Uso might miss 2-4 weeks with right shoulder injury
| • | Jones keeps Rolovich as starting quarterback |
| • | Ferd Lewis: UH needs to see the big picture |
| • | No TV replay |
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
University of Hawai'i wide receiver Tafiti Uso has a separated right shoulder and might not play for the next 2-4 weeks.
Uso said he suffered the injury while trying to make a tackle following an interception in Friday's 38-34 victory over Fresno State. Uso was told he suffered a grade-2 separation, considered "medium" in severity.
Uso has played in five of UH's seven games, catching eight passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns.
Uso, a Niu Valley resident, relinquished a football scholarship and starting job at Stanford when he transferred to UH last year.
Starting right cornerback Abraham Elimimian has a severely sprained ankle and is considered doubtful for Saturday's game against San Jose State at Aloha Stadium.
Hyrum Peters, who started the first four games at cornerback before aggravating a hamstring injury, likely will start in place of Elimimian.
• Bowl cut: If, say, the Warriors were to win four or all of their final five games to finish 9-3 or 10-2, would that be enough to earn a bowl berth?
The answer is "maybe."
The Western Athletic Conference, of which UH is a member, has guaranteed berths in the Silicon Valley Football Classic in San Jose, Calif., and Humanitarian Bowl in Boise, Idaho. Only the WAC champion is assured a berth in one of those bowls; the second WAC team does not necessarily have to finish second in the league.
Even with a 2-2 WAC record, Fresno State is the most attractive option for the Silicon bowl. Last year, Bulldog fans accounted for 14,000 of the estimated Silicon crowd of 20,000. The WAC champion or Boise State would be favored to play in the Humanitarian Bowl.
If UH (4-2 in the WAC) does not win the league title, its best hope would be for an area team, such as Stanford, to play in the Silicon bowl, which then would not need Fresno State for its drawing power.
Another possibility would be if the Big 12 does not have enough bowl-eligible teams to fill their commitments, opening an at-large bowl berth for a third WAC team.
UH coach June Jones said he will not ponder his bowl chances until "after the Brigham Young game" on Dec. 8, the last day of the regular season.
• Here's for your troubles: The WAC has promised to pay UH up to $100,000 for lost revenue caused by switching the Fresno State game, originally scheduled for last night.
UH paid $9,700 in refunds to season-ticket holders. WAC commissioner Karl Benson said the refunds plus the difference between Friday's walk-up sales and the average number of walk-up sales for the seven other Warrior homes games will determine how much of an inconvenience fee UH will receive.
