Warriors' Chang might play Saturday despite knee injury

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

University of Hawai'i quarterback Tim Chang has a slightly torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee, but the injury is not expected to prevent him from playing in Saturday's nationally televised game against Alabama.

University of Hawai'i quarterback Tim Chang's father said his son was doing OK and probably would play against Alabama. Advertiser library photo

Chang did not play in the third quarter, but came back to throw the go-ahead touchdown pass to Jeremiah Cockheran.

Then on UH's final possession, Cincinnati linebacker Tyjuan Hagler struck Chang's left knee with a lunging tackle after the quarterback had thrown a pass. Chang was helped off the field, and treated in the training room.

Post-game X-rays did not show any fractures or cartilage damage.

Yesterday, Chang underwent a magnetic resonance imaging, and preliminary results from that procedure did not show significant damage to his left medial collateral ligament. An MRI uses magnetic fields to create an image of the body's interior. It is regarded as one of the most thorough detection procedures.

UH coach June Jones said he was told that Chang's condition was no worse than what it was after he was injured in the second quarter.

"He was pretty emotional about it and upset because he was hurting (in the fourth quarter), and then to take a shot like that on it," Jones said.

Jones said he is hopeful Chang will practice this week.

"If he can practice Thursday and Friday, he'll try to play," Jones said.

Chang declined to comment after Saturday's game, and UH officials did not make him available to the media yesterday.

But after the game, Levi Chang said his son was doing OK and probably would play against Alabama.

Yesterday, Jones disputed Hagler's version of the fourth-quarter hit, which resulted in a personal foul.

Hagler told The Advertiser: "I was pushed into (Chang), and they called it on me. I didn't try to hurt him."

Jones said: "I thought (Hagler) was playing really hard. It looked like he could have avoided the hit to the leg. But he was not blocked into it."

Television replays showed that Hagler was not blocked into Chang, although it appeared he either lost his footing on the artificial turf or tripped over UH running back Thero Mitchell's foot while charging toward Chang.

Either way, Jones said, "I would certainly hope that he would not have done that intentionally."

UH left guard Shayne Kajioka, who suffered a sprained right knee while blocking on a running play, is expected to play against Alabama.

• Moving on up: The UH football team moved up one spot to No. 24 in yesterday's USA Today/ESPN coaches poll.

The Warriors also received 50 points (the 28th best) on the Associated Press' Top 25 media poll.