Warriors' Rolovich injures finger

• UH-BYU game could be moved to Dec. 8

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

A possible fracture might prove to be a break for University of Hawai'i senior quarterback Nick Rolovich.

Nick Rolovich, UH quarterback, won't play against Rice. Advertiser library photo • Feb. 22, 2001

But UH learned yesterday that the right-handed Rolovich suffered a possible fracture in the middle finger of his throwing hand during his one play. UH coach June Jones said Rolovich will not be able to play in Saturday's game against Rice.

"It looks pretty serious," Jones said. "He'll have to rest it."

Jared Flint, a senior who did not play last season because of a shoulder injury, has been elevated to the top backup to Tim Chang, Jones said. Flint does not have an available redshirt season.

If the injury prevents Rolovich from participating in 75 percent of the Warriors' games, he can petition for a medical hardship, the equivalent of a redshirt season for medical reasons. NCAA rules require medical documentation, and that the injury must be incurred in the first three games. UH has played two games.

If Rolovich does not play again this season, he may appeal to the Western Athletic Conference for an extra year. A team's conference rules on medical hardships.

Rolovich, who needs another year to earn a bachelor's degree, was summoned in the third quarter when Chang suffered a strained right calf. Rolovich threw incomplete, UH punted and Chang returned for the next series.

Jones said he regards Rolovich as his No. 2 quarterback, and would prefer to play him if Chang were injured and the Warriors were in position to win a game. If Chang cannot play, Jones said, Rolovich "gives us the best chance to win."

• Help is on the way: Mike Iosua and Lui Fuga, UH's starting defensive tackles last season, are expected to play against Rice Saturday.

Iosua, who is recovering from a hyper-extended right knee, did not make the trip to Nevada. Fuga, who underwent surgery on both shoulders during the offseason, has not played this season.

Jones said both should help bolster a defense that had difficulty stopping Nevada's power-running game. "Both were our better inside run players last year," Jones said. "That's where we're getting beat up."

If either can play, Houston Ala, who filled in for Iosua at left tackle, will move back to right end.

Jones said there are no changes planned at linebacker. Strong-side linebacker Keani Alapa, who redshirted last season after surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, did not play in the fourth quarter.

• Red zone alert: Jones said he has no plans to alter his short-yardage offense. Against Nevada, UH reached the red zone — the area between the Wolf Pack 20 and end zone — on six of eight full possessions, managing 20 points out of a possible 42.

On their first drive, the Warriors were stopped at the 1, and opted to kick a field goal. Jones said the Warriors have enough offensive options to score in the red zone, and that he believes 5-foot-6, 160-pound running back Mike Bass can be effective in short-yardage situations.

"He's in there because he's the starting running back," Jones said.

• Correction: In the game statistics in Sunday's Advertiser, Watson Hoohuli should have been credited with five unassisted tackles and one assist. A different player was credited.