Warriors healing up

Each day, the University of Hawaii football coaches update two charts — depth and medical.

The Rainbow Warriors have learned the hard way that both charts will be factors in the second season under head coach Norm Chow.

Injuries to the line forced the Warriors to use defensive end Beau Yap and 5-foot-9 Kaeo Alo in the rotation at defensive tackle last season. Quarterback Sean Schroeder, who was hit more than 120 times in his 11 starts, might have suffered at least two concussions. Cornerback Mike Edwards and linebacker Art Laurel played most of the season with shoulder injuries.

The past spring did not provide better fortune. Yap suffered a fractured foot during a team drill. Tight end Jordan Pu‘u-Robinson strained his back. Offensive tackle Leo Koloamatangi suffered strained ligaments in his right ankle. Tyler Hadden underwent hernia surgery. And a month ago, tight end Josh Long was hospitalized with a concussion suffered when he fell while skateboarding.

Alo completed his eligibility, and Edwards is now with the New York Jets. The Warriors hope to be in better health entering the final cycle of offseason training before the July 31 opening of training camp.

Schroeder, who underwent back surgery on April 1, recently increased his physical therapy. He hopes to be ready for training camp.

Koloamatangi, Laurel, Hadden, Pu‘u-Robinson, Long and defensive tackle Moses Samia (torn ACL) were cleared to participate in offseason workouts.

"It was hard to deal with emotionally," Samia said of the knee injury. "Now that I’m back, I can get back on the grind with the boys."

Laurel said he began feeling discomfort in his left shoulder early in the 2012 season.

"I played through it," Laurel said. "I taped it up. It would hurt when it would move around, but I shook it off."

Laurel underwent surgery in January. He said he expects to be cleared for full-contact workouts this month.

Yap was one of the few defensive linemen who was relatively healthy through the 2012 season. He said the move to defensive tackle "was a real good learning experience on how to take on double teams, take on bigger guys in a small area."

There were some games when Yap’s weight dropped to 250 pounds.

"That was rough being that light," Yap sad.

It was during spring training when Yap made a move he claimed to have made "a thousand times before." He wheeled past an offensive tackle, then tried to stop abruptly when he approached the quarterback.

"My leg buckled," Yap said.  "I tried to stay in for a couple of plays. I couldn’t."

He was diagnosed with a fracture in his right foot. He underwent surgery in which a pin was inserted.

He has spent the past two months working on his balance, agility and leg strength.

"Now my left leg is my dominant leg," Yap said. "It’s weird how it just transferred over. It’s weird. Now I have to even it back out again."

Long said his skateboard accident occurred when he was riding on a road that went from paved to graveled.

"It kind of slipped under me," he said. "I don’t recall much after that."

There was concern when his blood pressure spiked while he was in the emergency room. It took a week of rest and another week of rehab before Long was ready to resume full-speed training. He is healthy again.

UH season tickets on sale Monday

University of Hawaii football season ticket sales start Monday. Season tickets are available online at hawaiiathletics.com, and at the Stan Sheriff Center box office or by calling 944-2697 on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Adult ticket prices range from $75 (North end zone, Red and Yellow sections) to $145 (Sidelines). North end zone tickets are $60 for youth and starting at $70 for senior citizens.