Warrior RB Ilaoa suffers heel injury
 |
Video: June Jones press conference |
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
| |||
 |
|
||
Despite an injured left heel, University of Hawai'i running back Nate Ilaoa expects to play in Saturday's regular-season finale against Oregon State.
Ilaoa suffered the injury when he was gang-tackled at the end of an 8-yard run with 6:58 to play. Ilaoa fumbled on the play.
"I planted (the left foot) on the turf, and I had a lot of guys on my back," Ilaoa said. "They drove my heel into the turf."
On the play, his helmet slipped, causing his left contact lens to pop out. Ilaoa said he also was "poked in the eye" on the play.
Yesterday, Ilaoa wore a medical boot on his left foot. He was limping.
He was diagnosed with a "heel contusion," and was placed on the "no practice" list.
But Ilaoa dismissed it as a "bruised heel," and said it would not prevent him from playing.
"It's nothing bad," Ilaoa said. "I should be good by Saturday."
Against Purdue, Ilaoa rushed 12 times for a career-high 159 yards and two touchdowns. He caught seven passes for 52 yards.
Ilaoa is on pace to become the first Warrior to rush for 1,000 yards in a season during June Jones' eight years as UH head coach.
In 11 games, he has rushed for 845 yards, an average of 8.0 yards per carry, and 12 touchdowns. He also has caught five scoring passes, giving him 17 touchdowns and 102 points.
He leads the Warriors with 1,559 all-purpose yards, a category that includes rushes, receptions and returns.
JONES FINALIST FOR AWARD
The Football Writers Association of America announced that Jones is one of nine finalists for the 2006 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award.
Jones also was a finalist in 1999, his first season as UH head coach.
"Oh," Jones said when told of the nomination. "Awards come from winning. We won a lot of games, so we're getting a lot of recognition."
The other finalists are Houston's Art Briles, Michigan's Lloyd Carr, Wake Forest's Jim Grobe, Brigham Young's Bronco Mendenhall, Arkansas' Houston Nutt, Boise State's Chris Petersen, Rutgers' Greg Schiano and Oklahoma's Bob Stoops.
Robinson, who coached at Grambling State for 55 years, won 408 Division I games.
PREP SPRINTER EYES UH
Maybe it's a coincidence, but the Warriors' recent success has drawn interest from Peoria High (Ariz.) wideout T.J. Simpson, the state's 5-A champion in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter sprints.
While participating in a Hawai'i football camp last summer, Simpson visited the UH campus.
He verbally committed to Arizona State. After ASU fired Dirk Koetter as head coach, Simpson withdrew his verbal commitment.
Family friend Jeff Johnson said he contacted a few schools, including UH. The Warriors have yet to set up a recruiting visit or offer a scholarship to Simpson.
Simpson is 6 feet and 168 pounds. He can run 40 yards in 4.51 seconds.
WHINERS NEVER WIN
During his weekly news conference, Jones expressed agitation over complaints launched by two Big Ten coaches — Purdue's Joe Tiller and Michigan State's John L. Smith. Last week, Tiller said he did not want to play the game in Hawai'i, citing the distance and the financial hardship. Smith, who has been fired, was instrumental in MSU's decision to withdraw from next year's game in Hawai'i. The last time the teams played here, Smith felt the game was poorly officiated.
Jones said he wouldn't have made the comments Tiller made last week.
"I didn't think it helped his team try to win," Jones said.
He added: "I was more resentful (of the criticism) because it went national, and it downplays the state and Hawai'i more than the program. It's a lot of negative stuff that happens a lot in the newspaper that doesn't have to happen. This time, I don't blame (reporters) for writing it. It was said, and it really was a bad deal for Hawai'i, not just the school. It made it seem like we were cheaters."
Pac-10 officials were used for the game.
As for Smith, Jones said, "what I said about John L. on ESPN radio, I felt all along. He's a crybaby, and we beat him, just like we beat Purdue."
NEWS AND NOTES
"To me, it's the future," Jones said of trying to sell merchandise and show telecasts in Asia. "Because you have to capture that marketplace to maximize your (marketing) for the school. The first team that captures Japan, Beijing and Australia as their team is all of a sudden (up there) with Notre Dame."
"We have addressed it," Jones said.
"It was a good-thrown ball directly in my path," Leonard said. "It was one of those things where you don't think about it, you just react. I put my hands up there, and (the pass) stuck to (them), and I pulled it in."
Leonard said he is not concerned about his ailments.
"In football, you play through these things," he said. "I'm not injured at all. You're going to get banged up a little bit. It's just my hands. Nothing major. It just bothers me when I get hit. It's nothing too restraining. I'm sure Brett Favre, who hasn't missed a game, is playing hurt. If you want to be great and leave a legacy, you can't sit out games when you think you can go."
