Jordan Pu'u-Robinson, a 2009 Baldwin High School graduate, has been declared out for the season for the University of Hawaii football team.
Pu'u-Robinson broke the middle finger on his left hand on the first play of a 52-14 loss at San Diego State on Oct. 6 and had surgery the following week. His diagnosis the week after the injury was a minimum of two weeks on the sidelines.
After surgery to insert two pins and four screws - and further diagnosis - he was declared out for the season this week.
Article Photos
‘That’s the hardest part for me. I think we have four or five injuries (on the defensive line)?and we have to have some freshmen travel and things like that, so it’s a tough situation. I just give my support from the sidelines right now, that is the best I can do.’
– Jordan Pu‘u-Robinson
Pu'u-Robinson, a 6-foot-4, 260-pound defensive lineman, said his season is over.
"I'm not going to make it back this season," he said via phone on Tuesday. "It is, like, a six-to-eight-week timetable."
Pu'u-Robinson redshirted his freshman season at Washington State in 2009 and missed the 2010 season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee. He played for the Cougars last season, recording nine tackles, before transferring to Hawaii this fall.
Pu'u-Robinson was originally declared ineligible for this season by the NCAA, a decision that was reversed Sept. 26, the same day he boarded a plane for a game against Brigham Young set for Sept. 28. The Cougars beat UH 47-0.
In his two games this season - he started and played the entire game against San Diego State with the broken finger - he has three tackles, all solo.
With the injury that forced him out of his redshirt freshman season for WSU, and just two games played this season, Pu'u-Robinson said he would explore petitioning the NCAA for a sixth year for 2014. If that does not work out, his final season of eligibility will be next fall.
"I haven't looked in to it too much, but I think the possibility is there," he said. "I know I was injured in 2010 when I tore my ACL. I don't know exactly how it works right now, but if I can apply when I'm a senior, I will probably do that."
Pu'u-Robinson, who expects to be 100 percent for spring drills, said it is tough being on a defensive line that has now lost five players for the season.
"That's the hardest part for me," he said. "I think we have had four or five injuries and we have to have some freshmen travel and things like that, so it's a tough situation. I just give my support from the sidelines right now, that is the best I can do."
* Rob Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com
