Hawaii receiver
Billy Ray Stutzmann
will miss about six weeks after suffering a fractured hand during Wednesday’s practice.
Stutzmann will have surgery today.
"It’s heartbreaking," head coach Norm Chow said.
Stutzmann was injured when he jumped for a pass. He did not fall on his hand.
X-rays showed the fracture.
Stutzmann, a fourth-year junior from Saint Louis School, is the Warriors’ most versatile receiver. He can play both wideout positions and slotback. He also plays on special teams.
Stutzmann started against Southern California this past weekend, catching three passes for 49 yards.
Trevor Davis, a sophomore, practiced in place of Stutzmann on the single side on Wednesday.
Forgetaboutit!
UH coaches have memorable advice for junior cornerback Tony Grimes: Forget about it.
In his UH debut, Grimes missed an open-field tackle that became a 75-yard touchdown and was penalized twice for pass interference.
Grimes was back in the mix during Wednesday’s practice. Grimes, who was named the starting right corner in preseason training, and freshman Ne’Quan Phillips will share duties at the position.
"What happened is now behind me," Grimes said. "It was a learning block. One thing you have to learn to do as a DB is learn how to forget quick, and move on."
Chow agreed, saying: "You have to forget the play before."
Chow said Grimes had a breakdown in technique and eye contact when he missed the tackle. But Chow said the lapse is "correctable."
Of the penalties, Grimes said: "The ref didn’t see it in a legal way on my behalf. I thought I was playing football.
"Sometimes you have to ease up a little bit."
Lutu happy with football
College is about choices, and Leroy Lutu Jr.‘s first college choice was to play basketball.
"My dad always joked around with me, saying I shouldn’t have quit (football)," Lutu Jr. said. Lutu Sr. was a two-sport athlete at University High who went on to play football at Washington.
Lutu Jr. was a walk-on in basketball at UH when he regained his passion for football.
"You have to go with whatever you love at the time," Lutu Jr. said of choosing basketball initially, "and if it changes, then you go with your heart."
Lutu, who plays safety in nickel schemes, made six tackles and broke up a pass in limited action against USC. Chow said Lutu will earn extended playing time.
Lutu was given the green light to make decisions within the defensive scheme.
"When you know what you’re doing and you know your assignment," Lutu Jr. said, "that kind of allows you some freedom to go outside the box and mess with the offense a little bit, which is what I was tying to do."
Lutu Jr. said he also continues to play basketball with his football teammates.
"They throw me alley-oops and stuff," Lutu Jr. said. "I can still jam it. My jump shot has kind of faded a little bit. It’s all fun and games when you get out there."