• • •
| UH FOOTBALL
WHAT: University of Hawai'i (10-2, 7-1 in Western Athletic Conference) vs. Oregon State (8-4, 6-3 in Pacific-10) WHEN: 7:05 p.m. Saturday WHERE: Aloha Stadium TV: Live on ESPN; AUDIO WEBCAST: espn1420am.com RADIO: Live on ESPN 1420. Neighbor Island simulcasts on KAOI on Maui/Kona, KPUA in Hilo and KQNG on Kaua'i GATES OPEN: Parking lot 2:30 p.m.; Stadium gates 3 p.m. TICKET PRICES: $38 sideline, $32 South end zone, $27 North end zone (adult), $22 North end zone senior citizen, $22 North end zone students 4-18, $5 UH students. TICKET SALES: Available online at hawaiiathletics.com, by calling 944-2697 (BOWS) between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or at Stan Sheriff Center, Aloha Stadium, UH Campus Center, RainBowtique at Ward Centre and Windward Community College's OCET Office during business hours. Convenience fees may apply. PROMOTIONS: Green-out Night: Saturday's "Senior Night" game has been designated a "Green Out" and all fans are encouraged to wear green shirts in support of the Warriors and their talented senior class. 19 Seniors to be honored: Nineteen senior football players will be honored during a special post-game ceremony this Saturday for their contributions to the UH program. Fans are encouraged to remain in their seats following the game as these student-athletes are introduced during the traditional "Senior Walk." 30,000 Ti Leaves to be distributed: The first 30,000 fans to enter Aloha Stadium for the Oregon State football game will receive a ti leaf, compliments of game-sponsor First Hawaiian Bank. Disneyland & Inter-Island trips to be awarded: First Hawaiian Bank will provide an inter-island trip for two on Aloha Airlines to the winner of the pre-game field-goal kicking contest and a trip for four to Disneyland (including Aloha Airlines flight, hotel, and rental car) to the winner of the "Dash to Disneyland" halftime contest during the game. Fans can register at Gate 3 prior to the game. Las Vegas trip promotion for UH students: UH students can register at Gate 7 for the opportunity to win a trip to Las Vegas and other great prizes, compliments of First Hawaiian Bank and Vacations Hawaii. One student will be drawn from those who register to compete in a contest on the field between the third and fourth quarters. Thus far this season, two UH students have won trips to Las Vegas. UH students ride free: The Chancellor's Office will provide free bus transportation to the game. The buses will pick up UH students on Dole Street in front of the Gateway House two hours before game time. The buses will leave the stadium 30 minutes after the game and return to the Gateway House. Signup sheets will be at the front desks at each UH residence hall. 2-For-1 tickets for military: Two tickets for the price of one (maximum of 12) to military personnel (active and reservists) are available for the game. A valid military identification card is required when purchasing tickets at Aloha Stadium in advance or on game day. At the Stan Sheriff Center, this discount is only available in advance (MondayiFriday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.). Tickets are in special sections and supply is limited, so advance purchases are encouraged. Other restrictions may apply. PARKING: $5 ALTERNATIVE PARKING (no tailgating): • Leeward Community College (free with $2 charge for shuttle service); • Kamehameha Drive-In ($5 with free shuttle service); • Radford High School ($3 with no shuttle service). All shuttle service runs from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and approximately one hour after the game ends. SECURITY: Only fanny packs, purses, backpacks and handbags will be allowed into stadium (subject to check). TRAFFIC ADVISORY: Sports Radio 1420 will provide traffic advisories and updates before each UH football home game. BUS SHUTTLES: For UH students: Chancellor office is providing free bus transportation to the home games at Aloha Stadium. Buses will pick up UH students on Dole Street in front of Gateway House two hours before game time.The buses will leave the stadium 30 minutes after the game and return to Gateway. Sign-up sheets are at the front desk at each UH residence hall. Roberts Hawaii is offering round trip "air conditioned" shuttle bus services to Aloha Stadium for $6 from three O'ahu areas. Bus No. 3 will pick up at the Hawai'i Kai Park n' Ride at 4 p.m., at Bank of Hawai'i at Kahala Mall at 4:15 and proceed to the stadium. Bus No. 2 will pick up at the Kailua District Park, Kainalu Avenue at 4:15 p.m., at Windward Mall Shopping Center on Alaloa Street facing Sears at 4:30 and proceed to the stadium. Bus No. 1 will pick up at the Mililani Mauka Park n' Ride at 4:30 p.m. and go directly to the stadium. Reservations are required and service is first come, first serve. Call Roberts School Bus at 832-4886 for reservations and additional information. City bus service The FootballExpress offers 17 pickup locations throughout O'ahu. The first trip from each location leaves approximately three hours before kickoff and the last trip leaves approximately 90 minutes before the game. Return trips leave as soon as the bus is full, with the final trip leaving 30 minutes after the game ends. Honolulu pickup locations are at Ala Moana, downtown, Hawai'i Kai, Kahala Mall, Kaimuki, Palolo, Waikiki and the University of Hawai'i. Leeward pickups are at 'Ewa Beach, Kapolei, Mililani Mauka and Village Park. Windward pickups are at Kalaniana'ole Highway and Kailua Road, Kailua Road at Keolu Drive and Hele Street, Kailua Road at Hahani Street, Kane'ohe Bay drive at Mokapu Boulevard and Kane'ohe Bay Drive at Makalani Street. Rates are $3 one way and $6 roundtrip. Passes and transfers are not accepted. For information, go to: http://www.thebus.org |
Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.
