Tinoisamoa may be out for rest of season

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

University of Hawai'i linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa has a stress fracture in his right leg and might miss the rest of the football season.

"I think it's going to take four weeks, maybe longer" to fully heal, said Dr. Darryl Kan, UH's team surgeon.

The stress fracture in the right fibula, a nonweight-bearing bone, was detected during a magnetic resonance imaging yesterday at the St. Francis Medical Center. He suffered the injury during an Oct. 29 practice, although X-rays did not show any fractures, and played one down against San Jose State last week.

"He can put weight on it, but he can't run," Kan said of Tinoisamoa, UH's second-leading tackler. "We'll keep a watchful eye on it. The symptoms being the way they are, he won't play this week, at the least."

Tinoisamoa's right leg will be placed in a brace. Surgery is not required.

He tried to practice yesterday, but fell during a pass drill. He hobbled off the practice area, then collapsed in a heap, and was treated by the athletic trainers.

"He's our best player," defensive coordinator Kevin Lempa said.

Correction: A previous edition of this story incorrectly named the bone fractured by Pisa Tinoisamoa.