Curnan likely sidelined with injured right ankle
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
University of Hawai'i coach June Jones said middle linebacker Ikaika Curnan might miss up to three games because of a sprained right ankle suffered in the first half of Saturday's 48-26 victory over Nevada.
"That's my evaluation," Jones said. "He has a real severe ankle. I would think that's two to three weeks. Knowing him, it'll probably be two. I would not think he would play this week. ... We would miss him. He's one our best football players."
Curnan
Curnan, who led the Warriors in tackles last season, held out the slim hope he might be available to travel with the Warriors for Saturday's road game against Texas-El Paso. He was scheduled to undergo a magnetic resonance imaging, a procedure that uses magnetic fields to create a picture of the body's interior.
"It's stiff and sore," he said. "We'll see how it goes."
He said he suffered the injury after being hit "on a chop block. I'm unlucky. I got caught on the turf. It's a bad situation."
In the season's second game, against Rice, Curnan suffered torn ligaments in his left elbow. After a bye week, he played in the next game, against Tulsa.
"I've had two freak accidents," he said. "I have to get over this."
Curnan's immediate replacement is Watson Ho'ohuli. Defensive coordinator George Lumpkin also said Timo Paepule will be used in the middle. Against Nevada, Ho'ohuli and Paepule each made seven tackles. Lumpkin said he does not anticipated moving strongside linebacker Chad Kapanui or weakside linebacker Tanuvasa Moe to the middle.
Jones said Paepule, who forced a fourth-quarter fumble, "stepped up and made plays (against Nevada). We always welcome guys who make plays. If he can get in there and do that, we'll put him in there."
Jones said he is concerned about the health of starting right cornerback Kenny Patton, who suffered a pulled left hamstring in the first half against Nevada.
Cameron Hollingsworth, who was at right cornerback in the second half, is not assured of the starting job if Patton is not available this week. Rich Miano, who coordinates the pass defense, said Omega Hogan, Ray Bass and Turmarian Moreland also are in contention.
"We'll see who steps up," Miano said.
He added: "Losing Kenny, losing Ikaika, losing anybody at this point, it hurts because we just don't have the depth. The quality drops off a little bit."
Although the defense played well at times, intercepting two passes and forcing a Wolf Pack fumble near the goal line, more consistency is needed, Jones said.
If the Warriors play the same way against UTEP as they did against Nevada, Jones said, "We'll get beat."
Jones said the Warriors face a difficult challenge against UTEP, which is 3-2 under first-year coach Mike Price. The Miners' only losses have been against nationally ranked teams.
After upsetting Fresno State Saturday night, "they're on a high right now, which means they'll play their best football at home this week," Jones said.
Jones said he was confident Price, who previously coached at Washington State, "would get it turned around. I think they'll still have their moments, up and down, throughout the year, but they're better under him."
In April 2003, Alabama fired Price after his first spring practice, charging he violated the good-conduct clause in his contract. Jones said he was prepared to offer Price a job on this year's UH coaching staff.
"I called and left a message at his home," Jones said. "Seven or eight days later, he got the job at UTEP. ... To me, he's a great guy. He's a football guy. He's a people guy. I thought it was a tragedy what happened to him at Alabama. I felt he needed to get back into football somehow. If he didn't get the (UTEP) job, I would figure out something for him over here. He's a special person."
Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8051.
