Rulings give tackle two seasons at UH
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
The NCAA has granted University of Hawai'i football player Lui Fuga a medical hardship.
In addition, the NCAA ruled that Fuga's eligibility clock did not begin in August 1998, when he attended Nevada-Las Vegas' football training camp for a week. Fuga never enrolled at UNLV.
The rulings mean Fuga, a 1998 Waipahu High graduate, will have two seasons of eligibility remaining.
Fuga, a 6-foot3, 300-pound defensive tackle, missed last season after undergoing surgery on both shoulders. He was diagnosed with a chipped bone in his right shoulder and torn cartilage in his left shoulder.
Fuga has participated in the first two days of spring practice despite estimating that his right shoulder is 70-percent healthy. He estimated his right shoulder to be at 95-percent strength.
"I have a hard time bench pressing, but my range of motion in both shoulders is good," Fuga said.
UH coach June Jones said Fuga's technique is rusty, but added, "He's in shape. He'll help us out a lot."
Fuga said he would like to weigh 290 pounds for the start of training camp in August.
Weak-side linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa said he believes the stress fracture in his lower left leg has healed. He missed three games last season.
"I haven't had X-rays since (first suffering) the injury, but it's feeling all right now," Tinoisamoa said.
Tinoisamoa, who entered UH as a partial-academic qualifier in 1999, is entering his senior season. But in accordance with NCAA rules, if he earns a bachelor's degree within four years — by August 2003, in his case — Tinoisamoa will be granted an extra season of eligibility.
"I'm working for that," Tinoisamoa said. "You always want another year."
Mission is possible: Nate Ilaoa, who has played well in the first two days of spring practice and is the top candidate to start at right slotback, said he expects to go on a two-year mission for the Mormon Church at the end of the 2002 season.
Ilaoa had planned to apply in May, but decided to wait after it was decided he would redshirt as a freshman last season.
"I want to make sure I get a year under before I head out," Ilaoa said. "I'm definitely going to go after this season."
Last chance: It appeared wide receiver Omar Bennett had run out of opportunities when it was discovered he did not meet the academic requirements to play last season.
After attending California for two years, he asked the Bear coaches if he could take a sabbatical from football to improve his grades. "They figured I didn't want to play football anymore and they took away my scholarship," Bennett said.
Bennett transferred to Laney Community College in California, where he played one season before signing with the Warriors in February 2001.
Bennett participated in training camp last summer and even enrolled at UH. But it was discovered that the credits of a science class he took at California did not transfer to UH. Without the credits, Bennett did not meet the requirements to play last season.
Bennett returned to Laney to earn the science credits. While there, the UH coaches said they would honor Bennett's scholarship, even though he would have only one season of eligibility left.
"It feels good to be back," said Bennett, who is competing at wideout in spring practice. "I'm grateful the Hawai'i coaches didn't give up on me. They could get a four-year guy or a two-year guy. I'm fortunate they stuck with me. I want to prove they made the right choice."
Injury update: Starting running back Mike Bass underwent hernia surgery this week and will not participate in contact drills in spring practice. Bass said he believes he suffered the injury from lifting weights.
"It's sore now, but it's getting better," said Bass, who expects to be fully healed in six weeks.
