A Sunday morning fight has knocked out two Hawaii football starters from Saturday’s season opener against Colorado.
Weak-side linebacker Aaron Brown and left wideout Darius Bright received one-game suspensions because of their arrests following their involvement in separate scuffles in the Zanzabar Nightclub Opens in a new tab in Waikiki.
Both were arrested on accusations of third-degree assault, a misdemeanor.
Nobody was hospitalized, and nobody else was arrested, according to people familiar with the situation.
Brown and Bright were released on bail. Their arraignments are scheduled for late September. Prosecutors have not decided whether charges will be filed.
Athletic director Jim Donovan and head coach Greg McMackin will further investigate the situation, and will decide next Tuesday whether Brown and Bright will be included on the two-game road trip against Washington on Sept. 10 and Nevada-Las Vegas on Sept. 17. Donovan already has spoken with several officials and witnesses.
Brown and Bright were cleared to resume practicing today.
Both players met with McMackin for about 15 minutes on Monday.
After that, they attended a team meeting during which they apologized to teammates and the coaches. McMackin and Donovan then had a meeting. Later, McMackin and Donovan met with Brown and Bright, at which time the punishments were announced.
In addition, both players face team-issued disciplinary measures, and must perform community service.
"Aaron and Darius used extremely poor judgment and, in turn, embarrassed the football program and the university," McMackin said in a written statement. "These are two young men who have never been in trouble with the law before, but became involved in a situation where they did not make the right choices."
During Monday’s practice, middle linebacker Corey Paredes played Brown’s weak-side linebacker position. George Daily-Lyles replaced Paredes in the middle.
"It’s a different point of view," said Paredes, who played weak-side linebacker last season when he led the Warriors with 151 tackles. "I have different angles."
Darryl McBride also can play weak-side linebacker in specific situations. He joined UH as a safety in July 2010, then moved to strong-side linebacker in spring training.
Allen Sampson practiced at left wideout in place of Bright.
"Darius has helped me a lot," Sampson said. "He told me to be ready, and I’m ready."
