Linebacker Brown will play with sprained knee ligament

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Despite a sprained ligament in his left knee, University of Hawai'i middle linebacker Chris Brown vowed not to miss tomorrow's football game against Rice at Aloha Stadium.

"Even if I have to go out there on one leg, I'm going to play," said Brown, a junior from Damien Memorial High School.

Brown said he suffered the injury when he was hit from behind during yesterday's drills against the scout team.

"It was a freaky thing," he said. "I got pushed in the back."

Brown said the knee was hyper-extended on the side. He said he was officially diagnosed with a sprained lateral collateral ligament.

"I'm worried about him, but hopefully he'll be OK," UH coach June Jones said.

Brown's backup is Watson Hoohuli, a redshirt sophomore from the Kamehameha Schools. Hoohuli had five tackles against Nevada last week.

• Health report: Travis Laboy did not practice yesterday because of flu-like symptoms, but he is expected to start at defensive right end against Rice.

Joe Correia, who started at right end against Nevada last week, aggravated an injury in his right foot.

Correia, who has had two cortisone treatments on the surgically repaired foot, is expected to serve as a scout during the game. He likely will watch the game from the coaches' booth on the loge level.

Defensive tackle Brett Clowers is recovering from a strained groin, but is expected to play.

If Clowers is unavailable, Sione Tafuna, who moved from the offensive line this week, will play defensive tackle. Tafuna spent two years on a church mission before rejoining the Warriors last year. In March, he won a pizza-eating contest at the team's Green-White Festival.

"It will take him a while, but he can play," defensive coordinator Kevin Lempa said of Tafuna. "I call him a baby bull in a china shop. He's an aggressive player."

• Tribute: Jesse Rivera, an Isle recording artist and rescue firefighter, will sing "God Bless America" before tomorrow night's game. A moment of silence will be observed for the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Assistant band director Gwen Nakamura said an extensive patriotic program is scheduled for the Oct. 13 game against Texas-El Paso.

That show will include police officers and firefighters.