Knee injuries could threaten Sunia’s career

Steve Guiremand

Friday, March 23, 2001 | 10:02 a.m.

The college career of UNLV middle linebacker James Sunia may be in jeopardy after the senior from Honolulu had to undergo major knee surgery for the second time in five months.

Sunia underwent total right knee reconstruction following a season-ending injury in UNLV's 38-7 victory over Nevada-Reno on Oct. 7. The 5-foot-10, 245-pounder tore both his ACL and MCL after getting clipped from behind.

The normal rehab from that injury is about nine months and Sunia was making good progress, according to UNLV trainer Kyle Wilson. However, a freak mishap while moving two weeks ago forced further surgery to the same knee.

"He was stacking some boxes when one fell into the side of his knee," Wilson said. "It just tore everything again.

"It's too bad. James probably could have done some non-contact drills this spring. Now we have to start all over again."

Sunia, who watched Thursday's first spring practice from the sidelines, vowed he will be back in time to play in UNLV's Sept. 1 season opener at Arkansas.

"I'll be running around again by fall camp," he said. "I'll make it back. I want to be back."

But Wilson wasn't quite so optimistic.

"More than likely it will be about halfway through the season before James is ready to play again," Wilson said. "It's possible it could be earlier, but you don't want to go crazy with it. You don't want him to rush back for his senior year and then limp for the rest of his life."

Sunia, who already redshirted in 1997, said that if he isn't ready to play in September he may look into trying to appeal to the NCAA for a rare sixth year of eligibility. Amar Brisco, who started at cornerback for UNLV last year, was granted a sixth year by the NCAA because of injuries.

"If I'm going to miss some games, then I'll look into it," Sunia said. "It would be the second year in a row I'd be out with the same injury, so I think I'd have a good chance. But right now I plan on making it back for the start of the season."

Instead, Kahn, whose Los Angeles-based KLM Productions owns the radio broadcast rights to several bowl games, including the Las Vegas Bowl, is focusing his attention on putting together a syndicated national game of the week radio package.

No word yet on whether color man Tony Cordasco, who handled Rebel football play-by-play duties before Kahn, will return.