Knee injury will keep Bass out of game
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
University of Hawai'i running back Mike Bass said he will not play in Wednesday's ConAgra Foods Hawai'i Bowl at Aloha Stadium.
Bass aggravated a partially torn posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee against San Diego State Dec. 7.
"It's still tender," he said. "It's disappointing, of course, but I have to look ahead. I'm only a sophomore. I don't want to hurt it any worse."
Bass tried to practice yesterday, but said, "It's a torn ligament. I feel it every time I run, and I shouldn't be feeling it at all."
Starting strong safety Hyrum Peters' sprained left knee was heavily bandaged yesterday. UH coach June Jones said Peters must practice by tomorrow in order to start Wednesday.
• Revolving center: Uriah Moenoa, UH's starting right tackle, has been practicing at center in place of injured Lui Fuata.
Derek Faavi, a second-year freshman, had started at center the past two games — first because Fuata moved to left guard in place of injured Shayne Kajioka, and then after Fuata suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
Mike Cavanaugh, who coaches the UH linemen, yesterday refused to divulge his starting lineup. But Moenoa has worked out at center, a position he played during spring training last March, and right tackle Ryan Santos has practiced with the first team.
During spring training, Moenoa was slow with some of his shot-gun snaps.
"I did it the past couple of weeks, and it wasn't a problem for me," he said. "It's (the coaches') decision. Whatever they decide, I'm going with."
Santos entered the 2002 spring practice as a starting tackle. But he was admittedly overweight, and when training camp opened in August, Kajioka was starting at left guard, Fuata was the No. 1 center, Moenoa moved back to right tackle and Santos was on the second team.
"I was a little disappointed in myself that I didn't get to be where I needed to be," said Santos, a third-year sophomore from Mililani High.
Santos cut down on his rice intake and reduced his meal portions. After weighing 325 pounds in August, he now is 307.
"It feels pretty good to be getting a chance," Santos said.
Santos still might receive playing time if left tackle Wayne Hunter, who complained of back pain last week, is not fully healthy.
• Breaking even: Donna Turner, the assistant athletic director in charge of media relations, said Tulane is expected to at least break even for its participation in the Hawai'i Bowl.
Each participating team receives a minimum appearance fee of $750,000. Of that amount, a portion goes to each school's athletic conference. Each school is responsible for the cost of travel, lodging and an allotment of 10,000 tickets.
Turner said 70 Green Wave boosters traveled on the team's charter flight. She said she did not know how many other tickets Tulane fans had purchased. But she said Conference USA has agreed to help cover the cost of Tulane's unsold tickets.
