Steven Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
RENO, Nev. — University of Hawai'i defensive tackle Lui Fuga might miss the Warriors' first two games because of a shoulder injury, said UH associate head coach George Lumpkin at yesterday's Western Athletic Conference Media Preview.
Fuga, who is the Warriors' best interior defender against the run, underwent surgery on his right shoulder in January. He did not participate in spring practice.
During his recovery, he started to overcompensate, increasing stress on his left shoulder and leading to injury. He underwent surgery on that shoulder last month.
Although Fuga has resumed light weight training, he will not practice regularly in training camp, which opens next month. "We're thinking it'll be a couple of games into the season" before he plays, Lumpkin said.
Coupled with the loss of prized recruit Isaak Sopoaga, who needs to finish academic work before joining the team in January, the Warriors are scrambling to fill their interior defense. Lumpkin said defensive end Wayne Hunter, a former Radford High standout who redshirted last season after transferring from California, will move to defensive tackle.
Lumpkin said Houston Ala, who is projected to start at right defensive end, also could play in the middle.
"We're cross-training people," Lumpkin said.
Lumpkin represented UH in place of head coach June Jones, who is still recovering from injuries suffered in a Feb. 22 car accident.
WAC SCHEDULING
• Some teams won't play Friday: Not wanting to boil what he described as "the lifeblood of college football," WAC commissioner Karl Benson has promised that the league will not play any football games on Friday in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana.
In its new three-year deal with ESPN, the league has been pressured to move more games from Saturday to Friday.
But officials of WAC schools in Texas (Southern Methodist, Rice and Texas-El Paso), Oklahoma (Tulsa) and Louisiana (Louisiana Tech) argued that they did not want to play on a day traditionally reserved for high school football in those states.
"I voiced my opinion strongly on the problem I thought it would cause," UTEP coach Gary Nord said. "We are making a living recruiting high school kids. Our relationship with the high school coaches is very delicate. We wanted to make sure we didn't do anything to upset their feelings."
Nord also said he does not want his teams to play road games on Friday nights. He said the telecasts would conflict with high school games and none of the high school prospects will be home at that time.
"It's important that (recruits) see us play in person as much as possible," Nord said.
Teams that don't play on Friday nights, Benson said, will not be hurt financially. He said each WAC member receives an equal share of money received from ESPN.
Benson also announced that Fox Sports Net will regionally televise five WAC football games this season.
FAMILIAR FACE AT UTEP
• Wagner will be co-head coach: Nord said former UH head coach Bob Wagner will serve essentially as a co-head coach this season.
Wagner, who was hired as UTEP's defensive coordinator, will have full control of the defense. Nord will handle the offense.
"I've known Bob for a long time, and I know about the success he had over in Hawai'i," Nord said. "The defense that he coached — an eight-man front with cornerbacks who attack — is what I was looking for. I wanted somebody on the defensive side I could turn it over to, who had the maturity and the experience in the games and could call the (defensive) plays."
