UH exploring additional football game for 2012

A football team from the East has contacted Hawaii coach Norm Chow about the possibility of playing a game against the Warriors at Aloha Stadium in December.

There are numerous hurdles to overcome before the proposal could become a reality. For instance, UH’s season tickets and pay-per-view packages already have been set and sold. There also are several layers of administrative approval the Warriorswould need to receive.

But the prospect is intriguing, although not unprecedented.

After UHdefeated Brigham Young in the regular-season finale in 2001, school officials sought to schedule an add-on game that year. That proposal failed, although it did pave the way for the creation of the Hawaii Bowl the following year.

Under terms of the NCAA’s so-called "Hawaii exemption," the Warriors are allowed to play up to 13 regular-season football games each year. What’s more, a visiting team is allowed to exceed the NCAA’s 12-game limit for the regular season.

The Warriors are scheduled to play only 12 regular-season games this year.

In the meantime, the Warriors appear to be in better health following last week’s bye. Wide receiver Billy Ray Stutzmann and weakside linebacker Art Laurel received medical clearance to practice this week. The Warriors face Colorado State in a road game on Saturday.

Stutzmann experienced wooziness when he fell face-mask-first during a drill last week.

"Iguess Ihit the ground pretty hard and scratched up my face," Stutzmann said. "Ibarely remember the fall."

Stutzmann said he does not believe he suffered a concussion. That belief was supported after he took an impact test on Monday.

"Ipassed all my tests," Stutzmann said. "I’m fine. I’ll be out on the field on Saturday."

On Monday, he practiced while wearing an orange jersey, a uniform used by players who are allowed limited contact.

Laurel made a speedy recovery after suffering a sprained ACLagainst San Diego State two weeks ago. He did not play in the following week’s game against New Mexico.

Laurel suffered the mildest of the three levels of sprains. Daily rehabilitation, including use of the accelerated recovery performance machine, Laurel said, "made my leg stronger. It paid off."

Laurel was back as the No. 1 weakside linebacker during Monday’s practice.

"Getting him back is helping us, especially with the amount of injuries we’ve had," defensive coordinator Thom Kaumeyer said.