Posted on: Wednesday, November 28, 2001

Notebook
Wright's injury further depletes linebacking unit

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

University of Hawai'i outside linebacker Matt Wright has a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee and is listed as questionable for the regular-season finale against Brigham Young Dec. 8.

Wright insisted he will play, although the athletic trainers said his availability is "iffy."

On Monday "I could barely walk," said Wright, who attended yesterday's practice on crutches. "It's getting better. I'll be back for BYU. It's the last game. I'm going to be playing."

"When he told me he would play," defensive coordinator Kevin Lempa said, "I said, 'Uh, OK.' We'll see. It's a good thing we're not playing this week."

Wright's injury is the latest anxiety-inducing predicament for Lempa. Last week, Wright, who usually plays on the strong side, started in place of weak-side linebacker Keani Alapa, who has torn ligaments in his right shoulder.

Alapa, in turn, had been playing in place of Pisa Tinoisamoa, who has a stress fracture in his right shin. Tinoisamoa is "saying he's going to play (against BYU), but I don't think so," Lempa said.

If Wright and Alapa cannot play, safety Robert Grant will start at weak-side linebacker for the second consecutive game. Patrick Lavar Harley, a 17-year-old redshirt freshman, might play linebacker on the strong side.

Against Air Force last Saturday, defensive tackle Lance Samuseva played the second half on a sprained right ankle. "His ankle is three times the normal size," Lempa said. "I was surprised he finished the game."

After safety Nate Jackson was diagnosed with a neck stinger in the third quarter, Lempa said, "he snuck back in the game."

"I tell you, I've never been around a group of young men willing to play for each other," Lempa said. "They're making, in athletics, the ultimate sacrifices. They're playing through the hurt and pain. And they won't tell you when they're hurt. We notice when they have trouble catching their breath or they're buckled over."

Dr. Andrew Nichols, the team physician, said about 10 players will undergo surgery during the offseason. But he said the number of in-season surgeries — three — "is not unusual."

He said most of the postseason surgeries "are conditions that will need to be repaired at some time."