From Deseret News archives:
Eye problem may bench WSU back
Following Monday's practice, the Texas Tech transfer informed coaches there he couldn't see very well out of one of his eyes.
"He said things looked gray to him. Instead of getting better it was getting worse," said WSU coach Ron McBride, who couldn't remember if it was the left or right eye. "All I know is that he had a problem with his eyesight (Monday). The doctors don't want to say until they know for sure."
McBride said WSU head trainer Joel Bass looked at Havili's eye and determined it needed further attention. Havili spent his day Tuesday seeing eye specialists at Ogden's McKay Dee Hospital, LDS Hospital and the University of Utah Hospital.
"They did all these tests to check and see if there is a blockage someplace. In other words, is there an artery being blocked that's causing him not to get enough circulation from his brain to his eyes," McBride said. "I asked him, 'Can you see all right?' and he said 'I'm not seeing as good today as I was yesterday.' "
That made sense to McBride because he said Havili didn't look like himself in practice. He said Havili dropped the ball a few times and looked lethargic. It was also unclear when Havili's vision began to get blurry. McBride didn't know if it came after a collision or if it came on gradually.
"It was hard to tell what was going on with him," McBride said. "After practice he told us about the eye."
McBride said he didn't know a lot yet but hoped to find out more in a visit on Tuesday night following practice. He also couldn't say if the injury would keep the senior running back from playing Saturday against Western State.
"The only thing I know for sure is the doctors are being thorough," McBride said. "The main thing right now is to make sure he's all right and that he's got his vision and that he doesn't have any problems."
Havili was unavailable for comment.
