Bass won't play against Nevada

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

University of Hawai'i running back Mike Bass yesterday was officially scratched from the lineup for tomorrow's game against Nevada at Aloha Stadium.

Bass, who suffered a partially torn posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee against Southern Methodist Sept. 28, did not participate in contact drills yesterday. On Wednesday, Bass, a sophomore from California, said his right knee was at 75 percent.

UH coach June Jones said he did not know how many more games Bass will miss. "We'll see how it is," Jones said. "It's day-to-day."

Jones had set yesterday as the deadline for determining Bass' availability for the Nevada game.

But running back Thero Mitchell, who suffered a strained right shoulder against Boise State last week, has been cleared to play. Mitchell, whose right shoulder was heavily bandaged yesterday, made several blocks during a pass-protection drill.

Jones said it was likely Mitchell, a fifth-year senior from Washington, would open at running back. Michael Brewster, a third-year sophomore from Houston, and John West, a junior who played at Leilehua High, also will rotate at that position.

• Trading places: Neal Gossett, who has started UH's five games at right wideout, is being used at left wideout this week. The move was made to give more playing time to Jeremiah Cockheran, a junior college transfer from California.

At 6 feet, Cockheran is the tallest receiver on the Warriors' two-deep chart. The coaches believe Cockheran, who can run 40 yards in under 4.4 seconds, will boost the Warriors' deep passing attack. UH assistant Ron Lee, who coaches the receivers, said Cockheran still is learning the offense and feels more comfortable playing on the right side.

The Warriors are expected to open tomorrow's game with Justin Colbert, a senior from California, at left wideout and Gossett, a senior from Waipahu, on the right, then later rotate receivers.

• A most happy fella: Instead of lamenting a star-crossed Division I-A career, punter Greg Kleidon thanks his lucky stars.

"I have great luck," said Kleidon, who was raised in Los Angeles. "Look where I am. I was able to work myself out here. I'm in a beautiful place. I'm definitely a blessed person."

After transferring from Santa Monica College, Kleidon was scheduled to start the 2000 opener against Portland State. But he tripped on his way to a class, suffering a severe ankle injury. Dan Berryman, who is no longer with the program, was UH's punter for the first two games of 2000 before yielding to Mat McBriar, an Australian who has developed into a pro prospect.

This summer, Kleidon underwent hernia surgery, and was unable to participate in training camp. The surgery "had to be done before the season, in case something happened (to McBriar) midway through," Kleidon said. "It was kind of precautionary. We wanted to stop (the damage) before it got any worse."

Kleidon has remained supportive of McBriar. "He's done a wonderful job," Kleidon said. "Mat and I are best friends. All I can do is encourage him. It's all about friendship."

Last year, Kleidon got married, and now he is preparing for his graduation in May. He is majoring in English.

"That's the main thing for me," he said. "I've had setbacks in football, but my education is still on course. My parents are definitely ecstatic about it. It gives me an opportunity they never got. They didn't have the money for (college). I'll be the first one to graduate (from college) in my family. It's a big honor for me."

Kleidon said he and his wife would like to spend time in Europe. Kleidon's mother is Norwegian, and while pregnant with him, the family moved to Norway.

"She wanted me to be born there," he said. "They wanted to give us a chance to live over there. It wasn't working out, so we moved back to the Mainland."

He said he visits Norway nearly every summer. "Add it up," he said, "and it accounts for a couple of years."

Although he is a citizen of the United States and Norway, he still needs to complete the paperwork necessary to earn a Norwegian passport.

"I definitely have to work on that," he said. "I want to do a lot of living in Europe."