Purcell recovering from concussion
By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer
Senior defensive end Melila Purcell III was excused from the University of Hawai'i football team's spring practice yesterday after he collapsed and was briefly hospitalized with a concussion on Tuesday.
"We told him to stay home," head coach June Jones said.
Purcell
Purcell is one of Hawai'i's top playmakers and is expected to bolster a rebuilding defense that ranked 116th out of 117 NCAA Division I-A teams last season in the yards-allowed category known as "total defense."
"We need him out here," defensive end Ikaika Alama-Francis said. "He's a big part of our defense."
Jones said he doubted Purcell's concussion would keep him out the entire spring practice, but added "there's no sense of urgency" for getting Purcell back into action. He started 12 games last season and led the Warriors in sacks (six) and was third in tackles (74).
"We're not going to rush him back," Jones said. "I already know what he can do."
Purcell was taken to The Queen's Medical Center after he collapsed at practice Tuesday morning. Following a one-on-one drill, Purcell drank a cup of water, sat down and appeared to lie motionless at about 8:30 a.m., according to witnesses.
Emergency dispatchers received a call at 8:42 a.m. as a trainer stabilized Purcell's neck. An ambulance arrived at the UH field about eight minutes later, according to Donnie Gates, assistant chief of the city's Emergency Medical Services.
"Before I knew it the ambulance was here," Alama-Francis said. "That's always a good sign to have a fast response. UH is very prepared. I feel very safe."
Jones yesterday praised the quick response of the UH athletic trainers and emergency medical personnel. "They're always on top of that," he said.
"Being in the National Football League for so long, it's always like that," Jones said of the quality of care. "Our doctors and trainers have been very cautious, careful and respond in that way."
There were five certified trainers and two student trainers on the field Tuesday, and all performed admirably, according to head trainer Eric Okasaki.
"We handled it well," Okasaki said. "The end result was what we wanted."
Yesterday, it was still unclear how Purcell sustained his concussion. Defensive line coach Vantz Singletary said Purcell appeared in "great spirits" before the drill and was told by players that Purcell "didn't really take a shot to the head" in drills.
Jones believed that Purcell must have collided with another teammate during practice, and the collision wasn't noticed by teammates. Jones said concussions are common at football practice.
"What causes a concussion is head-to-head contact which happens every day," Jones said. "Some guys go down, and some guys don't.
"I'm glad it wasn't as serious as they were thinking it might be. From that standpoint, that's a positive."
Alama-Francis said he was relieved to learn that Purcell was back at home after being treated and released from the hospital at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday. A CAT scan showed Purcell's neck and head were normal, according to UH spokeswoman Lois Manin.
"That's a good sign," Alama-Francis said. "They won't release somebody unless they know he's OK to be on his own."
Presidential greeting
Interim UH President David McClain attended practice yesterday for the first time this spring and came away impressed with the Warriors and new defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville, who was hired last week.
"I'm a sports enthusiast," McClain said. "I wanted to see how the team is doing. I also wanted a chance to meet coach Glanville. I never met him before. I wanted to welcome him to the UH 'ohana."
McClain is an athlete himself. He played basketball at St. Joseph's (Mo.) High and said he briefly considered pursuing a professional bowling career after graduating from the University of Kansas.
"I'm not an athlete at the skill level that our team is, but it seemed to me that they're making progress every day as I talked to June and Jerry," McClain said. "That's how you do it, make small steps and keep at it. I like what I see."
Reach Brandon Masuoka at bmasuoka@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2458.
