NOTEBOOK
Warriors might get Bass for game against Nevada
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
University of Hawai'i running back Mike Bass, who missed last week's game because of a partially torn ligament in his right knee, might be available for Saturday's football game against Nevada, UH coach June Jones said yesterday.
Wearing a protective brace, Bass fielded punts and participated in non-contact drills yesterday.
Jones said it will be determined after tomorrow's practice whether Bass will play. Jones said the decision rests with Bass. While many players try to conceal injuries, the Warriors are on the honor system.
"He has to be honest with me," Jones said. "I'm honest with him."
An injury to a posterior cruciate ligament usually is not as crucial as one to, say, the anterior cruciate ligament. But because of the amount of shifting by a running back, a partial tear could lead to significant damage if it is not sufficiently healed.
"It's a concern," Jones said. "He's a running back, and he relies on his quickness. It doesn't matter where (the tear) is."
Running back Thero Mitchell, who suffered a sprained shoulder last week, participated in conditioning drills. Jones said Mitchell probably will not compete in contact drills this week "but I anticipate he'll play in the game."
Running back John West, who sustained a sprained ankle two weeks ago against Southern Methodist, practiced yesterday. Although Michael Brewster opened with the first-team offense, West was used extensively.
Cornerback Abraham Elimimian, who missed the past two games because of a pulled right hamstring, worked with the first-team defense yesterday. Elimimian is expected to start against Nevada.
Elimimian was injured while breaking up a pass play during a road game at Texas-El Paso. "The night before (the game), I went to the hot tub to try and sweat off a few pounds," he recalled. "I don't drink a lot of water sometimes. I guess (the hamstring) got tight on me. I strained and pulled it at the same time."
Playing the slots: To make up for the loss of right slotback Nate Ilaoa, who will miss four weeks because of a dislocated right shoulder, the Warriors have used left slotback Britton Komine and reserve Omar Bennett at that position. They will back up Clifton Herbert, who will start at right slotback against Nevada.
Bennett is a senior who transferred to UH in 2001, but was not eligible to play last season. He is out of options, making this his last college season.
"He's like the other guys," Jones said, "he's waiting for a chance."
Jones also is expected to platoon starter Neal Gossett and Jeremiah Cockheran at right wideout. At 6 feet, Cockheran, a junior-college transfer, is the tallest receiver on UH's two-deep chart. He can run 40 yards in under 4.4 seconds.
"He's only been out here a couple of months," Jones said. "The only way you learn it is to get in there and do it."
Cockheran was a high school teammate of starting left wide receiver Justin Colbert. He has spent the past several weeks studying videotapes of receivers.
"It's going good," he said. "The coaches said the biggest thing is to go out there with unconscious confidence. Coach Jones has shown a lot of faith in me lately."
