Defensive back and co-captain Eugene Ford will miss the rest of the University of Hawaii football team’s season because of a leg injury, head coach Todd Graham announced following Monday morning practice.
“He’s done for the year,” Graham said. “That was a tough loss. What a great kid. He’ll bounce back. He’ll be fine. He’s a champion.”
Ford suffered the injury on the third play of the past Friday night’s road loss to Wyoming. There is the likelihood that Ford will undergo surgery. In this abbreviated season, the Rainbow Warriors play eight regular-season games — all against Mountain West Conference opponents. The Warriors are 1-1.
Teammates had selected Ford as one of four co-captains. Ford, a senior, plays the hybrid-safety position known as bandit. He has not used a redshirt year, which could be applied to this injury. The NCAA also has granted each football player an extra year of eligibility.
“He’ll bounce back, and he’ll be back next year, ” Graham said. “And he’ll be leading our team every day. I had him out on the field today coaching and coaching up the safeties. Great person, team captain, tremendous person of faith. I’m really proud of him. I told him, ‘life happens like that. You get knocked down, just get yourself back up. The good Lord ain’t going to give you too much you can’t handle.’”
Donovan Dalton and Sterlin Ortiz will rotate at bandit.