San Diego State Notebook : Injury Keeps Murray on Sidelines : Medical Staff May Not Allow Basketball Center to Practice

Center Gerald Murray may not be able to participate when San Diego State begins basketball practice Wednesday.

Murray, who has fractured his right kneecap three times in the past two years, has not been cleared to play by SDSU’s medical staff.

“We’re concentrating on therapy,” trainer Don Kaverman said. “We’ll make an evaluation in the near future on what his status is.”

Murray, a reserve as a sophomore two seasons ago, was expected to start last year. He had 17 points and 9 rebounds in an exhibition game against Athletes In Action but re-injured his knee in the process, causing him to miss the 1985-86 season.

Murray, 6-feet 8-inches, said he was cleared to play over the summer by a doctor for the Aztecs who no longer works for the school. However, Murray said he was told by SDSU’s new training staff to discontinue playing.

“I took a Cybex test, and it revealed my right leg was a little less than half as strong as my left leg,” Murray said. “I couldn’t tell at all. My leg feels great.”

SDSU quarterback Todd Santos, who missed Saturday’s 17-10 loss at Stanford with a broken right wrist, may be able to play in the Aztecs’ next game.

His cast was removed earlier this week and replaced by tape. The Aztecs plan to have him throw short passes Friday in practice.

“I have every confidence Todd’s going to be there when we play Texas El Paso (Oct. 18),” Kaverman said. “His availability won’t depend on his fracture. It will depend on how Todd’s wrist feels to him, plus his symptoms. If he’s throwing in three or four days and there’s not a lot of swelling or pain, we won’t restrict him. Our goal is to make him available for El Paso, and we feel that is right on tap.”

Kaverman said Santos has made “excellent” progress.

“We’ve done consulting with other people who know more than we do about this type of injury,” Kaverman said. “Experts don’t feel this is all that significant as far as fractures go. The fracture is not as significant as the soft tissue injury sustained. We’ll treat the soft tissue and make the fracture secondary at this time.”

If Santos does not start at UTEP, Jim Plum will again play. Plum completed 19 of 31 passes for 195 yards against Stanford.

“Every time Jim plays, it will help him,” Coach Denny Stolz said. “Like anybody else, it’s not easy to walk in and play, especially as a quarterback. He played a good football game (against Stanford).”

Before Wednesday’s practice, defensive tackle Craig Skaggs was expected to participate in pads for the first time since suffering a sprained right knee two weeks ago.

Skaggs never made it to the practice field, straining a muscle in his left hip.

“He strained a muscle horsing around five minutes before practice playing catch,” Kaverman said. “He’ll be with us for El Paso, I guarantee you.”

Last week, Skaggs and offensive tackle Greg Williamson were the only other regulars unable to play. Williamson, who also had a sprained knee, returned to practice Wednesday.

“We’re probably going to be as healthy as we’ve ever been if we don’t get anybody hurt at practice,” Stolz said. “I hope this is the way things always are at San Diego State.”

Aztec Notes

Todd Santos is fifth in the nation in total offense and 18th in passing efficiency. Tight end Robert Awalt is 21st in receiving. Halfback Chris Hardy is the Western Athletic Conference’s second-leading scorer. . . . Athletic Director Fred Miller and his associate athletic directors have been on a three-day retreat in the Cuyamaca Mountains plotting the future of SDSU athletics. . . . The Holiday Bowl will scout seven teams this week--Arizona (4-0), Indiana (4-0), Navy (3-1), Ohio State (3-2), Stanford (4-0), UCLA (2-2) and Washington (3-1).