Defensive end Jackson ailing
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
University of Hawai'i football player Kevin Jackson has a badly infected knee and his availability is in question for Saturday's regular-season finale against San Diego State.
Jackson, a defensive end, said the infection probably is the result of suffering a cut from landing on Aloha Stadium's artificial turf in last Saturday's game against Alabama.
Last month, UH coach June Jones complained that several players had suffered infections when bacteria invaded open wounds. Jones had said the wounds were caused from hard contact with the artificial turf. Despite wearing protective long-sleeved undershirts during games, many Warriors still have visibly open wounds, including linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa and slotback Britton Komine.
The project to replace Aloha Stadium's artificial turf is scheduled to begin after the ConAgra Foods Hawai'i Bowl on Christmas Day.
"People thought I was lying to them about these type of things," Jones said of the turf-related infections. "Why would I do that? My interest is in the kids, and it hurt me there were people downtown (who) thought I had a personal interest in changing (the turf). That upset me more than anything.
"I'm just glad now it's going to get changed. The guys who have helped us get that done are really (former Hawai'i Tourism Authority member) Mark Rolfing and the Stadium Authority and (stadium manager) Eddie Hayashi. They got it done."
• Season of receiving: Wide receiver J.R. Tolver of San Diego State owns 5,000 football cards, two single-season records and a bachelor's degree.
"I like numbers," said Tolver, who is enrolled in the school's MBA program.
With 110 catches for 1,502 yards in 12 games, Tolver easily surpassed the Aztecs' previous high marks for receptions (86) and receiving yards (1,372) in a season.
It is a remarkable accomplishment considering Tolver did not play wideout until enrolling at SDSU in 1998. He was a two-year starting quarterback at Mira Mesa High in California. His development is credited to his father, Gregory Tolver Sr., a former college player.
"We're always playing catch," said Tolver, who goes by "J.R." because he was named after his father and his parents were fans of the J.R. Ewing character in the television show, "Dallas."
"I'm always trying to play catch as much as possible," he added, noting he keeps a football and a pair of cleats in his car trunk.
"Sometimes, I'll be at my friend's house, and while everyone is playing video games, I'll get my cleats and do a little workout," he said. "That's why I keep cleats nearby. You never know when you might want to work out."
When Tolver signed with the Aztecs, he figured, "they were going to use me to the fullest, so I might as well do the same to them."
He set a goal of graduating in four years. The plan was to take a heavier load of courses in the spring and up to four classes each summer. Last May, he earned a degree in information decision making systems. He was a candidate for an internship with Sony last summer.
In his spare time, he tends to his card collection, which started when he was 8. He owns rookie cards of running back Barry Sanders and wide receiver Jerry Rice.
He categorizes the cards by teams and years. He carefully handles the most valuable cards, storing them in a locked case.
"I don't want people to jump on my stash," he said.
If things go according to schedule, one of Tolver's most prized cards will be the one featuring him in a pro uniform.
"That would be nice," he said.
