Anderson Punts On Surgery
Washington State punter Kareem Anderson has decided to forgo surgery on his left ring finger to repair a torn tendon and continue punting for the Cougars.
“I’m only here for two years and I want to be able to punt for the full two years that I am,” said the junior-college transfer who is averaging 40.9 yards per punt. “It’s really about giving myself a chance to see what I can do.
“I want to have the opportunity to punt in the wind and in the cold weather to see how I can perform.”
Anderson, who is fourth in the Pac-10 in punting average, injured the finger on a blocked punt against UCLA on Saturday.
He had surgery scheduled for Wednesday. The coaches allowed Anderson to decide whether he wanted to go through with the operation.
By delaying the surgery, Anderson risks losing movement in his finger.
Jarzynka takes kicking lead
Washington Huskies coach Jim Lambright said no final decision has been made on a kicker for the Huskies home game against Utah State on Saturday, but did say Joe Jarzynka is pulling ahead.
Jarzynka made all five of his attempts in practice Wednesday, from between 25 and 35 yards, as did walk-on Craig Hawley. Incumbent Jim Skurski made only three of five.
Most likely scenario for Saturday is Jarzynka handling field goals and extra points with Skurski kicking off. That could be what the team would do all season because another placekicker would have to travel in the event of an injury to Jarzynka, who also is the team’s starting H-back.
Suspended UCLA back files report
Starting UCLA tailback Jermaine Lewis, suspended for at least one game by coach Bob Toledo for his involvement in a fight over the weekend, has filed a police report on the matter and claims to be the victim of a battery, but didn’t know the identity of the other person involved.
Lewis will miss Saturday night’s game between the third-ranked Bruins (3-0, 1-0 Pac-10) and No. 10 Arizona (5-0, 2-0) in Tucson, Ariz.
Toledo said Lewis had a small scrape near his eye as a result of the fight.