Wednesday, April 15, 1998

Spring ends early
for UH QB Skinner

The top signal-caller
in spring practice is out
with a concussion

By Paul Arnett
Star-Bulletin

University of Hawaii quarterback Josh Skinner suffered a concussion during Monday's practice and is probably lost for the spring.

The top quarterback coming into spring practice said he was disappointed to be finished for the spring and hopes this won't hurt his chances to be the starter.

"It won't in my mind," UH offensive coordinator Don Lindsey said after yesterday's practice. "Since we weren't going to name a quarterback until after fall camp, this doesn't hurt him one bit.

"The main thing is for him to get well. Anytime you suffer a blow to the head, you have to take precautions. His health is our main concern. As for the team, all we can do is go on."

Skinner went helmet-to-helmet with free safety Daniel Ho-Ching on a veer-option play. He said he doesn't remember much about Monday, or how it happened.

"Avion Weaver told me when I finally got up, I started to head back to the huddle," Skinner said. "The only problem was, practice was over. I don't even remember talking to Avion.

"I'm disappointed because this isn't how I envisioned spending the spring. I've been looking forward to these three weeks for a long time."

UH head coach Fred vonAppen backed up what Lindsey said. Skinner is the only QB in camp with any real Division I experience. That should help him come August.

"This won't set him back, but I do wish he could have been here for the repetitions," vonAppen said. "We were running an option play in our thud scrimmage.

"When I got over to him, he looked like one of those old cartoon characters who gets knocked out and has Xs for eyes. He didn't know if he was playing for us or the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He had an Excedrin headache -- big time.

"The trainers told us we should take it day-to-day, but that he was going to be out a minimum of a week. There's a chance he could be back before we're through, but at this time, it's doubtful."

Junior Dan Robinson will get most of the snaps the rest of the spring. The only other QB in camp is walk-on Bronson Liana.