Warrior LB Curnan tears elbow ligaments

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Ikaika Curnan, the University of Hawai'i football team's starting middle linebacker, has been diagnosed with partially torn ligaments in his left elbow.

Curnan

The Warriors have a bye this weekend, and UH coach June Jones said "we'll wait and see" if Curnan is available for the Oct. 2 game against Tulsa.

Pressed about Curnan's chances, Jones said, "I'm not optimistic."

Curnan said he suffered the injury when he tried to brace himself while falling during the second quarter of Saturday's 41-29 road loss to Rice. Curnan, who was on special teams at the time, said Rice Stadium's hard surface — AstroTurf-12, which is no longer manufactured — contributed to the injury. Several teammates also complained about the surface.

"The turf was bad," Curnan said. "It doesn't really give. It was a bad situation."

Curnan played during the ensuing defensive series, but "I was useless. I was playing with one arm. Coach saw that and pulled me out. I would have hurt the team if I stayed in there."

Curnan did not compete in the Warriors' practices Tuesday and yesterday. He said he experiences "sharp pain" in his left elbow. He is working with light weights "to get the blood flowing. If I don't do anything with (the elbow), it's going to get stiff."

Watson Ho'ohuli is Curnan's immediate replacement, although starting weakside linebacker Tanuvasa Moe and redshirt freshman Timo Paepule also can play in the middle of UH's 4-3 alignment.

During the spring, Curnan moved from weakside linebacker, where he led the Warriors with 121 tackles last season.

Punting game falling short of the mark

The Warriors are having difficulty adjusting to their new punting strategy.

Their net punting average —average yards of punts minus return yards — is 30.4, the lowest in Jones' six seasons as UH head coach. For the first time in Jones' UH tenure, opponents are returning the majority of UH punts — seven returns in 12 punts (58 percent).

For the first four seasons, the Warriors relied on power punters Chad Shrout and then Mat McBriar. Last year, the Warriors called for more directional punts — aimed between the sideline and the numbers — to take advantage of Kurt Milne's shorter-but-more-accurate punting style. Of Milne's 66 punts last season, 27 were returned (41 percent), for a net of 34.6 yards.

Mouse Davis, who coaches the special teams, said directional punts narrow the target area, making it difficult for the lone returner to field the ball and for opponents to set up a wall of blockers.

"You do that to try and get better coverage and get away from the extra bodies (of blockers)," Davis said.

Jones said: "We do a good job of that in practice, but when the game comes, we haven't done as good a job."

Rice fielded four of Milne's five punts for an average return of 13.5 yards. Milne's 29-yard punt in the fourth quarter gave the Owls favorable field position, leading to the go-ahead touchdown.

Milne said he felt "light-headed" during the game. "I don't know if I was dehydrated," he said. "Maybe I didn't drink enough water."

Milne usually uses a straight-ahead kicking motion. Against Rice, he often was swinging across his body. Twice, he hooked punts intended for the right side.

"His technique has been a little bit suspect, but he'll be fine," Davis said. "He has a good leg. He has to get back into a routine of kicking it, kicking it, kicking it. The most important thing is to kick it and not over-think it."

Faavi more hopeful than Jones of returning

Derek Faavi, the starting center, said he hopes to resume practicing next week.

Faavi is suffering from a sprained right foot. X-rays did not show any fractures.

"I don't know if he'll be back" for the Tulsa game, Jones said. "We're going to have to prepare that he's not going to be back."

For the second consecutive practice, right guard Uriah Moenoa was at center. Right tackle Brandon Eaton and Phil Kauffman took turns at right guard. When Eaton was at guard, Jeremy Inferrera practiced at right tackle.

"We consider Inferrera a starter, even though he doesn't start," Jones said. "We have six, seven guys who are always going to play. He's certainly one of them."

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8051.